Torah of Life

Welcome back, friends. Thanks for tuning in to the Torah of Life podcast. In this episode, I recap my January adventures and teaching opportunities and share some of the key highlights I learned along the way. It's beautiful to be a part of recovery conversations in so many places. Where will I go next? Stay tuned!   If you'd like to know more, join the Our Jewish Recovery group on facebook - it's free to join, and all are welcome. www.facebook.com/groups/OurJewishRecovery - please answer the questions that pop up when you ask to join.   To see more about the inspiring work of Anne Marie Zanfagna and Angels of Addictions, click here: https://teens.drugabuse.gov/blog/post/portraits-heartbreak-and-hope-mother-paints-raise-awareness-about-opioid-use-disorder and here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LuX8i6cUqvY   Thanks again for listening! Have a comment, a question, or a thought about today's episode? Be in touch - I'd love to hear from you. You can find me at rabbiilan@torahoflife.com   I'll be back soon with the next episode. In the meantime, let's keep adding happiness, holiness, and healing to the world.   Blessings!

A short bit of wisdom for you... It's amazing what lessons you can learn just from opening your eyes and paying attention. Yesterday the leaves taught me something, and I hope they'll teach you as well.   Thanks for listening to the Torah of Life podcast. May you be blessed with Happiness, Holiness, and Healing.   Rabbi Ilan

Welcome back my friends to the Torah of Life podcast. So glad to be back with you. It's been too long! In this episode, I share with you where I've been, what I've been up to, and what I'm hoping to do going forward with this show. There are good things in store for this show in 2020 and beyond. I shared a quote from Bahya ibn Pakuda, taken from Alan Morinis's Everyday Holiness, the Jewish Spiritual Path of Mussar (page 5): I knew many good ideas were rejected because of fear, that dread causes a lot of damage, and I recalled the expression, "Be careful not to be too careful!" I realized that if everyone who ever resolved to do something good or instruct others in the path of righteousness kept still until he himself could accomplish everything he set out to, that nothing would have been said since the days of the prophets." Ain't that the truth? Down with fear, up with changing the world! Great to be back, have a listen to the show, and I'll see you again soon!   Happy New Year, Rabbi Ilan

Thanks for listening to the Torah of Life podcast. Sorry for the post so quick to Shabbat (on the East coast anyway). Here's a quick teaching about why life sometimes feels so hard. Why do we get all these tests anyway? Shouldn't life be easier? Torah seems to be clear that when we find God, and surrender ourselves into God's will, the tests become obstacles for continued growth. Perhaps the tests are the way forward to the next stage of our evolution. (Or perhaps not. What do you think?)   Shabbat Shalom, Rabbi Ilan

Freedom! Finally, after generations of slavery, the Israelites leave Egypt, cross the sea, and escape the shackles of tyranny that had been binding them. Their freedom is hard-earned, and almost didn't happen. A clever marketing trick by the Holy One kept them from being scared and wanting to turn back to Egypt (at least in this instance!). What was that secret and how can it help you in your own business? Listen to this episode to find out! "The Long Way Home" by Roger Hodgson and Richard Davies of Supertramp. No copyright infringement intended.   Thanks for listening. If you like the show, please leave a rating and review on itunes or your favorite podcast platform. Wishing us all a Shabbat of peace - like our ancestors, it may take a long way home to get there, but it almost always feels good when we arrive. Shabbat Shalom.

Friends, What do we do when darkness surrounds us? When we can't find a way forward, we can feel paralyzed, stuck, stranded on a deserted island of complicated choices and realties. How can we find our way out of the darkness? A surprising comment by Zev Wolf of Zhitomir on this week's Torah reading offers insight as to why the darkness surrounded the Egyptians for three days, and why it didn't affect the Israelites. That same insight can help us find our way out of darkness as well. May it be so for us all! Thanks for listening to the Torah of Life podcast. Like what you hear? Let me know! Hate what you hear? Let me know that too! We've got more special guests lined up for the near future. Want to share your story and wisdom on air? Be in touch - rabbiilan@torahoflife.com As always, reviews and ratings of the podcast are especially appreciated. Thanks for being on this journey with me - you're the best, and I'm very grateful. Shabbat Shalom, Rabbi Ilan

Here we are, it's 2019, and the Torah of Life podcast is back and better than ever! Why have I been silent since Thanksgiving? Listen to this episode for an update on the book I've been writing! (OMG, I wrote a book!) You can preorder it here: https://www.amazon.com/God-Created-Recovery-Addiction-Unleash-ebook/dp/B07K91J9C2 I've missed you since Thanksgiving and am so glad to be back and sharing inspiration for our better future. I believe that each of us has miracles inside waiting to be born. I believe that we are all gifts sent here by God to help perfect the world in some way. I believe that we are all beautiful, wonderful, amazing beings of light and wisdom, AND that the world is a hard place to live, and all too often we forget the greatness inside. How do we reclaim our hope for a better year? How do we find wisdom and strength to keep on keepin' on, even when the outside world looks so grim? How do we choose a better future when all that we know tells us just to hold on to the present? I think you'll be surprised by the wisdom of this week's Torah reading, which challenges us to find our way with the help of angels sent to help us on our journeys. When we step into our greatness, magical things will happen. Our troubles won't disappear, but new seeds of wonder and joy will seep through and gradually rewrite our hardwiring. My plan is to keep working on mine and make 2019 the best year I've ever had. I hope it is for you as well. Thanks so much for listening to the Torah of Life podcast. Like what you hear? Email me at rabbiilan@torahoflife.com and let me know, or leave a rating and review on iTunes and spread the word. We are back, with lots of great content coming your way in 2019. May this be a year of blessing and joy for us all. Shabbat Shalom, Rabbi Ilan    

Happy Thanksgiving! What are your Thanksgiving traditions? Food? Football? Family and friends? Getting ready for Black Friday? Whatever your traditions are, I hope it's a wonderful day for you. Didn't you always want to know why Thanksgiving is on Thursday? And who started Thanksgiving in America anyway? Listen to today's episode to find out!   Thanks for listening to the Torah of Life podcast, your home for transformational wisdom from a Jewish lens. Like what you hear? Please share the episode with your friends, subscribe to the show and leave us a rating and review on iTunes, or your favorite podcast platform. Have something to say about what you heard today? Great! Be in touch at rabbiilan@torahoflife.com I'll be back again soon with the next episode. Many blessings, Happy Thanksgiving, and Shabbat Shalom, Rabbi Ilan

Welcome back to the Torah of Life podcast. Thanks for listening. The unspeakable tragedy in Pittsburgh last Shabbat left so many at a loss for words. How could this happen? Will it happen again? Are we safe in America? What has become of the freedom for everyone to worship and live in peace? And how can or should we respond to the tragedy? These questions aren't easy, and there is no one right answer. Interestingly, death is a central character in this week's Torah reading, which begins with Sarah's death and burial, and continues with Avraham and Ishmael dying. Isaac gets married to Rebekah and the story will continue. Even amidst the death of his mother, Isaac found a will to go on. Perhaps we can as well. This week's episode is dedicated to the eleven souls who dies in synagogue last week, the injured, the brave police offers who responded to the shooting, and to all who are working to brighten the world with acts of kindness. May the memories of the departed be for a blessing.   Thanks for listening to the Torah of Life podcast, your home for transformational wisdom from a Jewish lens. Like what you hear? Please share the episode with your friends, subscribe to the show and leave us a rating and review on iTunes, or your favorite podcast platform. Have something to say about what you heard today? Great! Be in touch at rabbiilan@torahoflife.com I'll be back again soon with the next episode. Many blessings, and Shabbat Shalom, Rabbi Ilan

Welcome back to the Torah of Life podcast. Thanks for listening. In this episode I share a commentary which talks about the destruction of Sodom and Amorah can teach us about the people who live there, and about the effects that living in a culture of violence and sin might have upon the inhabitants of the city then, and on us today. I share a findings of a few scientific studies that show how closely connected we are to the friends we keep, which means that we have to make sure we are keeping the right company. Are your friends, colleagues, and loved ones supportive of your growth? Is it time for some new friends to come in to your life? Today's podcast tells you why that just might be necessary. Thanks for listening to the Torah of Life podcast, your home for transformational wisdom from a Jewish lens. Like what you hear? Please share the episode with your friends, subscribe to the show and leave us a rating and review on iTunes, or your favorite podcast platform. Have something to say about what you heard today? Great! Be in touch at rabbiilan@torahoflife.com I'll be back again soon with the next episode. Many blessings, and Shabbat Shalom, Rabbi Ilan

Welcome back to the Torah of Life podcast. Thanks for listening. Over there, it'll be better over there! All I have to do is sign on the dotted line and all will be well, right? How often have we convinced ourselves that the key to getting all we want lies in a purchase? How often have we tried to know that one more thing is the answer to our prayers? Shiny object syndrome has been around as long as humans have walked the face of the earth. In this week's Torah reading, Lot, Avram's nephew, sees only that the land for his cattle is fertile. He doesn't see that it's located in a terrible place to live, from which he would soon need rescuing. Why do we chase shiny objects? How do we avoid it? Listen to today's episode for some biblical clues...   Thanks for listening to the Torah of Life podcast, your home for transformational wisdom from a Jewish lens. Like what you hear? Please share the episode with your friends, subscribe to the show and leave us a rating and review on iTunes, or your favorite podcast platform. Have something to say about what you heard today? Great! Be in touch at rabbiilan@torahoflife.com I'll be back again soon with the next episode. Many blessings, and Shabbat Shalom, Rabbi Ilan

Welcome back to the Torah of Life podcast. Thanks for listening. As I was reading the story of Noah today, I realized something I'd never seen before. Ever since I was young I was told the story of Noah and how he saves the world by building an ark and bringing all the animals on board. What I didn't notice until today is that Noah doesn't speak! God comes to him and asks him to save the world and he just does exactly what God wants, no questions asked. The Torah describes Noah as righteous in his generation. The Rabbis contrast him with Avraham, who argues and pushes back against God when God destroys Sodom and Gomorrah. Noah accepts his divine mission and fulfills it immediately. Avraham pushes back against his. Moses fights his tooth and nail. There is a simplicity and a surrender to Noah that I think we can all emulate. What kind of tzaddik are you? Should you be more like Noah or more like Avraham? Listen to the episode to find out...   Thanks for listening to the Torah of Life podcast, your home for transformational wisdom from a Jewish lens. Like what you hear? Please share the episode with your friends, subscribe to the show and leave us a rating and review on iTunes, or your favorite podcast platform. Have something to say about what you heard today? Great! Be in touch at rabbiilan@torahoflife.com Want to step more into your divinely-ordained mission? Want to reach your goals with clarity and ease? I'm offering listeners a free, hourlong session where we discuss your future and how we can work together to help you have the life you're looking for. Email me today for a free consultation. I'll be back again soon with the next episode. Many blessings, and Shabbat Shalom, Rabbi Ilan

Welcome back to the Torah of Life podcast. Thanks for listening. Congratulations on making it through another High Holiday season! Now we've made it into 5779, and we begin the Torah with fresh eyes. The beginning chapters of the Torah describe the lushness of the garden and God's desire to create life. Adam and Eve come along and promptly get themselves kicked out of the garden for not following the rules. Why don't they do as God told them? On this episode I offer a slightly heretical view that maybe they were SUPPOSED to get kicked out of the garden, in order to set off on grand new adventures and learn what it means to be human. Do you agree? Disagree? Let me know! As mentioned on the podcast, I'd love to help you get from where you are to where you want to be. If you're looking for practical coaching techniques, spiritual wisdom, and a healthy dose of humor to inspire you to achieve new heights, please let me know and we can see if working together might be a good fit. I know that 5779 has great things in store, if we're brave enough to claim them. Email me for a free, no strings attached consultation where we can begin helping you create the life you've wanted and get closer to your goals. Thanks for listening to the Torah of Life podcast, your home for transformational wisdom from a Jewish lens. Like what you hear? Please share the episode with your friends, subscribe to the show and leave us a rating and review on iTunes, or your favorite podcast platform. Have something to say about what you heard today? Great! Be in touch at rabbiilan@torahoflife.com I'll be back again soon with the next episode. Many blessings, and Shabbat Shalom, Rabbi Ilan

Welcome back to the Torah of Life podcast. Thanks for listening. Wait, there are MORE Jewish holidays this week? Really? Haven't we had enough? Well, just a few more days, but don't skip over these last days! Shemini Atzeret is, according to today's guest Kohenet Sarah Chandler, the pinnacle of the High Holiday season. Given that few Jews have heard of Shemini Atzeret that sounds crazy. And yet, she may very well be right. You've heard of Rosh Hashanah. You've heard of Yom Kippur. You're probably familiar with Sukkot, and Simchat Torah. Shemini Atzeret? That's what I thought, my friends, that we should just relegate this holiday to the dustbin of Jewish history and put us out of our holiday misery. And then I read Sarah's piece about Shemini Atzeret a few years back and it stuck with me ever since. Listen to today's interview so you can understand why this might just be the most important Jewish holiday, and what it can teach us about what's really important, and needed, today. (And then go have lots of fun on Simchat Torah too!). To hear more about Sarah's work, visit her and read more of her writings at: https://www.facebook.com/shamirpowerproductions/ https://groknation.com/soul/spiritual-practices-urban-dwellers/ https://groknation.com/health/mobile-games-meditation/ https://www.jta.org/2015/10/01/life-religion/why-shemini-atzeret-is-the-pinnacle-of-the-high-holidays-season-2 The Geshem prayer Sarah referenced can be found here: http://www.neohasid.org/resources/geshem/ Thanks for listening to the Torah of Life podcast, your home for transformational wisdom from a Jewish lens. Like what you hear? Please share the episode with your friends, subscribe to the show and leave us a rating and review on iTunes, or your favorite podcast platform. Have something to say about what you heard today? Great! Be in touch at rabbiilan@torahoflife.com I'll be back again soon with the next episode. Many blessings, Rabbi Ilan

Welcome back to the Torah of Life podcast. Thanks for listening. Thanks again to those of you who've been listening for the last year. As I shared in the last podcast, it's been a topsy-turvy journey learning about podcasting, life, and Torah. Thanks for being on the journey with me! Today I share a few thoughts about Sukkot. What on earth is this harvest holiday for? Why does it always rain when we're supposed to be celebrating outside? (Why is there so much rain in my soup?!? I'm trying to be one with the earth over here!) I think Sukkot reminds of the fragility of life - we've just been through Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, we let go (hopefully) of a lot of sins and excess baggage, and then we need to think about our physical space in the world. What do we need inside our house? What does living in the outdoors for a week call upon us to think and do? Listen in as I share some insights and a brief teaching from Or HaEmet, a book of teachings by Dov Baer Friedman, the Maggid of Miedzyrzec. You can find that teaching on page 185 of Speaking Torah: Spiritual Teachings from around the Maggid's Table by Rabbis Art Green, Ebn Leader, Ariel Evan Mayse, and Or Rose. This 2-volume set is highly recommended! What do you think is the message of Sukkot today? What does it call upon you to do? Let me know what you think! Thanks for listening to the Torah of Life podcast, your home for transformational wisdom from a Jewish lens. Like what you hear? Please share the episode with your friends, subscribe to the show and leave us a rating and review on iTunes, or your favorite podcast platform. Have something to say about what you heard today? Great! Be in touch at rabbiilan@torahoflife.com I'll be back again soon with the next episode. Many blessings, Rabbi Ilan

Holy moly, we've reached the 1st birthday of the Torah of Life podcast! What an amazing year of learning and growth it has been as we continue growing this podcast and making it even more amazing than it is. In this episode, I take a walk down memory lane and share a few of the lessons I've learned over the last year of this adventure. If you've ever tried to do something for the first time, or if you're thinking about moving in a new direction, I think these lessons will resonate with you. My thanks to everyone who wished me a happy birthday yesterday. How did I get to be 39? This past year has been an amazing ride, with the high of marrying and living life with Sherri and the low of burying my father, and everything in-between. Thank you for all your support and encouragement this year. It has meant more than I can possibly convey. If you haven't yet subscribed to the show, please do. I also really appreciate those who've left 5-star ratings and reviews of the podcast, which helps more listeners find the show. If you haven't done so, can you take a minute and do that for me? Thanks so much. I'm excited for the next year of the Torah of Life podcast, and I hope you are as well. We've got great things in store, so buckle up, and get ready for even more adventure! Who would you like to hear on the podcast? What topics would you like to hear about? Where do you find meaning in the world? Let me know - I'd love to hear from you. Please email me at rabbiilan@torahoflife.com Wishing us all a wonderful year ahead - may 5779 be holier and happier than 5778, and may we all find more wisdom, inspiration, healing, and hope in the year ahead. Happy New Year, and Shabbat Shalom, Rabbi Ilan  

How do we forgive others for the harm they've done to us? What about those terrible actions that are truly unforgivable? How do we let go of those, or at least learn to carry them differently? I was honored to chat last week with my friend and fellow transformation coach Taylor Tagg, who is also a forgiveness expert. Taylor gives us concrete actions we can take to forgive others, so we can find the peace we're looking for.   Taylor offers workshops in Memphis and speaks widely. You can see more of his work at www.forgiveandfindpeace.com I encourage you all to visit his website, order his books, and forgive others. As Taylor wisely says, "life gets better when you let go of the bitter." The Ted talk by Sarah Montana which Taylor mentions can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEK2pIiZ2I0 As we get close to Yom Kippur, I encourage us all to find ways to let go of the old wounds that no longer serve us, and to write new endings to the stories of hurt we've carried for too long. May we all be blessed to forgive others, to be forgiven, and to find peace.   Thanks for listening to the Torah of Life podcast, your home for transformational wisdom from a Jewish lens. Like what you hear? Please share the episode with your friends, subscribe to the show and leave us a rating and review on iTunes, or your favorite podcast platform. Have something to say about what you heard today? Great! Be in touch at rabbiilan@torahoflife.com I'll be back again soon with the next episode. Many blessings, and Shanah Tova. May 5779 be a wonderful year for us all. Rabbi Ilan

Welcome back to the Torah of Life podcast. Thanks for listening. What gets us through the difficult times? Our Torah and Haftarah readings imply that when we surrender ourselves to God, and believe that God is with us, then God will fight our battles with us, walk alongside us, and give us direction, guidance, and strength for the road ahead. As we get closer to Yom Kippur, that's a message I can believe. It's not always easy to believe that God is with us. Sometimes we may not even want God to be so close. And yet, I believe that belief in God and God's support allows us to feel that we're never alone in the world, and that no matter how bad things might be, they can get better with God's help, if we're willing to do the work needed to be God's partner in the world. Do you agree? Does God help us when we need or is that just a story we tell ourselves? I'd love to hear your thoughts. Thanks for listening to the Torah of Life podcast, your home for transformational wisdom from a Jewish lens. Like what you hear? Please share the episode with your friends, subscribe to the show and leave us a rating and review on iTunes, or your favorite podcast platform. Have something to say about what you heard today? Great! Be in touch at rabbiilan@torahoflife.com I'll be back again soon with the next episode. Many blessings, Shabbat Shalom, and Shanah Tovah - may it be a good year for us all. Rabbi Ilan

Welcome back to the Torah of Life podcast. Thanks for listening. When a holiday comes, we are often happy to celebrate it with family and friends. What happens when we our family or friends have died and they can't be with us anymore? How do we celebrate the holidays while holding the loss of our beloveds? Can we still enjoy the holidays without them? Can we still be at peace on our own? Today I share some wisdom from my dad, Rabbi Mel Glazer, who died in April. He was a grief specialist, and his words of wisdom are giving me solace as I mourn him on this first Rosh Hashanah without him. The blog post of his that I reference can be found here: https://vapresspass.com/2016/04/15/the-empty-chair-around-the-holiday-table-by-rabbi-mel-glazer/ May the memories of all we mourn be for a blessing, and may we hold the pain of their loss and still find comfort and meaning in all who we can still celebrate with. Shanah Tova.   Thanks for listening to the Torah of Life podcast, your home for transformational wisdom from a Jewish lens. Like what you hear? Please share the episode with your friends, subscribe to the show and leave us a rating and review on iTunes, or your favorite podcast platform. Have something to say about what you heard today? Great! Be in touch at rabbiilan@torahoflife.com I'll be back again soon with the next episode. Many blessings, Rabbi Ilan

If we feel we have gone astray from God, or from being who we want to be in the world, how do we return? If our life circumstances have taken us down a road which doesn't support us, how can we come back? It is not in the heavens, says Moses to the Israelites, and it is not across the ocean. It is right here, in front of us, today, that we have a choice to make. Will we choose life? I believe that choice has to be made each and every day. That's often hard to do. Thankfully, the rewards make the journey worthwhile, and life worth living. May we say yes and choose life today and every day! Thanks for listening to the Torah of Life podcast, your home for transformational wisdom from a Jewish lens. Like what you hear? Please share the episode with your friends, subscribe to the show and leave us a rating and review on iTunes, or your favorite podcast platform. Have something to say about what you heard today? Great! Be in touch at rabbiilan@torahoflife.com I'll be back again soon with the next episode. Shabbat Shalom, and Shana tova, Rabbi Ilan