Sukkot: Happiness is Holiness

Torah teaches that the goal of life and the source of true happiness is holiness. We are holy when we are whole — integrated and harmonious with our inner self, with our nation, with the rest of humanity, with nature and with G-d. This is accomplished through fulfilling the Commandments …

Spare Change: The Secret to a Personal Change and a Blessed New Year

“Teshuva (repentance), tefilah (prayer), and tzedakah (charity) annul (even the most) severe decree.”                                                             —-From the Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur prayers The Talmud teaches: “Tzedaka saves from death.”   When we need an incredible influx of life force — because we are facing impending physical death or impending spiritual death, the act …

Secrets to a Great New Year

Building the Kingdom of Consciousness The Kabbalah teaches, “There is no king without a nation.” This point requires deep exploration especially on Rosh Hashanna when we acknowledge G-d as our King. It may make sense that, in the human world, a king is dependent on having subjects who acknowledge his …