The Neshamah Project

In this episode of the Neshamah Project, Rabbi Ben Newman delves into the celebration of Tu B'Av, the Jewish Day of Love. Historically, this summer holiday served as a day of matchmaking, where young women donned white dresses and danced in vineyards. It also marked a significant turning point in Jewish history: the day when intermarriage between Jewish tribes was permitted, ending age-old divisio...

In this episode, we talk to Rabbi Michael Strassfeld about the future of Judaism and Torah in honor of the Hebrew month of Sivan and Shavuot. Text sheet is here:https://bit.ly/sivantexts

A short teaching from Reb Zalman Schachter-Shalomi's book "The First Step: A primer of Jews Spiritual Life" called mmaleh kol almin.

In this episode we interview Rabbi Jill Hammer, Phd. on the topic of Shechinah in honor of the Hebrew month of Nisan. The text sheet can be found here: bit.ly/shechinahpdf

In this week's episode we present Hasidic teachings on parshat Vayakhel as translated by Dr. Arthur Green. If you would like to support the work of this podcast and receive bonus content, become a patron here: https://www.patreon.com/TheNeshamahProject

In honor of the Hebrew month of Adar this episode contains an interview with Professor Nathaniel Berman on Sitra Achra (The Other Side) and an exploration of Evil in the world, in the Divine and in ourselves. We follow a text sheet created by Professor Berman which can be found here: bit.ly/sitraachra . If you would like to donate to help support the Neshamah Project Podcast, become a Patron here:...

In this episode I read a text sheet prepared by Professor Nathaniel Berman https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nathaniel_Berman on Sitra Achra (the Other Side)-- supernatural evil that can be found here: bit.ly/sitraachra

In this episode in honor of the month of Shvat when we celebrate Tu Bishvat (the New Year of the Trees), we have part one of our interview with Professor JH Chajes who wrote the recent book The Kabbalistic Tree (https://www.psupress.org/books/titles/978-0-271-09345-1.html) Also see ilanot.org. A wonderful discussion ensues! If you would like to purchase the book go to the above website and enter t...

Reading texts on the idea of the Tree of Life/ Etz Chayyim in honor of the Hebrew month of Shvat. Here is the text sheet: bit.ly/etzchayyimtexts or bit.ly/etzchayyim

Service at Pleasantville Community Synagogue led by Rabbi Ben Newman and Rabbi Shoshana Leis on 1/13/23.

In this episode Rabbi Laura Duhan Kaplan (https://www.sophiastreet.com/) Leads us through a text sheet prepared by Professor Daniel Matt on the idea of Devekut in Kabbalah.l Here is a link to the text sheet to follow along: bit.ly/devekut

In this episode we present texts on the idea of "devekut" (clinging or cleaving to the Divine) as collated by Daniel Matt here: bit.ly/devekut in honor of the Hebrew month of Tevet.

In this episode we explore quotes from the Zohar and other traditional Jewish sources, as well as a piece by Emmanuel Levinas on the human soul, and how we may approach the Infinite within us by contracting our egos.

In this episode Rabbi Ben Newman leads a short guided meditation on Or HaGanuz, the Hidden Inner Light of Awareness.

In this episode Rabbi Ben Newman interviews the acclaimed Professor Daniel Matt on the idea of Or HaGanuz (the hidden light) in honor of the Hebrew month of Kislev, and in particular, this text sheet that he prepared on the topic: bit.ly/thehiddenlight

In this episode, we present teachings on Or HaGanuz (The Hidden Light) from a series of texts compiled by Professor Daniel Matt. The link to the text sheet can be found here: https://bit.ly/thehiddenlight

In this episode we present teachings from Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi on "The spiritual path and the terrain of the soul." Enjoy!

Some teachings from HaTzaddik HaShotek (The Silent Tzaddik) Rebbe Mendel of Warka on the spiritual power of silence.

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.