Tag: traditions

Memento Mori, Trick or Treat, and other deathly phrases

This time of year always has me in a writing mood (whether I get time to or not is entirely another story). Nonetheless, there’s something about the Fall months that seems to usher in a desire for pondering. Perhaps you’ve felt it too? Living in Florida, we don’t see the seasons change that drastically but […]

JOIN ME! 40 Days of Violence Begins Now – Lent 2020

Ashes aren’t so much a sign of our holiness as they are a sign of our humility. The observance of Lent is about manifesting your belief in the power of Christ to transform us. Your faith must be shown through works or else it is not actually faith-it’s magic. Lent focuses on the works of […]

Yom Kippur in the Days of Awe

“God, God, benevolent God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in kindness and truth; He preserves kindness for two thousand generations, forgiving iniquity, transgression and sin, and He cleanses.” (Words of the Amidah according to Exodus 34:6-7) On this Yom Kippur, May you always be reminded it is the Compassion of God which […]

Have You Confessed With Your Mouth? Repent in the Days of Awe

YOM KIPPUR in THE DAYS OF AWE: “Light is sown for the righteous, and for the upright in heart—joy.” In the Jewish Tradition, Yom Tov, a festive day; for although we stand prepared to be judged in the supernal courtroom for our deeds of the past year, we are confident that God is a merciful […]

How Do You Walk with God? Hatznei’a in the Days of Awe

Hatznei’a…, “Walk discreetly with your God” One must take care not to be conspicuous or ostentatious in the slightest. It is said, “Man should always be artful in piety.” The artfulness lies in seeing that his piety not be noticed at all. We know that a number of the early Chassidim concealed their true selves, […]