Rabbi Cy Stanway's Podcast

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You can spend your whole life waiting for clarity, or you can start walking and let clarity catch up. We wrestle with the Torah’s “Lech Lecha” and why the usual translation “go forth” feels too polite for what the Hebrew is doing. God asks Abraham to move first and see later, no map, no brochure, no proof that the destination will be worth the cost. That discomfort is the point, because most real purpose is discovered in motion, not in advance.

From there I tell a story many of us think we know, but hear differently when framed as a spiritual calling: Florence Nightingale. At sixteen she sensed a summons toward the brokenness of hospitals, yet she waited for years, trapped between duty and reputation, between inspiration and the fear of what the neighbors would say. When she finally stops asking for permission and chooses to go, her life becomes a case study in courage, service, leadership, and how meaningful work often begins before you feel ready.

We also talk about mortality, not as doom, but as urgency. The awareness that our days are numbered can paralyze us, or it can propel us into the life we keep postponing. If you are facing a hard decision, a career change, a move, a relationship leap, or a long-ignored inner voice, this conversation offers Jewish wisdom and practical encouragement for taking the next step without guarantees. If it resonates, subscribe, share with a friend who needs a push, and leave a review so more listeners can find the show.

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In this episode, I take a look at the symbolism of Simchat Torah and how it can be a paradigm for our lives.

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A short reflection on Shabbat Shuva, the Shabbat between Rosh Hashanna and Yom Kippur

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My Shanna Tova thoughts

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A short High Holiday thought

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In this episode, I explore why a simple produce tithe turned into a whole megillah of Jewish history.

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In this episode I speak about the interesting ritual of bikkurim and the text reminding us where we have been and where we are now.  

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This is my Parashat Shoftim discussion with the congregation during Shabbat morning service

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A Shabbat reflection on tzedek, tzedek tirdof - justice, justice you shall pursue

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