Peeling a Pomegranate

Yarzheits of Amazing Jewish Women

While preparing the Rosh Chodesh Guide for Cheshvan, I learned that several really amazing women's yartzheits fall during this month. A traditional one that many may be familiar with is Rachel Emeinu, Rachel the Matriarch. I've posted rituals for observing her yarzheit in the past. But this year I learned ...

Rites of Passage

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="450" caption="Pomegranates - CC copyright Ketzirah"][/caption] October is a busy month for me this year. I had known for several months that I would be officiating a Simchat Bat (Blessing of the Daughter), but all of a sudden I had a wedding to officiate and another baby blessing! The ...

Cheshvan: Still Waters Run Deep

[caption id="attachment_961" align="aligncenter" width="488" caption="Photo (c) D Sharon Pruit. Used via Creative Commons Copyright "][/caption] ~ Excerpt from Rosh Chodesh Guide for Chesvhan. Like what you see? Subscribe! ~ Cheshvan is month, like Elul, with no holidays. Elul lets us prepare for the flurry of activity that happens with all the ...

Tishrei: Finding Our Spiritual Balance

[caption id="attachment_943" align="aligncenter" width="499" caption="Photo (c) D Sharon Pruit. Used via Creative Commons Copyright."][/caption] ~ Excerpt from Rosh Chodesh Guide for Tishrei. Like what you see? Subscribe! ~ Tishrei is the head of our spiritual year. It is one of the four Jewish New Years, but over the generations it ...

Spiritual Practice

I recently decided to dive into a deeper study of Jewish practices and ended up reading two books simultaneously. It's easier on a Kindle, because I don't have to lug both books around. I found the experience of reading these two books together brought a very well rounded perspective to ...

Being Where I'm Needed

[caption id="attachment_934" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="I tend to wear more clothes than this."][/caption]One of my favorite bloggers, the Bliss Chick, wrote a challenging post recently asking what the point of all this "enlightement" and spiritual growth is. She's pointing out something that many of us have noticed. Too many people are ...

Archangel Tarot Spread

I've been reading The Rituals & Practices of a Jewish Life: A Handbook for Personal Spiritual Renewal and found that it spurred more than a few interesting ideas. I'll write more on the book later, but one of the ideas that the section on the Kriat Shema, or bedtime shema, ...

Peeling a Pomegranate Rosh Hashanah 2009/5770

Come and join in the 7th annual Peeling a Pomegranate Rosh Hashanah service/ritual, once again sponsored by Becoming. This service/ritual is perfect for Renewalniks, Earth-based Jews, Jewitches, Jewish Pagans, Pagans of Jewish Ethnicity, or anyone who feel that annual call of the ancestors, and wish to celebrate the “birthday of the ...

Elul 5769 Torah Study

Join me for an exploration of the Rosh Hashanah Torah & Haftarah portions as preparation for the new year. There is no charge for this, and you are free to attend as much or as little as you like. You can participate on whatever level is comfortable for you. You may ...

Elul: I am my beloved's and my beloved is mine

(excerpt from Elul - Wheel of the Year Guide) Elul is a gateway month. It is the gateway between the year that was and the year that will be. It is also a month of action, even though it may be appear to be a month of introspection. One of the first ...