In this week's Torah portion of Chayei Sarah, we meet Isaac for the very first time since he was nearly sacrificed by his father, Abraham. When we meet Isaac in his state of PTSD, we find him out in the field meditating before the sun is ready to set. Isaac is no longer content to trust his mental (let alone physical) health to other people. Instead, he takes his fate, happiness, and general well being into his own hands (and God's), and sets out to be alone in a field to meditate and center himself.

"Looking up, Abraham saw three men standing near him. As soon as he saw them, he ran from the entrance of the tent to greet them." What about those that don't run to grab an opportunity or tackle a challenge? It's important to remember that psychologists say that "procrastination is an emotion regulation problem, not a time management problem.”

In the Talmud, it is taught that "everyone has a share in the World To Come except for some, this includes the one who humiliates another in public and one who calls another by a derogatory name." When we are called by our chosen name (or title, or pronouns, or whatever it may be) we are seen for who we really are. When others refuse to call us by this name and we demand it of them, it means we see ourselves for who we are and know that we are worthy of respect and love in all situations.

One of the many best selling books of Rabbi Harold Kushner is called "When Bad Things Happen to Good People" however most people often think it is called "Why Bad Things Happen to Good People". Yet there is no why or why not. Chaos is simply baked into the fabric of the universe. Chaos can be destructive but it can also be creative. Is the reason we come down with an illness or get dumped because we are sinners? Some stories in the Torah say yes - but others say no, chaos is just the natural state of affairs.

Meditation Impromptu 02 by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license.

Welcome to the new season of the 'Raising Holy Sparks' podcast. This year, we will be focusing on the ideas of Judaism and will strive to take them out of the theoretical and instead turn them into the practical. Dr. Dan Siegel taught 'name it to tame it'. The idea was for people to label emotions to reduce stress and anxiety. An intention that I offer you all: What is a blessing or a challenge that you are going through this week? Name it!

Asking for help is a trait that must be practiced. In the book of Exodus it is Moses' father-in-law that suggests that the Israelite leader create a system of delegates. Yet, in our parsha of Devarim, it is Moses himself that asks for help. Either way, the importance of seeking support reigns supreme.

This week's torah portion is the source of the 3rd paragraph of the Shema/VeAhavta and it instructs us to wear 'tzit-tzit', the fringes at the corners of our garments. How powerful can a ritual to wear fringes be? This uniform custom has been practised by the Jewish people across time and space. While the Shema and the Ve'Ahavta may not be as emotional as other Jewish prayers, it has grounded our people in ritual for thousands of years.

The real focus of the Ten Commandments is not how a 'person' acts; instead, it is about how 'people' respond to one another. The hope is not that we be perfect beings but rather that we be present and engaged ones. Each commandment is an invitation to be a better partner in the relationship. I Am a Man Who Will Fight for Your Honor by Chris Zabriskie is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license.

In Hebrew, writing 'in the desert' is spelled using the same four letters as writing 'through the act of speaking'. Both speech and deserts can lead to great confusion. What is the oasis when it comes to communicating our emotions? - Song!

In Exodus the Israelites are commanded to observe Shabbat. In this week's torah portion they are commanded to allow the land to rest every seven years - Shemitah. While there are economic benefits to rest and renewal, there are also many economic fears. Nevertheless, mitzvot are not given based economic impact, rather based on soul impact. Although it is scary or challenging to cease creating, counter-intuitively it is precisely this cessation that creates a new version of ourselves.