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 What is Mikvah? Why is it an important commandment in Judaism? In this episode, I share with you my first experience with Mikvah and explain the symbolism behind this ancient ritual.

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Poem by Cynthia Wallace

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What does it mean to trust G-d? How do we learn to trust G-d? I answer these questions by providing examples from the Torah, from Jewish theology and from my own experiences. 

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House of David - series on Netflix

Nachum Ish Gamzu - Jewish sage

Quote by Alan Watts 

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Did you know that names have the power to shape a person's destiny? Names are said to be keys to the soul. As you will learn from this episode, names can even be self-fulfilling prophecies. So choose your children's names wisely! And see what you can find out about yourself and your family history through your own name.

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In this yummy episode, I recount my experience at chef Chanie Apfelbaum's kosher cooking demonstration. I share the knowledge I acquired regarding cooking kosher meals and I sprinkle some useful information about food blessings and the story of Purim. Below you will find three complete recipes that I mention in the episode, as well as names of Apfelbaum's cookbooks and ways to find this chef on social media.

Chef Chanie Apfelbaum's cookbooks:

Millennial Kosher

Totally Kosher

website: https://busyinbrooklyn.com

Instagram: @busyinbrooklyn

For my photos from the demonstration, visit my Instagram and TikTok @lovetohealpodcast

Recipes:

Jeweled Hummus:

Ingredients:

2 cloves garlic

¼ cup + 1 Tbsp lemon juice

2 tsp kosher salt

½ tsp cumin

1 cup tahini paste

½ cup ice water

2 cans chickpeas, rinsed and drained

Toppings:

3 Tbsp each: raw pistachios & slivered almonds

1 large carrot, julienned

1 Tbsp grapeseed oil

2 Tbsp grapeseed oil

2 Tbsp sugar

Juice of 1 orange

2 Tbsp olive oil

1 large onion, thinly sliced

¼ tsp each cardamom, cumin, turmeric, cinnamon

½ tsp salt

3 Tbsp pomegranate seeds

Rose petals, zaatar, olive oil (optional)

Instructions:

1. Hummus: Blend garlic, lemon juice, salt, cumin, tahini, and saffron water in  a food processor until smooth. While running, add ice water. Blend chickpeas until creamy. Adjust seasoning and consistency as needed.
2. Toppings: Saute carrots in grapeseed oil for 5 minutes, then add sugar and orange juice, cooking until glazed. Caramelize onions in olive oil for 20 minutes, then stir in spices and salt.
3. Assemble: Spread hummus in a shallow dish, creating a well in the center. Top with onions, carrots, nuts, and pomegranate seeds. Garnish as desired.

Arayes Board:

Ingredients:

1 small onion, chopped

2 cloves garlic

½ cup parsley

1 ½ lbs ground beef

1 tsp each: cumin, allspice, salt

½ tsp pepper

6 pitas

Grapeseed oil

Instructions:

Blend onion, garlic, and parsley in a food processor. Mix with meat and spices. Fill each pita half with ⅓ cup of meat mixture, flattening evenly. Grill cut side down for 5 minutes, then 5 minutes per side. Finish in 400 degrees F oven if needed, until meat reaches 160 degrees F.

Serve with hummus, tahini, Israeli pickles, Israeli salad, red cabbage slaw, sumac onions, harissa, and amba

Marbled Halva Mousse 

Ingredients:

8 oz whipped topping, thawed

½ cup tahini   

3 Tbsp silan or honey

1 tsp vanilla extract

Sea salt, to taste

¼ cup chocolate chips

Shredded halva, pistachios, raspberries (option for topping)

Instructions:

Whip topping until stiff peaks form

Gently fold in tahini, silan, vanilla, and salt

Melt chocolate chips and fold into half of the mousse

Pipe vanilla and chocolate mousse into cups, either side by side in one bag for a marbled effect or layered separately

Top with halva, pistachios and raspberries 

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Continuing with the topic of science behind the benefits of religion, I explain in this episode how the practice of religion offers an impressive, time-tested array of psychological technologies that augment our biology to help us solve problems that biological adaptation alone hasn’t been able to solve. So why forsake the numerous, priceless tools available to us in religion? As I always do, I share my personal experience with religion in the hopes of inspiring more and more people to give religion a chance.

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“How God Works” by David DeSteno

sociologist Robert K. Merton

Quote by Adeline Foster

Contact me:

[email protected]

Instagram and TikTok @lovetohealpodcast

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Inspired by the book "How God Works" I explore the numerous benefits of religion revealed through scientific studies and experienced by religious peoples across the world.

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Book "How God Works" by David DeSteno

Quote by Albert Einstein

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After dreaming an extremely vivid and memorable dream about a certain number, I had to find out the meaning behind it. In this episode, I share information about the significance of numbers in spirituality, as well as a method of interpreting Jewish texts using numbers in place of letters in the Hebrew alphabet called gematria.

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The complex biblical story of Jacob and Esau revealed levels of meaning. As I read it and studied it, I felt a strong connection to Jacob. His is a story of accepting fate and finding peace within himself, being happy with what God intended for him and ceasing to wish to be someone else. In this episode, I share my personal story of how I used to want to be someone I was not destined to be, and how internal conflict of my identity affected the world around me. I explain how this biblical story teaches us to believe in ourselves, in our unique design because God has a different plan for every one of us. 

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Quote by Judy Garland

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Inspired once again by Rabbi Jonathan Sack's books "Not in God's Name" and "Morality", this episode is an analysis of religion's past, present and future. In agreement with Sacks, and other spiritual leaders, I argue that religion is necessary for humankind's survival. I spell out the benefits of religion, focusing on the Abrahamic, monotheistic faiths, and share my personal experience of why I chose religion over spirituality. 

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Quotes by Rabbi Jonathan Sacks

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This episode is a Bible-based explanation for why hatred exists amongst religious groups, ethnic groups, and amongst people in general. Besides the Bible, I bring forth important commentary from some of the most influential spiritual leaders, historians and psychologists of our time. All agree that the only way to combat hatred in the world is through love and the understanding of our oneness - we are all equal under the skin, we all have a spark of God in us and have a purpose here on earth. It's time we let go of our hate and look to the future instead of the past. It's time we stop blaming the "other" for our problems and instead unite with the "other" to create a diverse and accepting society.

Mentions:
Martin Luther King
French historian and literary critic Rene Girard
Former Prime Minister of Israel David Ben Gurion
Rabbi Jonathan Sacks
Book: Girl in the blue coat
Quote by Psychologist Viktor Frankl

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