http://www.examiner.com/x-16088-Ancient-Jewish-Wisdom-Examiner?cid=exrss-Ancient-Jewish-Wisdom-Examiner en-us Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:28:32 -0700 Thu, 01 Oct 2009 08:27:42 -0700 BlogCFC http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss http://www.examiner.com/x-16088-Ancient-Jewish-Wisdom-Examiner~y2009m10d1-Sukot-Secrets-A-festival-that-is-far-more-than-meals-in-a-leanto?cid=exrss-Ancient-Jewish-Wisdom-Examiner Sukor is the third of the four festivals of the Jewish harvest season -- Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur having been the first two, during which we gleaned from our fields and from our insides what is good, and dispatched what is not so good to the comp... Thu, 01 Oct 2009 08:27:42 -0700 http://www.examiner.com/x-16088-Ancient-Jewish-Wisdom-Examiner~y2009m10d1-Sukot-Secrets-A-festival-that-is-far-more-than-meals-in-a-leanto?cid=exrss-Ancient-Jewish-Wisdom-Examiner http://www.examiner.com/x-16088-Ancient-Jewish-Wisdom-Examiner~y2009m9d22-Wine-Women-and-Song-A-Teaching-About-Yom-Kippur?cid=exrss-Ancient-Jewish-Wisdom-Examiner  The first-century Rabbi Shimon ben Gamliel referred to YomKippur as one of the most festive days on the Hebraic calendar.   Yes, yes, I know. You were about to guess Purim as one of them, and maybe Chanukah as the second. Sorry. I gue... Tue, 22 Sep 2009 13:57:07 -0700 http://www.examiner.com/x-16088-Ancient-Jewish-Wisdom-Examiner~y2009m9d22-Wine-Women-and-Song-A-Teaching-About-Yom-Kippur?cid=exrss-Ancient-Jewish-Wisdom-Examiner http://www.examiner.com/x-16088-Ancient-Jewish-Wisdom-Examiner~y2009m9d9-On-the-Question-of-Good-and-Evil-An-impulsive-observation-of-a-rarelytackled-question?cid=exrss-Ancient-Jewish-Wisdom-Examiner  While studying the teachings of the 18th-century Rabbi Eliyahu ofVilna (the Vilna Ga'on) recently, I came upon this amazing teaching: "When the evil impulse will be removed, so will prophecy" (Seder Olam; also quoted in Meschech Choch... Wed, 09 Sep 2009 01:05:42 -0700 http://www.examiner.com/x-16088-Ancient-Jewish-Wisdom-Examiner~y2009m9d9-On-the-Question-of-Good-and-Evil-An-impulsive-observation-of-a-rarelytackled-question?cid=exrss-Ancient-Jewish-Wisdom-Examiner http://www.examiner.com/x-16088-Ancient-Jewish-Wisdom-Examiner~y2009m9d9-An-Emotional-Lesson-About-Emotion-What-is-it-and-how-can-we-harness-it-in-a-healthy-way?cid=exrss-Ancient-Jewish-Wisdom-Examiner I was recently asked when it was that God created emotion. I searched through the entire story of Genesis in the Torah and could not find any mention of God saying: “Let there be emotion.” So I grew impatient, furious, frustrated, angry, ... Wed, 09 Sep 2009 00:54:31 -0700 http://www.examiner.com/x-16088-Ancient-Jewish-Wisdom-Examiner~y2009m9d9-An-Emotional-Lesson-About-Emotion-What-is-it-and-how-can-we-harness-it-in-a-healthy-way?cid=exrss-Ancient-Jewish-Wisdom-Examiner http://www.examiner.com/x-16088-Ancient-Jewish-Wisdom-Examiner~y2009m9d9-Of-Snakes-Dreams-and-Livelihoods--Slithering-between-worlds-while-trying-to-earn-a-living?cid=exrss-Ancient-Jewish-Wisdom-Examiner   I was strolling through the Talmud one day and came across thisinteresting discussion concerning dreams: "One who sees a snake in their dream, it is a sign that their livelihood is at hand. And if the snake bites, it means their inco... Wed, 09 Sep 2009 00:45:30 -0700 http://www.examiner.com/x-16088-Ancient-Jewish-Wisdom-Examiner~y2009m9d9-Of-Snakes-Dreams-and-Livelihoods--Slithering-between-worlds-while-trying-to-earn-a-living?cid=exrss-Ancient-Jewish-Wisdom-Examiner http://www.examiner.com/x-16088-Ancient-Jewish-Wisdom-Examiner~y2009m9d9-To-Cling-or-Not-to-Cling-A-teaching-about-when-to-try-how-much-and-when-not?cid=exrss-Ancient-Jewish-Wisdom-Examiner I found this great ancient midrash concerning four archetypes of the warrior in Jewish tradition.  It goes like this – literal translation: David said to God: “I am going to pursue my enemies and destroy them.”  Assa ... Wed, 09 Sep 2009 00:39:44 -0700 http://www.examiner.com/x-16088-Ancient-Jewish-Wisdom-Examiner~y2009m9d9-To-Cling-or-Not-to-Cling-A-teaching-about-when-to-try-how-much-and-when-not?cid=exrss-Ancient-Jewish-Wisdom-Examiner http://www.examiner.com/x-16088-Ancient-Jewish-Wisdom-Examiner~y2009m9d9-The-Fear-of-Intimacy--An-ancient-lesson-about-how-to-love-more-deeply?cid=exrss-Ancient-Jewish-Wisdom-Examiner   In one of his final speeches to the ancient Israelites in the hotblazing desert of Pa'ran in the Land of Mo'ab at the eastern shore of the Jordan, the great Hebrew prophet Mosheh (Moses) reminded them of the collective revelatory experien... Wed, 09 Sep 2009 00:33:57 -0700 http://www.examiner.com/x-16088-Ancient-Jewish-Wisdom-Examiner~y2009m9d9-The-Fear-of-Intimacy--An-ancient-lesson-about-how-to-love-more-deeply?cid=exrss-Ancient-Jewish-Wisdom-Examiner http://www.examiner.com/x-16088-Ancient-Jewish-Wisdom-Examiner~y2009m9d9-HomeBrewn-Armaggedon-Dealing-with-the-end-of-times-begins-at-home?cid=exrss-Ancient-Jewish-Wisdom-Examiner  Armaggedon is a household word these days, borrowed (of course)from the ancient Hebrew prophecies around the end of days. Inthe Hebrew vernacular, the event is described as a great battlebetween the forces of Go'g and the Land of Israel (Ezekie... Wed, 09 Sep 2009 00:23:20 -0700 http://www.examiner.com/x-16088-Ancient-Jewish-Wisdom-Examiner~y2009m9d9-HomeBrewn-Armaggedon-Dealing-with-the-end-of-times-begins-at-home?cid=exrss-Ancient-Jewish-Wisdom-Examiner http://www.examiner.com/x-16088-Ancient-Jewish-Wisdom-Examiner~y2009m9d9-Of-Sticks-and-Stones--Honoring-nature-as-she-is-even-while-using-her-resources?cid=exrss-Ancient-Jewish-Wisdom-Examiner      The Jewish way of building of homes requires us to always leaves a little corner deliberately undone to signify the ongoing process oflife, of Creation, that there is no end, only middles. In fact, the Hebrew in Genesis ... Wed, 09 Sep 2009 00:18:11 -0700 http://www.examiner.com/x-16088-Ancient-Jewish-Wisdom-Examiner~y2009m9d9-Of-Sticks-and-Stones--Honoring-nature-as-she-is-even-while-using-her-resources?cid=exrss-Ancient-Jewish-Wisdom-Examiner http://www.examiner.com/x-16088-Ancient-Jewish-Wisdom-Examiner~y2009m9d9-One-More-Minute--How-a-moment-of-hesitation-can-prolong-your-life?cid=exrss-Ancient-Jewish-Wisdom-Examiner  Here's a great teaching from the ancient rabbis: "Had Adam and Eve waited just one more day before eating of the Forbidden Fruitthey would not have been kicked out of Paradise."  Wow. What a concept. To hesitate, to wait just a l... Wed, 09 Sep 2009 00:15:07 -0700 http://www.examiner.com/x-16088-Ancient-Jewish-Wisdom-Examiner~y2009m9d9-One-More-Minute--How-a-moment-of-hesitation-can-prolong-your-life?cid=exrss-Ancient-Jewish-Wisdom-Examiner http://www.examiner.com/x-16088-Ancient-Jewish-Wisdom-Examiner~y2009m9d9-Bernie-Madoff-the-Holy-Thief--A-lesson-about-Karma?cid=exrss-Ancient-Jewish-Wisdom-Examiner A lot of people are furious at Bernie Madoff who made off with billions upon billions of dollars that were invested with him by numerous non-profit organizations, as well as a handful of actors and other individuals.  I, for one, am grateful to ... Wed, 09 Sep 2009 00:03:12 -0700 http://www.examiner.com/x-16088-Ancient-Jewish-Wisdom-Examiner~y2009m9d9-Bernie-Madoff-the-Holy-Thief--A-lesson-about-Karma?cid=exrss-Ancient-Jewish-Wisdom-Examiner http://www.examiner.com/x-16088-Ancient-Jewish-Wisdom-Examiner~y2009m9d9-The-Shadow-Knows--A-frolic-with-the-mystery-and-gift-of-the-moment?cid=exrss-Ancient-Jewish-Wisdom-Examiner  There is a 2900-year-old Jewish addage that goes lke this: "Thelife of a human is like a breath exhaling; his days are like a passing shadow" (Psalms 144:4).  The ancient rabbis, add:"Not like the shadow of a wall, nor like ... Tue, 08 Sep 2009 23:55:45 -0700 http://www.examiner.com/x-16088-Ancient-Jewish-Wisdom-Examiner~y2009m9d9-The-Shadow-Knows--A-frolic-with-the-mystery-and-gift-of-the-moment?cid=exrss-Ancient-Jewish-Wisdom-Examiner http://www.examiner.com/x-16088-Ancient-Jewish-Wisdom-Examiner~y2009m9d9-Which-is-Better--Here-or-There---Thoughts-about-where-to-focus-earth-or-heaven?cid=exrss-Ancient-Jewish-Wisdom-Examiner A 2,000 year old Jewish teaching:  When a woman and a man prepare to make love, God calls on the Angel of Pregnancy, who is called Night, and says: "Tonight this one and that one are going to get pregnant. Go down there and make certain the... Tue, 08 Sep 2009 23:47:56 -0700 http://www.examiner.com/x-16088-Ancient-Jewish-Wisdom-Examiner~y2009m9d9-Which-is-Better--Here-or-There---Thoughts-about-where-to-focus-earth-or-heaven?cid=exrss-Ancient-Jewish-Wisdom-Examiner http://www.examiner.com/x-16088-Ancient-Jewish-Wisdom-Examiner~y2009m8d7-Digging-Your-Own-Grave-An-Ancient-Lesson-About-Undoing-Your-Karma?cid=exrss-Ancient-Jewish-Wisdom-Examiner THE DAY THE DIGGING STOPPED: A TEACHING ABOUT TU B’AHVFROM RABBI GERSHON WINKLER Listen to this one.An ancient rabbinic teaching.While we were trekking through that forty-year desert journey way back when, our ancestors had this strange cu... Fri, 07 Aug 2009 00:16:41 -0700 http://www.examiner.com/x-16088-Ancient-Jewish-Wisdom-Examiner~y2009m8d7-Digging-Your-Own-Grave-An-Ancient-Lesson-About-Undoing-Your-Karma?cid=exrss-Ancient-Jewish-Wisdom-Examiner http://www.examiner.com/x-16088-Ancient-Jewish-Wisdom-Examiner~y2009m7d21-Mooning-the-Sun--Eclipsing-overwhelming-challenges-with-your-tiny-soul?cid=exrss-Ancient-Jewish-Wisdom-Examiner So dark, low, sad, solemn, tragic, yuk, is this new moon we know in the Hebraic tradition as the Moon of Ahv. “When the Moon of Ahv arrives,” the ancient rabbis taught, “we decrease our joyfulness” (Talmud, Ta’anit 26... Hebraic Wisdom for Biding Your Time on Earth Tue, 21 Jul 2009 03:14:29 -0700 http://www.examiner.com/x-16088-Ancient-Jewish-Wisdom-Examiner~y2009m7d21-Mooning-the-Sun--Eclipsing-overwhelming-challenges-with-your-tiny-soul?cid=exrss-Ancient-Jewish-Wisdom-Examiner http://www.examiner.com/x-16088-Ancient-Jewish-Wisdom-Examiner~y2009m7d8-The-Joys-of-Six-How-to-think-outside-the-box-while-living-inside-the-box?cid=exrss-Ancient-Jewish-Wisdom-Examiner  Yes, I know. You were hoping it was a typo. Sorry. Maybe another time. This time, however, I want to share a tidbit of ancient wisdom around the joys of Six.  We read in our ancient writ the great joy and celebration that occurred some 3,0... Hebraic Wisdom for Biding Your Time on Earth Wed, 08 Jul 2009 21:40:27 -0700 http://www.examiner.com/x-16088-Ancient-Jewish-Wisdom-Examiner~y2009m7d8-The-Joys-of-Six-How-to-think-outside-the-box-while-living-inside-the-box?cid=exrss-Ancient-Jewish-Wisdom-Examiner http://www.examiner.com/x-16088-Ancient-Jewish-Wisdom-Examiner~y2009m7d6-The-Cost-of-Urgency?cid=exrss-Ancient-Jewish-Wisdom-Examiner The second-century Rabbi Tarfon was best known for his practical aphorisms, one of the most famous being: "The work is not upon you to finish; nor are you exempt from trying" (Mishnah, Avo't 2:16). This lesson appears to discourage urgency,... Mon, 06 Jul 2009 13:23:14 -0700 http://www.examiner.com/x-16088-Ancient-Jewish-Wisdom-Examiner~y2009m7d6-The-Cost-of-Urgency?cid=exrss-Ancient-Jewish-Wisdom-Examiner http://www.examiner.com/x-16088-Ancient-Jewish-Wisdom-Examiner~y2009m7d6-Love-and-Barley?cid=exrss-Ancient-Jewish-Wisdom-Examiner A long long time ago, my people celebrated a 49-day ritual of the barley offering as we counted the days between the onset of Spring and the advent of Summer -- between the holiday of Passover and the festival of Shavuot (Leviticus 23:11) -- between ... Mon, 06 Jul 2009 13:04:49 -0700 http://www.examiner.com/x-16088-Ancient-Jewish-Wisdom-Examiner~y2009m7d6-Love-and-Barley?cid=exrss-Ancient-Jewish-Wisdom-Examiner http://www.examiner.com/x-16088-Ancient-Jewish-Wisdom-Examiner~y2009m7d6-Pain-Management-JewishStyle?cid=exrss-Ancient-Jewish-Wisdom-Examiner They say of Rabbi Chayyim of Kosov (18th century) that he would dance joyfully every Shabbat eve, a solo dance, waving his arms and kicking up his feet in the center of the synagogue while his followers surrounded him in a circle and watched. He danc... Life Wisdom Mon, 06 Jul 2009 12:39:02 -0700 http://www.examiner.com/x-16088-Ancient-Jewish-Wisdom-Examiner~y2009m7d6-Pain-Management-JewishStyle?cid=exrss-Ancient-Jewish-Wisdom-Examiner