Only a comment. Beautifully said, resembling poetry, "looking at the flower in the cranny" (William Blake) and seeing the world. Thanks.
Submitted by: Bert Horwitz

Rabbi says: Thanks for the thoughts!

Enjoy listening and thinking about all of you as we "settle" into our winter quarters to the south of Asheville (not quite Egypt).
Submitted by: Jan and Tony Joseph

Rabbi says: Hope you are staying warm. Don't feel badly that we are covered in snow. Don't worry about us!!

The sweetness of gratitude... a theme we need to hear over and over. After observing prayer before meals with my daughter every day in Israel, I found a short blessing that suits me from the writings of Rabbi Shefa Gold. I've been saying it before our meal each night. "You are the Source of life for all that is and your blessing flows through (me) each of us." It feels good to take the moment to express gratitude. I love your podcasts!
Submitted by: Idelle

Rabbi says: I love that chant of Shefa's! It is actually from an Aramaic text written by the Talmudic rabbis as a shortened birkat hamazon, grace after meals. But your use of it is just as powerful!
Rabbi

Blessings to you Rabbi.
These youtubes and podcasts are the recipe allowing me to hear your messages as I am far East of Weaverview with foot,bike, or horse transport.
The "Light and Dark (via worst plague)"Bo Pintele Parsha is spoken so cleariy to me. I see the depths "of the Souls that lived in the light or the dark". Being led by Ra animal impulse or Tov self controll. How much are we spared from are"own selves", not seeing whom we really are? How much of individual selves can we handle without HaShems or our community of brothers and sisters support?
Poof gone. Your alone in a void. A description of this "true torture technique is in a book; "Cardinal of the Kremlin" (it is arround the center). It describes a woman put into a sensory depravation chamber. In the 80's folks were doing the same thing for"enlightenment". Some combined psyllicibin mushrooms! The difference was whether you ended up there by an unknown force, G_D in Bo (KGB or CIA in the book) or by choice.
We each have a Ra/Tov choice. Most humans are somewere between the two working with the Tov resisting the Ra. Saddeningly others are pure Evil as you mentioned.
I sincerly appreciate your time and thought into these podcasts. reaching out to those like me. Marc
Submitted by: marc stutzel

Rabbi says: I'm glad that the podcast waves are reaching you...

In the Ki Tissa podcast you mentioned Neil Pasricha's book of 1000 awesome things. Quite coincidentally I had just watched Neil's presentation on Ted.com - most impressive and moving. I'd recommend it to everyone. See it at http://www.ted.com/talks/neil_pasricha_the_3_a_s_of_awesome.html. It is awesome!
Submitted by: Gil Kempenich

Rabbi says:

We are having a Lenten study of Exodus at St. Lukes. Your podcast couldn't come at a better time. Are their any books that you might recommend for me to read for historical background?
Submitted by: Clare Barry

Rabbi says: THe JPS Commentary on the Book of Exodus edited by Nahum Sarna is the best study text I know on the historical angel on the text. Enjoy!