Tattoos and Torah

New beginnings require us to look inward, muster up some bravery, and take action. When we prime ourselves and move into these new beginnings, we get to forge a path of change for ourselves and find not only strength, but wisdom and insight in the process. We exercise our sovereignty and proclaim to ourselves and to the world - I MATTER. I have God-given, intrinsic value to be, to exist...

God-shots, moments of clarity or near death experiences happen to people all the time… These phenomena are hard to explain, but they create a profound, lasting impact for many. These moments influence our own understanding of faith, God, spirituality and soul. In this episode of Tattoos and Torah, we dive into the power of the near death experience, and the ways in which they can serve as the port...

From the moment we are born and draw our first breath, we start the countdown to the day we give out our last one. This clock is inherent to our lives. Birth, in fact, starts the clock. Life causes it. Our challenge while we’re here is to honor every moment of life, to witness it’s precious uniqueness and make sure we create meaning out of it. The sacredness of life is in the tension between fleet...

Our oceans cover 71% of Earth’s surface: that’s serious presence. And yet, we mistreat them, fear their majesty, and abandon them to pollution, poison and trash. From a spiritual perspective, when we start the book of Genesis, we read that God’s spirit floats above the water. This primordial essence, the vital part of our existence, is there: setting the stage, cradling life, and containing all of...

Who are you really? How do we find out the language of our self? The language your soul? How do we find our passion? Ignite our creativity? Why is it important in recovery? This episode is for you if you want to get on your way to have more creativity, more meaning and more spirituality in your life? Wonder is the source of creativity, self expression and the moments we stand back and appreciate t...

Why is it so hard to talk about sex and intimacy? We are conditioned to feel shame when it comes to sex, intimacy and our wants. We are not taught how to communicate what feels good to us and what we want from our partners. How do we overcome that? How do we take control of our own body and our pleasure? And how does this all connect to our recovery, spirituality and creativity? In this episode of...

Are you looking for love? How do we maintain it once we “have” it? How does one find it? In this episode we will talk about all these and how to understand ourselves better and what love is… Consider this: Like most things in life it’s not easy. But it can be done meaningfully. The ancient greeks had six different definitions or varieties of LOVE. Looking at love from their perspective can inspire...

Why surrender ? Why is it important and how do I do it? As a spiritual person, as a spiritual leader I strive to find spirituality and I’ve created a community around me of people that help me do that. But this world is harsh and unforgiving and we are also in constant tension between our intent of a more mindful life and the harsh reality of it of the world that does not always make it easy to ma...

Psychologist Seth Menachem and rabbi Iggy discuss the ins and outs of therapy. Examining the difference between spiritual counseling and therapy they find the similarities and major differences in their approaches to the human condition. How do you know who is a good therapist? How to choose one and what does the therapist really think of you? are some of the questions they answer. Along with talk...

Are you finding that your role as a parent or caregiver is amplifying during this pandemic? Are you wearing more hats now? Are you tasked with navigating family life, home life, work life, your personal passions and projects?. . The question we can ask ourselves at this time is: What is my role as a parent, caregiver and supporter of others? And how do I want to show up for my role and my family?....

“For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction” said Sir Isaac Newton. In our quest for a life of meaning we often find that every decision we make has a consequence (might not be immediate though). That the world often finds a way to balance out what we put into it.  Our creative forces allow us to imagine a new life, a new world for ourselves. We can choose the narratives we tell abo...

We all strive to feel and be independent ! To feel we have choices and that we can whitstand what life throws at us! But what does independence mean to you? and how do we achive it ? Here are a few ways to get you on the path to achieve independence and self reliance. I offer a few actionable suggestions for stepping up and taking the first steps towards achieving our goal of personal independence...

You’re not broken! Your learning environment is If you think about it, we live in a culture that’s designed for one dominant learning and teaching style . However, one of MANY things this pandemic has taught us is that that’s a LIE. Teaching within one style to accommodate one type of learner corrodes our collective capacity to learn (and disregards the diverse array of learning styles that  make...

In a conversation with Jeffrey Leavell we explore the story of LGBTQI+ identity, pride and integrity . We talk about being sex positive and how we can use our recovery to help us in understanding our own life and others. We of course also discuss the community and it’s challenges and successes.

This episode of Tattoos And Torah Rabbi Iggy talks about the power of rigorous honesty. How embrace truth and authenticity as a way of life. This year, the year 2020 might stand for 20/20 vision. Perfect 20/20 vision! Maybe that’s what this year is, a super clear, honest and brisk moment.  We get to see clearly for the first time. We get to face ourselves, our society. Our life. We get to examine...

Lets talk about how to find freedom? The quest for it is long and never without challanges. Both inner and outer freedom have to be won, earned and carfuly carved out for ourselves. Lets learn how to take inventory? deal with privilage and bring awernes. Lets get practical!

Jess Lipman (Mindfulness + Mindset Coach) and I dive into the intersections of Judaism and mindfulness. Why it’s so important to to lean into life? How can these two frameworks and philosophies guide us in cultivating deeper fulfillment.? If you want that VIBRANCY and vitality in life we can help.

Breaking the Shanda is about an honest conversation about what so many of us are going through. fear, isolation, anxiety and stress. Its about mental health awareness and about courage authenticity and some comfort that comes from an unexpected place.

Talking and learning with the author of the new book Turtle Boy, Evan Wolkenstein. Discussing mystery, connection, life’s meaning, our emotions baggage, recovery and grief.

Let’s talk about the experience of ‘otherness’, of Feeling different. Being a gay rabbi is not common. ImLooking at life through that lens what is teaches me...

Learning with comedienne and author Sara B (from the amazing well this isn’t normal podcast) We discuss mental health, recovery , origins stories and wigs...

What gives us grit? What can we do to have more courage and strength ? The stoic way to look at life .

Studying with Rabbi Mark Borovitz this week about forgiveness , amends , appeasement and the lessons of this corona virus desert.

How do we use this moment to grow or how do we just sit with ourselves and not judge or ignore our feelings. Learning about our inner self , observing feelings and about mediation, tattoos recovery and poetry

Learning with rabbi Tova from LA . We discuss fragility and strength, vulnerability and authenticity, spirituality and our own lives dealing with the pandemic .