The Neshamah Project

This week Rabbi Ben discusses a poem by Marge Piercy, and talks about the power of blessing as having awareness of what IS in the current moment.

In this episode we explore the power of intention in language and eating through commentaries on the Torah portion of Noach by The Baal Shem Tov and Menachem Nachem of Chernobyl.

This week we discuss Sukkot using a Yehuda Amichai (below) as our jumping off point. We welcome guests Rabbi Shoshana Leis, Rabbi David Siff, and Michael Safranek Yehuda Amichai poem: http://www.phys.unm.edu/~tw/fas/yits/archive/amichai_amaninhislife.html

Teachings on the Jewish New Year and the story of the Clever and Simple Men from Rebbe Nachman of Bratslav.

The traditional piyyut (song/poem) Ben Adam, as sung by Rabbi Ben Newman.

A short meditation on the sounds of the shofar (ram's horn) in honor of the Hebrew month of Elul and the upcoming Jewish New Year.

In this episode Rabbi Ben Newman reads a mindfulness-influenced translation of Psalm 27 from Rabbi Sheila Peltz Weinberg.

In this episode, Rabbi Ben introduces us to the spiritual preparation of the month of Elul (the month leading up to the High Holy Days) via an excerpt from Rabbi Alan Lew on Elul and this week's Torah portion Parshat Re'eh. He also ends with a reflection on his time at the Rising Song Institute summer gathering with Joey Weisenberg, and a poem he wrote about the power of music.

In this episode of the Neshamah Project podcast, we discuss Parshat Eikev with spiritual teacher Maggid Rav Charna Rosenholtz. Our discussion ranges from awareness of causes and conditions in life to R' Isaac Luria, to Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi, to Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh. Come along on this journey!

In this episode of the Neshamah Project podcast, we discuss Parshat Eikev with spiritual teacher Maggid Rav Charna Rosenholtz. Our discussion ranges from awareness of causes and conditions in life to R' Isaac Luria, to Pythagoras, to the circle and the line, to Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh. Come along on this journey! (NOTE THIS IS THE UNCUT VERSION)

In this episode, Rabbi Ben Newman discusses the Jewish holiday of T"u B'Av (15th of Av) in the context of Miriam the Prophetess, Moses, Isaiah, the Talmud, masculine and feminine, transgender theory, Rabbi Kalomymous Kalman HaLevi Epstein, mysticism, the Messianic age, and the recognizing the Divine in all beings.

In this episode Rabbi Ben Newman discusses Tisha B'Av and presents several selections from the Talmud on why the Temple was destroyed followed by a midrash (creative spiritual story) by Rabbi Arthur Ocean Waskow on how to move beyond destruction toward the messianic age.

In this week we consider the idea of pleasure and sensuality and spirituality through the lens of the Torah commentary of Rabbi Menachem Nachum of Chernobyl on this week's Torah portion, Matot-Masei, as well as Thich Nhat Hanh and Thubten Chodron.

In this episode, Rabbi Ben Newman presents a brief exploration of the ideas of "Nothingness," the letter aleph, the numbers zero and one and they represent unlimited potential, and the necessary step in any transformation. He presents wisdom from Rabbi Lawrence Kushner, as well as the fiction author Ruth Ozeki, and the Zen master Shunryu Suzuki.

In this episode Rabbi Ben Newman is joined by Rabbi Shoshana Leis to discuss Parshat Korach. Touched upon is Modernism, Postmodernism, and Integral theory among other topics.

In this episode insights on the Torah portion Shlach Lecha, and the worlds we create with our minds. Comments from Maggid of Mezrich and Zeev Wolf of Zhitomir.

Rabbi Ben Newman delves into this week's Torah portion, Be-Ha'alotcha, with the commentary of the Gerer Rebbe Yehuda Leib Alter of Ger which focuses in on the ideas of time, space, and person as well as thought, speech, and action.

In this 14th episode of the Neshamah Project, Rabbi Ben Newman discusses G!d as seen through a Hasidic commentary on the Torah portion Naso. He also presents a story from Rebbe Nachman of Bratslav, and a new song based on the Priestly Blessing.

In this 13th episode, Rabbi Ben Newman discusses the final sefirah called Malchut or Shechinah through the writings of Hillel Tzeitlen, Rabbi Dr. Arthur Green, Rachel Pollack, and Rabbi Lynne Gottlieb.

A song for peace, love and comfort based on the Priestly Blessing from the Torah.

In this episode, Rabbi Ben Newman introduces us to the Sefirah of Yesod (AKA Tzaddik) through the writings of Hillel Tzeitlin, Arthur Green, and Rachel Pollack.

In this episode Rabbi Ben Newman introduces us to the Sefirah of Hod and the 33rd day of the Omer (Lag BaOmer) which is the aspect of Hod she-be-hod. He does this through texts from Art Green, Laibl Wolf, Rachel Pollack, Talmud, Shulchan Aruch, Isaac Luria and Yerachmiel Yisrael Yitzchak of Aleksander.

In this episode Rabbi Ben Newman continues his exploration of the 7 lower sefirot of Kabbalah and the Omer period with three texts on the sefirah of Netzach- "eternity, endurance."

In this episode, Rabbi Ben Newman presents texts from Sefer HaBahir, Rabbi Hillel Tseitlen, Rabbi Dr. Arthur Green, and Rachel Pollack on the Sefirah of Tiferet which represents balance, harmony, truth, and compassion.

In episode 8 of the Neshamah Project podcast, Rabbi Ben Newman continues his study of the weeks of the Omer and introduces us to the Sephirah of Gevurah or Din (strength/judgement). This sephirah represents limits and boundaries. He reads texts from: Talmud, Tanya, Menachem Nachum of Chernobyl, R' Dr. Arthur Green, and Rachel Pollack.