Beneath The Surface – Details, episodes & analysis

I joined Rabbi Mark Wildes on his podcast for a wide ranging discussion. In his words:

There is a deep yearning for spiritual experience and meaning among the young Jewish community. Rabbi Daniel Bortz, better known as The Millennial Rabbi has gained social-media fame through his focus on meditation, Kabbalah, and Torah wisdom for achieving happiness. Rabbi Wildes speaks with Rabbi Bortz about all this and more in this inspirational and informative conversation that will leave you thinking about "God" in a whole new way.

Timestamps:
1:30 - Millennials and Torah
12:30 - Nature of God
15:00 - Rationalism vs. Mysticism
20:00 - Happiness
30:00 - Power of Prayer
37:00 - Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

I joined the High Noon Podcast to discuss Jewish views of love, intimacy, and healthy relationships.

In their description: Rabbi Daniel shares with us the mystical teachings of Jewish, the significance of marriage, and how sexuality is viewed from the Judaism perspective. He discusses the negative impacts of pornography and how a Rabbi like himself can help someone who is struggling with addiction. He also talks about the importance of having a positive mindset in life and the value of separating work from home and family.

I spoke with Holocaust survivor and best-selling author Dr. Edith Eger about her resiliency and perspective during her trauma, and her visualization of a better future. How can we find light in the darkness? Can we see how in spite of our past troubles, we can find strength and live meaningful, impactful lives?

This week, we read about the building of the Mishkan in the desert – a home for God designed by Betzalel, as directed by Moses. But a difference of opinion arises in the order of creation: Moshe asks that the vessels be built first, and then the structure of the building. Betzalel says the structure should come first, and only then the vessels are placed inside it. When Moshe hears this, he agrees and adds that this is truly God's Will. What's the deeper idea behind their differing perspectives? The answer may be found in the covering of the Ark - the Kruvim

I discussed with Micaela Ezra her life's journey and how she found meaning in her Jewish learning; how we can become more intentional in our lives, elevating our homes into sacred spaces, and modeling a meaningful  life for our children.

This week we read about the infamous creation and worship of the golden calf, perhaps the greatest human mistake since Adam and Eve ate from the tree of knowledge. Throughout the Torah God implores us not to worship idols. But in today's world, this seems extremely strange: Where did a deep desire for worshiping inanimate objects come from? 

Mordechai responds to Esther: "Do not think that you will escape the fate of all the Jews by being in the king's palace. For if you will remain silent at this time, relief and salvation will come to the Jews from another source, and you and the house of your father will be lost. And who knows if it is not for just such a time that you reached this royal position."

At that moment, God called to the soul of Moshe and said to her: "My daughter, I assigned you 120 years in Moshe's body. Now the time has come for you to depart. Emerge and do not delay." She responded: "Master of the Universe, I know that You are the Master of all spirits and the Master of all souls. You created me and You placed me in Moshe's body for 120 years. And now, is there a body in this world purer than that of Moshe? I love him and I do not wish to depart from him!"

At that moment none of the mysteries of Torah and the secrets above and below were withheld from them, for they saw the radiance of their Master's glory eye to eye [Zohar]

"They did not see each other, and no one rose from his place for three days, but for all the children of Israel there was light in their homes." [Exodus 10:23]

The darkness was tangibly felt, so powerful that those seated couldn't rise from their place. I wonder if this darkness was internal, a depression – a dark feeling of the mind that there's no reason to arise.

Perhaps the light the people of Israel found amidst the darkness was internal, a feeling of Divine connectivity that illuminated a purpose and meaning to the world around them.

'One does not become enlightened by imagining figures of light but by making the darkness conscious.' [Carl Jung]