What does full integration look like, for a woman who made the decision to choose Judaism later in life? Today, Rivka Gilles shares her journey to religious integration, what it has looked like for her to bring her full self to the table as a religious person, and how she navigates staying inspired through the grind of everyday life. || To find out more about The BT Center and to listen to Rivka’s podcast, Shuva Full Circle, visit btcenter.org || To sponsor an episode of Human & Holy, visit humanandholy.com/sponsor. To join our online community, visit humanandholy.com/community. To become a patreon of the podcast, visit patreon.com/humanandholy.

Turning Wings Into Roots with Rivka Gilles

Do you crave spiritual conversation that feels relevant to your daily life? Do you enjoy studying but can’t always find yourself in the text? This podcast is a space for experiential learning. Together, we will be exploring ideas in Jewish and Chassidic thought through the lens of real people’s experiences. How do they weave the sacred into the fabric of their lives? What relevance do mystical ideas have to their most intimate, human struggles? What does it mean to be both human and holy?

Religion & Spirituality

Other

Spirituality

Christianity

Buddhism

Hinduism

Judaism

Islam

What are the side alleys of growth that go unnoticed while we seemingly return to the same struggles, over and over again? What are the spiritual benefits of the more chaotic elements of our lives? And how can we navigate our own spiritual glass ceilings, to allow us to leap beyond our self perception and grow to our fullest potential?


Sources mentioned in this episode: 
Alter Rebbe's Discourse: Torah Ohr, 'Shir Hamaalos' Parsha Vayeshev
Lubavitcher Rebbe's Talk: Parshas Miketz תשׁי"ג, Farbrengen of the 5th night of Chanukah 


The siddur mentioned in this episode will be available for purchase on humanandholy.com in the coming weeks. To find out when the siddurim are live, sign up to our newsletter here: humanandholy.com/newsletter


We love hearing your feedback! Email us at info@humanandholy.com.
To sponsor an episode, reach out to us via email or visit humanandholy.com/sponsor.
Become a monthly supporter of the podcast on patreon.com/humanandholy.


To get in touch with Esther Shemtov, visit her website www.onyourownpodcast.com or email her at esther@mayanot.edu.



I’ve Made the Same Resolutions for Ten Years with Esther Shemtov

Join us for an evening with five women from different backgrounds, gathering to approach the holiday of freedom with a sense of wonder and exploration. We discuss the different voices that we reckon with in our Judaism, our experiences around sensitive mitzvos that are part of our daily lives, talk about the steps of the Seder, play a game, eat, and share poetry.


To download free conversation cards for your Seder based on each of the Seder steps, visit humanandholy.com/seder-prompts.


Timestamps:
0:15-2:43 Exploring the Seder With A Sense of Wonder
2:44-5:15 Introducing Our Guests
5:16-9:11 The Four Sons as Four Voices Within
9:12-10:29 Cookie Distribution & Rules of the Game
10:30-13:27 The Details of Shabbos 
13:28-17:23 Finding Our Tznius Without the Noise of Other People’s Perceptions
17:24-20:17 Struggles With Mikvah
20:18-25:37 Spirituality In Halacha
25:38-26:59 Game Winners & Prize
27:00-28:04 Perspective in Pause
28:05-29:00 Nurturing Curiosity In Our Judaism 
29:01-30:09 Learning How to Rest
30:10-31:37 Growth From Brokenness
31:38-32:58 Seeing G-d Everywhere
32:59-36:08 Rapid Fire Seder Prompts
36:09-37:46 Spoken Word Poem 
37:47-41:25 Ball Game & Reflections




Stay in touch with us! 
Instagram: @humanandholy
Email: info@humanandholy.com
Website: humanandholy.org




The song behind the Seder poem is called 'The Seder Song' by Zusha. You can find more of their music here:  @zusha  

Giving Voice to Freedom: An Evening to Explore the Meaning of the Seder in Our Lives

Next week, we're dropping a video episode (for the first time!) on Youtube and Spotify that I can only describe as a farbrengen reimagined. In anticipation, I shared some thoughts about the underrated benefits of getting together with other women to give voice to our souls.

The Underrated Gift of a Farbrengen

A conversation about the relationship between joy and humility in our lives, and the way an understanding of G-d's presence in our lives can bring us to true joy. || To sponsor an episode of Human & Holy, visit humanandholy.com/sponsor or email us at info@humanandholy.com. To become a monthly supporter, visit patreon.com/humanandholy.

The Joy of Humility with Chayale Hershcovich

A conversation with Yaffy Newman, an American-Israeli woman whose husband is fighting on the front lines of the current war, on her experiences on October 7th and beyond, the ways we can show up to help, and the ideas that are keeping her strong. || To sponsor an episode of Human & Holy, visit humanandholy.com/sponsor or email us at info@humanandholy.com. To become a monthly supporter, visit patreon.com/humanandholy.

Turning Wings Into Roots with Rivka Gilles

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