Stepping Stones to Jewish Spiritual Living

by Mirel, James L.; Werth, Karen Bonnell

• ISBN13: 9781580230032
• ISBN10: 1580230032
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 1998-06-01
• Publisher: Jewish Lights Pub

Summary

Spiritual activities, meditations, prayers, and rituals can easily become integrated into our daily routines. "Everyday Judaism" is a practical and informative guide to Jewish spiritual activities, both traditional and creative, that can help us transform our everyday actions into sacred acts of mindfulness.

Table of Contents

How to Use This Book	xiii
Cornerstones and Fundamentals	xv
Sunrise: Dawn---Awakening to Life	1	(30)
Our Purpose---How to Be Holy	2	(4)
Breath---The Creative Force	6	(3)
The Light---The Sustaining Force	9	(3)
Releasing the Light, Repairing the World, Tikkun Olam	12	(3)
The Practice of Mindfulness	15	(2)
Self-Examination: Hitbonenut	17	(2)
Washing and Caring for the Body	19	(4)
Morning Prayer, the Sh'ma, and the Prayer Shawl, Talit	23	(5)
Conclusion: Finding Peace	28	(3)
Morning: Going on Our Way, Doing Our Work	31	(26)
The Journey: Hearing, Trusting, Following	32	(3)
My Work, My Job---Service to the Holy One	35	(2)
My Work, My Job---Middot, or The Seven Characteristics of Work	37	(4)
My Work, My Job---Honesty, Fairness, Truth	41	(3)
My Work, My Job---Honoring Life	44	(2)
My Work, My Job---The Soul's Joyful Work	46	(3)
Money---Making a Living, Borrowing from the Earth	49	(2)
Money---A Trust from God	51	(2)
Money---The Flow of Abundance, Tsedakah	53	(3)
Conclusion---Our True Wealth	56	(1)
Noon: Mealtime, Gratitude, Hospitality	57	(16)
Connecting to Our History	58	(4)
Mealtime: What---and How---We Eat Matters	62	(6)
Hospitality: Sharing Food with Others	68	(3)
Conclusion: Feeding the Soul	71	(2)
Afternoon: Relationships---Family, Friends, Community, God	73	(36)
The Nature of Relationships	74	(3)
Communication in Relationships	77	(6)
A Loving Partnership	83	(3)
Parent-Child Relationships	86	(6)
Siblings---My Brother, My Sister, and I	92	(3)
Friendship	95	(3)
Our Relationship with Community	98	(5)
Our Relationship with Place---The Land of Israel	103	(3)
Conclusion: Our Relationship with God	106	(3)
Evening: Leisure---Recreation, Study, and Prayer	109	(18)
Renewing the Spirit---Personal Endeavors	110	(2)
Renewing the Body---Recreation (``Re-Creation'')	112	(3)
Renewing the Mind---Torah and Other Jewish Holy Books	115	(6)
Renewing the Heart---Prayer	121	(5)
Conclusion: Loving Ourselves, Loving Others, Loving God	126	(1)
Night: Pain, Loss, Death, and Healing	127	(28)
Pain---Physical Illness	128	(4)
Pain---Emotional Distress, Anger, Fear	132	(4)
Pain---Spiritual Doubt and Guilt	136	(4)
Pain---Enemies	140	(4)
Pain---Death and Loss	144	(4)
Healing the Pain---Refu'ah	148	(5)
Conclusion: Out of Our Darkness	153	(2)
Midnight: Mysticism, Sexuality, and Creation	155	(32)
Mysticism---Turning Prophecy into Action	156	(5)
Living with Angels	161	(5)
Mysticism---The Tree of Life	166	(6)
Creation and Sexuality	172	(4)
The Power of Love	176	(4)
Sabbath/Shabbat, Wholeness/Shalom, Messiah/Mashiach	180	(4)
Conclusion: Awakening the Dawn!	184	(3)
Epilogue	187	(2)
Acknowledgments	189	(2)
Notes	191	(6)
Sources	197	(2)
Suggested Readings	199