Hashivenu

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

Hashivenu episodes

April 28, 2019S2 Ep. 2: Love Received, Love Extended
This wide-ranging conversation with noted teacher of spirituality Rabbi Sheila Peltz Weinberg begins by recounting the influences that led her toward integrating meditation and yoga into Jewish spirituality. She then digs deeply into the essential interplay between spiritual experience (love received) and spiritually-rooted justice (love extended not only to neighbors, but to strangers, even in the face of trauma and fear.) We conclude by discussing of the transformative practice of spiritual direction.
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This podcast is produced by Reconstructing Judaism. Visit us at ReconstructingJudaism.org.
Special Guest: Rabbi Sheila Peltz Weinberg.
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Links:
Rabbi Sheila Peltz Weinberg homepage
— Sheila Peltz Weinberg: Author, Poet, Rabbi & Teacher
God Loves the Stranger: Stories, Poems, Prayers: Sheila Peltz Weinberg (Amazon link)
Shalom Meditation – Institute for Jewish Spirituality
— Join Rabbi Sheila Weinberg for this meditation on shalom.
In the Divine Image – Institute for Jewish Spirituality
— Join Rabbi Sheila Weinberg for a meditation on, and exploration of, what it means to experience life as b’tzelem Elohim – created in the divine image.
Walking as Practice – Institute for Jewish Spirituality
— This meditation is from Preparing the Heart: Meditations for Jewish Spiritual Practice. Rabbi Sheila Weinberg describes walking practice as a way of paying attention to the sensations in the body, gathering our attention and focus in the body.
Sylvia Boorstein: That's Funny, You Don't Look Buddhist: On Being a Faithful Jew and a Passionate Buddhist (Amazon link)
— Sylvia Boorstein was mentioned in this episode as a teacher of meditation who embraces and integrates her Jewish identity into her work.
Spiritual Direction | Reconstructionist Rabbinical College
— The spiritual director serves as a companion and witness — someone who helps you (sometimes with questions, sometimes just by listening) to discern the divine where you might have missed it, and to integrate that awareness into your daily life.
10 Mindfulness Rituals and Meditations from Ritualwell
— In support of Hashivenu we are highlighting rituals that have sustained the Jewish people throughout history. Below are 10 mindfulness rituals and meditations recommended by Ritualwell.
Meditation Resources from Ritualwell
Embracing the Stranger resources from Reconstructing Judaism
— The pieces in this collection address the stranger we encounter inside as we grow in self-awareness, the strangers we meet in the world around us, and the intersection between the two.
30 min
March 21, 2019S2 Ep. 1: Trauma, Healing and Resilience
In this interview, Rabbi Jessica Rosenberg delves into her deep interest and growing expertise in the varieties of trauma and how trauma has informed Jewish experience on both the individual and the collective level. Equipped with this awareness, we then discuss ways to move beyond trauma and cultivate resilience, and how these approaches inform her development of Reset: Spiritual Practice for Social Justice Organizations.
Update: See the show links below to read Rabbi Rosenberg's new book, Introduction to Trauma, Healing and Resilience.
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This podcast is produced by Reconstructing Judaism. Visit us at ReconstructingJudaism.org.
Special Guest: Rabbi Jessica Rosenberg.
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Links:
"Introduction to Trauma, Healing & Resilience" by Rabbi Jessica Rosenberg
— We are thrilled to make this accessible and groundbreaking work available to the public and hope that you will find it useful and will share it widely.
Reset: Spiritual Practice for Social Justice Organizations
Learning Network: Embodied Ritual for Trauma, Resilience and Healing
— We will explore how trauma theory and the tools of Jewish ritual can help us to grieve and process hurts we’ve experienced, build resilience and power for surviving and thriving in oppressive conditions and experience joy, growth and celebration. We will explore how to acknowledge trauma in public ritual spaces safely, responsibly and accessibly. You will have the opportunity to design your own ritual(s) in a supportive and inclusive space. You will come away with the knowledge and practical tools to build healing rituals for yourself and your communities.
Ritualwell: Rituals for Healing & Hard Times
— Hard times are inevitable. But support and healing are available in many forms. Rituals — from mikveh to meditation — can help us move from darkness to light.
Aurora Levins Morales - Historian as Curandera
— Having a historical understanding of the present makes everything we do more effective. It allows us to see the local faces of large patterns of events and causes, and understand how our immediate experiences are connected to those of people who came before us or emerged out of different pasts than our own. History is also the story we tell about the past to explain the present and imagine the future, a job that can't be left to storytellers with a stake in exploitation. The Historian As Curandera talks about my vision of what an activist historian does and why it matters.
The Historian as Curandera (PDF)
The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma (Amazon link)
— Trauma is a fact of life. Veterans and their families deal with the painful aftermath of combat; one in five Americans has been molested; one in four grew up with alcoholics; one in three couples have engaged in physical violence. Dr. Bessel van der Kolk, one of the world’s foremost experts on trauma, has spent over three decades working with survivors. In The Body Keeps the Score, he uses recent scientific advances to show how trauma literally reshapes both body and brain, compromising sufferers’ capacities for pleasure, engagement, self-control, and trust. He explores innovative treatments—from neurofeedback and meditation to sports, drama, and yoga—that offer new paths to recovery by activating the brain’s natural neuroplasticity. Based on Dr. van der Kolk’s own research and that of other leading specialists, The Body Keeps the Score exposes the tremendous power of our relationships both to hurt and to heal—and offers new hope for reclaiming lives.
generative somatics | the center for somatic transformation
— The mission of generative somatics is to grow a transformative social and environmental justice movement -- one that integrates personal and social transformation, creates compelling alternatives to the status quo and embodies the creativity and life affirming actions we need to forward systemic change.
Trauma, Healing and Resilience Resources (PDF)
— A few of our favorite trauma and healing books, podcasts, and websites, lightly sorted, though they all
overlap and defy categorization.
31 min
February 04, 2019Episode 21: Tikkun Middot
This conversation with Rabbi Marc Margolius explores the spiritual practice of Tikkun Middot, a mindfulness-based approach to cultivation of character traits. We explore how this practice can help us better live out our values in challenging times, navigating and learning from our inevitable shortcomings in a sustainable and compassionate way.
Production note: while Rabbi Margolius can be heard clearly, our phone connection with Rabbi Waxman was of unexpectedly poor quality. Our apologies for the spotty audio, and thanks to our producer Sam Wachs for his skillful editing to minimize its impact.
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This podcast is produced by Reconstructing Judaism. Visit us at ReconstructingJudaism.org.
Special Guest: Rabbi Marc Margolius.
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Links:
5 Mussar Teachings and Practices from Ritualwell
Reconstructionist Convention "Food Justice Panel" Excerpt - YouTube
— Mike Dahl, Executive Director of Broad Street Ministry, on compassion
Hashivenu: Episode 8: Hineni —Being Present
— How do we pull ourselves together when we feel scattered or unfocused? In this episode of Hashivenu, Rabbi Myriam Klotz and Rabbi Deborah Waxman invite us into the spiritual practice of "hineni" -- being present and responsive.
Hashivenu: Episode 6: Mindfulness
— In challenging times, we often search for firm ground to stand on. In this interview with Rabbi Jordan Bendat-Appell of the Institute for Jewish Spirituality, Rabbi Deborah Waxman explores mindfulness as a path that can anchor us, nourish our Jewish lives, and sustain us as we strive to fulfill our Jewish values.
Mindfulness & Tikkun Middot Project for Jewish Organizations – Institute for Jewish Spirituality
Resources to Support Practice in Our Time – Institute for Jewish Spirituality
2019-01-09 Parshat Bo Meditation - Rabbi Marc Margolius Video on Vimeo
— This week for parshat Bo, which describes God "hardening" Pharaoh's heart, we sit and bring compassionate attention to the contracting and opening of our own hearts.
39 min
December 04, 2018Episode 20: Choosing Life
This special episode was recorded before a live audience at the Reconstructing Judaism convention in November 2018. I interviewed Susan Levine, an extraordinary person and a member of the Board of Governors of Reconstructing Judaism.
Trigger Warning: Susan and I discussed resilience in the aftermath of a suicide attempt. Susan is wise and grounded and deeply reflective, both about her attempts to end her life, and about her decision to live with integrity and beauty afterward. We want listeners to be prepared for what's coming.
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This podcast is produced by Reconstructing Judaism. Visit us at ReconstructingJudaism.org.
Special Guest: Susan Levine.
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Links:
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
— We can all help prevent suicide. The Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals.
Call 1-800-273-8255.
Ritualwell: 10 Jewish Resources on Suicide
— 10 resources on suicide prevention and response from Ritualwell.
Ritualwell: 10 Resources to Inspire Gratitude
— Learn more about the importance of gratitude as a source of resilience.
Hashivenu: Episode 19: Gratitude
— In Episode 19 of Hashivenu, Rabbi Deborah Waxman shares a personal gratitude practice that she has found sustaining in difficult times.
Song of the Sabbath (from Kol Haneshamah pp. 734-736)
— This Yiddish poem by Kadia Molodowsky, quoted by Rabbi Deborah Waxman during this interview, is here reproduced from the pages of Kol Haneshamah: Shabbat Vehagim.
Congregation Ner Shalom
— Congregation Ner Shalom is a Reconstructionist Synagogue in the Santa Rosa area, serving Sonoma and Marin counties.
Or Shalom Jewish Community
— Or Shalom Jewish Community is San Francisco’s first and only Reconstructionist congregation. We embrace Jewish tradition and values as we encourage questioning and experimentation. We honor spiritual growth through many paths: prayer, music, art, food, reading, studying and working for social justice. We invite you to find your Jewish home at Or Shalom!
1 hr 4 min
November 08, 2018Episode 19: Gratitude
The recent shooting attack on a synagogue in Pittsburgh has been deeply traumatic. In its aftermath, 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.
Also, in this episode you'll learn how to tune in for a special episode of Hashivenu that will be streamed live during our upcoming convention.
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This podcast is produced by Reconstructing Judaism. Visit us at ReconstructingJudaism.org.
Support Hashivenu
Links:
Ritualwell: 10 Resources to Inspire Gratitude
— Learn more about the importance of gratitude as a source of resilience.
Flavors of Gratefulness | Rabbi Shefa Gold
— Each day I wake up with an intention that when I open my eyes I will see and recognize God’s Face in the details of the day I am about to encounter. I have many different melodies for the chant. I make up a new one almost every day that expresses my particular mood, inspiration, anticipation, attitude or flavor of my gratefulness.
On this page, you can download a PDF of the melodies as well as listen to them online.
Flavors of Gratefulness App | Rabbi Shefa Gold
— With Rabbi Shefa Gold’s app you can awaken to all the many dimensions of gratefulness with Modah Ani. Wake up each day to a new melody to fuel the intention (kavanah) to see and recognize God’s Face in the details of the upcoming day.
16 min
October 16, 2018Episode 18: Fitness
What's the connection between marathon training and prayer? Can CrossFit shed light on building meaningful communities? We speak with Rabbi Jason Bonder about the intersection between fitness and spirituality.
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This podcast is produced by Reconstructing Judaism. Visit us at ReconstructingJudaism.org.
Special Guest: Rabbi Jason Bonder.
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Links:
Ritualwell: 10 Embodied Rituals
When Some Turn to Church, Others Go to CrossFit - The New York Times
Chrissie Wellington – Head chopping: the importance of R&R
The Mensch on the Bench and the Future of Judaism | Jason Bonder | The Blogs
Casper ter Kuile
Angie Thurston | The On Being Project
Care of Souls
How We Gather
Faithful
25 min
September 06, 2018Episode 17: The High Holiday Season
The holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur drive us to make sense of what's truly important, and sustain us as we strive to recapture those ideals. In this conversation recorded days before Rosh Hashanah, Rabbi David Teutsch and Rabbi Deborah Waxman share the meaning they find in deep themes of the High Holiday season, and reflect on their own evolving relationship with those ideas.
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This podcast is produced by Reconstructing Judaism. Visit us at ReconstructingJudaism.org.
Special Guest: Rabbi David Teutsch.
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Links:
10 Rituals to Assist with Making Teshuvah
Teshuvah: A Reconstructionist Perspective | Reconstructing Judaism
— A study sheet on the evolving concept of teshuvah over the ages
Mahzor Leyamim Nora'im - Reconstructionist Press Bookstore
— Prayerbook for the Days of Awe
Teshuvah and Compassion | Reconstructing Judaism
— This study sheet on teshuvah and compassion draws our attention to the interplay between our ability to forgive others, and God's ability to forgive us.
Finding Forgiveness | Reconstructing Judaism
— Is forgiveness an imperative toward which we should strive?
31 min
July 09, 2018Episode 16: Multifaith Encounters
Multifaith dialogue has the power not just to build bridges of understanding, but to foster personal spiritual growth and transformation. We speak with Rabbi Nancy Fuchs Kreimer and Professor Sa'ed Atshan, a Palestinian Quaker Christian, about their experiences in multifaith work.
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This podcast is produced by Reconstructing Judaism. Visit us at ReconstructingJudaism.org.
Special Guests: Rabbi Nancy Fuchs Kreimer and Sa'ed Atshan.
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Links:
10 Jewish Interfaith Prayers & Rituals
— Ritualwell resources on interfaith encounters
Rabbi Nancy Fuchs Kreimer, Ph.D. | Reconstructing Judaism
Dr. Sa’ed Atshan takes up tenure track position in Swarthmore’s Peace and Conflict Studies program | Peace and Conflict Studies at Swarthmore College
29 min
June 04, 2018Episode 15: Singing Together
Singing together can be a profound and powerful experience. We speak with Rabbi Jeffrey Summit, an ethnomusicologist and a research professor at the music department at Tufts, about the role that music plays both in animating Jewish life and in helping us to cultivate resilience.
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This podcast is produced by Reconstructing Judaism. Visit us at ReconstructingJudaism.org.
Special Guest: Rabbi Jeffrey Summit.
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Links:
Ritualwell: 10 Contemporary Jewish Songs
Rabbi Jeffrey Summit | Tufts Music
Jeffrey A. Summit
The inspiration for "Delicious Peace: Coffee, Music & Interfaith Harmony in Uganda" - YouTube
Delicious Peace: Coffee, Music & Interfaith Harmony in Uganda - Smithsonian Folkways
Jeffrey A. Summit
Singing God's Words: The Performance of Biblical Chant in Contemporary Judaism (American Musicspheres): Jeffrey Summit: 9780190497088: Amazon.com: Books
Abayudaya: The Jews of Uganda: Richard Sobol, Jeffrey A. Summit: 9780789207760: Amazon.com: Books
The Lord's Song in a Strange Land: Music and Identity in Contemporary Jewish Worship Book and CD (American Musicspheres): Jeffrey A. Summit: 9780195116779: Amazon.com: Books
One More Time - Rev. James Moore & the Mississippi Mass Choir - YouTube
לכה דודי - ליאו לבנדובסקי Lecha Dodi - L. Lewandowski - YouTube
Author Talk with Rabbi Jeffrey A Summit - YouTube
— Delicious Peace: Coffee, Music and
Interfaith Harmony in Uganda
Jeffrey Summit book talk - YouTube
23 min
May 14, 2018Episode 14: Midrash
The holiday of Shavuot is approaching. This year (2018) on the secular calendar it begins on Saturday evening, May 19. On Shavuot, we celebrate receiving the Torah, the foundational text of the Jewish people. "Torah" has multiple meanings in Jewish tradition. Most folks know it as the Five Books of Moses. But “Torah” in a broader sense is much more. It’s the collection of each and every generation’s engagement with sacred text and with our efforts to live lives of holiness and connection — to each other and to the divine.
In that expansive spirit, we are bringing you a two-part podcast series leading up to Shavuot. In this episode, Rabbi Mira Wasserman and I discuss Midrash, the way ancient rabbis read scripture in new and creative ways, giving old words new life, meaning and relevance.
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This podcast is produced by Reconstructing Judaism. Visit us at ReconstructingJudaism.org.
Special Guest: Rabbi Mira Wasserman.
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Links:
Ritualwell: 5 Creative Resources for Torah Study
About our name and theme song: Hashivenu
Lamentations 5:21
— הֲשִׁיבֵ֨נוּ הי אֵלֶ֙יךָ֙ ונשוב [וְֽנָשׁ֔וּבָה] חַדֵּ֥שׁ יָמֵ֖ינוּ כְּקֶֽדֶם׃
Midrash Eichah Rabbah
Jews, Gentiles, and Other Animals: the Talmud after the humanities
— In Jews, Gentiles, and Other Animals, Mira Beth Wasserman undertakes a close reading of Avoda Zara, arguably the Talmud's most scandalous tractate, to uncover the hidden architecture of this classic work of Jewish religious thought. She proposes a new way of reading the Talmud that brings it into conversation with the humanities, including animal studies, the new materialisms, and other areas of critical theory that have been reshaping the understanding of what it is to be a human being.
New Books Network podcast: Mira Beth Wasserman, “Jews, Gentiles, and Other Animals: The Talmud After the Humanities”
23 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.…