Podcasts Archives - Jewish Sacred Aging

[https://i0.wp.com/jewishsacredaging.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/SOM20250606.00_10_10_00.Still176.png?resize=678%2C381&ssl=1]https://i0.wp.com/jewishsacredaging.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/SOM20250606.00_10_10_00.Still176.png?ssl=1 On this week’s episode of the Seekers of Meaning TV Show and Podcast, Rabbi Address explores the multifaceted nature of caregiving with Barry Jacobs and Julia Meyer, co-authors of the AARP Caregiver Answer Book [https://amzn.to/43NqmLK]. Jacobs and Meyer discuss the emotional, financial, and spiritual challenges faced by caregivers, emphasizing the importance of planning, support systems, and self-compassion. Barry and Julia also provide insights into the complexities of caregiving, including long-distance care, end-of-life decisions, and the psycho-spiritual transformations that occur during this journey. [https://i0.wp.com/jewishsacredaging.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/1140-caregiving-book.imgcache.rev_.web_.300.395.jpg?resize=300%2C395&ssl=1]https://amzn.to/43NqmLK If you’re among the millions of people annually who take on the role of providing unpaid care to family, friends, or neighbors, you are sure to face tough questions. How do I coordinate the care my loved one needs? How can I get other relatives to pitch in? Who pays for all this? Husband-and-wife psychologists Barry J. Jacobs and Julia L. Mayer — who have counseled family caregivers for over 30 years and cared for their own aging parents for a decade — have answers. Written in a Q&A format, this easy-to-navigate guide is packed with information, problem-solving and coping ideas, resources, stories, and communication tips. Drs. Jacobs and Mayer compassionately address everything you need to know to help your parent, spouse, or other care receiver. From managing family conflicts to hiring aides to optimizing end-of-life care, this is a book to return to at every step of the journey. SEEKERS OF MEANING TV SHOW AND PODCAST NOW AVAILABLE ON ROKU STREAMING SERVICE You can add the Jewish Sacred Aging TV channel to your Roku streaming subscription by visiting this page: https://channelstore.roku.com/details/600964/jewish-sacred-aging [https://channelstore.roku.com/details/600964/jewish-sacred-aging]. You can also watch this week’s show in the player below. The shows now include closed-captioning for the deaf or people with a hearing loss [https://nationaldeafcenter.org/resources/deaf-awareness/]. Click the “CC” button on the video player to activate closed-captions. LISTEN TO THE AUDIO PODCAST You can listen to the audio podcast version in the player below, or subscribe to the podcast in one of the popular platforms by clicking one of the buttons below the player. * Apple Podcasts [https://jewishsacredaging.com/wp-content/plugins/podcast-subscribe-buttons/assets/img/icons/Apple-Podcasts.svg]Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/podcasts-jewish-sacred-aging/id1097179245] * YouTube [https://jewishsacredaging.com/wp-content/plugins/podcast-subscribe-buttons/assets/img/icons/YouTube.svg]YouTube [https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxd9fMCyDa1-QhgaqYiXEvQG2_x0n74wmhttps://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxd9fMCyDa1-QhgaqYiXEvQG2_x0n74wm] * Spotify [https://jewishsacredaging.com/wp-content/plugins/podcast-subscribe-buttons/assets/img/icons/Spotify.svg]Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/3E5YA3XyQMgshD9knAqUmi?si=evzFo3JXT_GlXy6Lwepv6A] * Podchaser [https://jewishsacredaging.com/wp-content/plugins/podcast-subscribe-buttons/assets/img/icons/Podchaser.svg]Podchaser [https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/seekers-of-meaning-jsa-podcast-7531] * Amazon Music [https://jewishsacredaging.com/wp-content/plugins/podcast-subscribe-buttons/assets/img/icons/Amazon-Music.svg]Amazon Music [https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/eda9766d-d4e6-440a-899c-61e1ac1ba078/jewish-sacred-aging-podcasts] ABOUT THE GUESTS [https://i0.wp.com/jewishsacredaging.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Barry_Jacobs.jpg?resize=300%2C300&ssl=1]https://i0.wp.com/jewishsacredaging.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Barry_Jacobs.jpg?ssl=1 BARRY J. JACOBS, PSYD Barry J. Jacobs, PsyD, is a clinical psychologist and family therapist who works with caregivers and care receivers in private practice in Media, Pennsylvania. He has written extensively about caregiving, including a long-running self-help column for caregivers on AARP.org, and is a sought-after speaker and workshop presenter. Dr. Jacobs is also a Principal at a national health care consulting firm. [https://i0.wp.com/jewishsacredaging.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Julie-new-head-shot-2.jpg?resize=678%2C678&ssl=1] JULIA L. MAYER, PSYD Julia L. Mayer, PsyD, is a clinical psychologist in Media, Pennsylvania, who specializes in working with women and has a growing focus on supporting caregivers. She is coauthor of articles and books on caregiving and relationships with her husband, Barry J. Jacobs, and is also a published novelist. Dr. Mayer is cohost of a podcast on psychology and social justice and a former president of the Philadelphia Psychology Network. The post Seekers of Meaning 6/6/2025: Navigating the Complexities of Caregiving [https://jewishsacredaging.com/som20250606/] appeared first on Jewish Sacred Aging [https://jewishsacredaging.com].

[https://i0.wp.com/jewishsacredaging.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/SOM20250530.00_00_55_15.Still175.png?resize=678%2C381&ssl=1]https://i0.wp.com/jewishsacredaging.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/SOM20250530.00_00_55_15.Still175.png?ssl=1 On this week’s episode of the Seekers of Meaning TV Show and Podcast, Rabbi Address engages in a thought-provoking conversation with Rabbi Roy Furman about his book, Torah Wrestling. They explore the moral challenges presented in the Torah, the significance of marginalized voices, and the reinterpretation of traditional narratives, including Eve’s role in the Garden of Eden and the sailors in the Book of Jonah. The discussion emphasizes the importance of wrestling with sacred texts to uncover deeper moral wisdom relevant to contemporary life. [https://i0.wp.com/jewishsacredaging.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Torah-Wrestling-Cover.jpg?resize=306%2C466&ssl=1]https://amzn.to/3H9jmBc In Torah Wrestling, Rabbi Roy Furman invites readers into an engaging and transformative exploration of the most challenging and inspiring stories in the Bible’s first five books. With intellectual rigor, deep ethical sensitivity, and a storyteller’s grace, Rabbi Furman breathes new life into stories both familiar and unfamiliar. This book is an ideal book for Jews, Christians and Muslims who wrestle with the moral dilemmas of our time while drawing wisdom from the Torah’s timeless teachings. In a “Foreword from a Christian Perspective,” Reformed Journal Editor Jeffrey Munroe writes: “I wished I had been a member of one of Rabbi Furman’s congregations. He explores the Bible, in particular difficult passages of the Bible, with life-giving, refreshing freedom.” Then, in an Afterword from a Muslim Perspective, Wayne State University scholar Saeed Khan reminds readers that these timeless texts are “some of the greatest stories in the human experience.” Rabbi Furman’s interpretations often challenge traditional understandings while remaining deeply rooted in Jewish tradition and a profound love for Torah, and his Jewish colleagues agree. Torah Wrestling can bring people together across religious and cultural lines to talk about how these Bible stories can be “a mirror for our world today,” writes Rabbi Allan Kensky in his Preface to the book. Even if you “are coming to Torah for the first time, Rabbi Furman’s innovative insights will intrigue and empower you,” writes Rabbi Laura Geller. That’s because Rabbi Furman confronts the complexities of sacred scripture with honesty and courage, grappling with issues of patriarchy, intolerance, divine justice, and human suffering. He encourages readers to embrace the struggle, offering fresh insights that empower readers to find relevance and inspiration in ancient texts. Perfect for individual reflection or group study. Rabbi Furman offers readers a free, downloadable discussion guide to help spark spirited conversations. Torah Wrestling bridges ancient wisdom and contemporary challenges, inviting all readers to discover the vibrant, transformative power of Torah. SEEKERS OF MEANING TV SHOW AND PODCAST NOW AVAILABLE ON ROKU STREAMING SERVICE You can add the Jewish Sacred Aging TV channel to your Roku streaming subscription by visiting this page: https://channelstore.roku.com/details/600964/jewish-sacred-aging [https://channelstore.roku.com/details/600964/jewish-sacred-aging]. You can also watch this week’s show in the player below. The shows now include closed-captioning for the deaf or people with a hearing loss [https://nationaldeafcenter.org/resources/deaf-awareness/]. Click the “CC” button on the video player to activate closed-captions. LISTEN TO THE AUDIO PODCAST You can listen to the audio podcast version in the player below, or subscribe to the podcast in one of the popular platforms by clicking one of the buttons below the player. * Apple Podcasts [https://jewishsacredaging.com/wp-content/plugins/podcast-subscribe-buttons/assets/img/icons/Apple-Podcasts.svg]Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/podcasts-jewish-sacred-aging/id1097179245] * YouTube [https://jewishsacredaging.com/wp-content/plugins/podcast-subscribe-buttons/assets/img/icons/YouTube.svg]YouTube [https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxd9fMCyDa1-QhgaqYiXEvQG2_x0n74wmhttps://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxd9fMCyDa1-QhgaqYiXEvQG2_x0n74wm] * Spotify [https://jewishsacredaging.com/wp-content/plugins/podcast-subscribe-buttons/assets/img/icons/Spotify.svg]Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/3E5YA3XyQMgshD9knAqUmi?si=evzFo3JXT_GlXy6Lwepv6A] * Podchaser [https://jewishsacredaging.com/wp-content/plugins/podcast-subscribe-buttons/assets/img/icons/Podchaser.svg]Podchaser [https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/seekers-of-meaning-jsa-podcast-7531] * Amazon Music [https://jewishsacredaging.com/wp-content/plugins/podcast-subscribe-buttons/assets/img/icons/Amazon-Music.svg]Amazon Music [https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/eda9766d-d4e6-440a-899c-61e1ac1ba078/jewish-sacred-aging-podcasts] ABOUT THE GUEST [https://i0.wp.com/jewishsacredaging.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/FurmanRabbiRoy.jpg?resize=399%2C600&ssl=1]https://i0.wp.com/jewishsacredaging.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/FurmanRabbiRoy.jpg?ssl=1 RABBI ROY FURMAN Rabbi Roy Furman is a native of New York, educated at Queens College, and ordained by Hebrew Union College—Jewish Institute of Religion in 1971. His writing and thinking as a rabbi and as a Jew have been influenced by his work with havurot (Jewish fellowship groups), minyanim (prayer groups), and Jewish congregations in Los Angeles, Portland, Chicago, and Evanston, Illinois; by his Hillel work at the University of Southern California and DePaul University; by his graduate work in the history of religions, ancient Judaism, and courses at DePaul; by his training and practice as a clinical social worker; and by his numerous stays in Israel: traveling, working, studying, and doing archaeological work over the entire course of his adult life. He now lives in Chicago with his wife, Dr. Frida Kerner Furman, a retired DePaul professor of social ethics and religious studies. His daughter Daniella is a neuroscientist living in Berkeley, California, with her wife, Yula, and their absolutely adorable child, Ilani. The post Rabbi Roy Furman’s “Torah Wrestling”: A Deep Dive into Moral Challenges on 5/30/2025 Seekers of Meaning [https://jewishsacredaging.com/som20250530/] appeared first on Jewish Sacred Aging [https://jewishsacredaging.com].

[https://i0.wp.com/jewishsacredaging.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/SOM20250523.00_02_04_03.Still175.png?resize=678%2C381&ssl=1]https://i0.wp.com/jewishsacredaging.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/SOM20250523.00_02_04_03.Still175.png?ssl=1 On this week’s episode of the Seekers of Meaning TV Show and Podcast, Rabbi Address welcomes Matt Field, co-founder, and Audrey Friedland, RN, nurse advocate, from Right at Home Home Health Care North Suburban Chicago [https://www.rightathome.net/north-suburban-chicago]. The conversation delves into the complexities of home healthcare, exploring the challenges families face when caring for aging loved ones. It highlights the importance of understanding home healthcare services, the personal journeys of caregivers, and the evolving dynamics of family caregiving. The discussion also addresses key considerations for making informed decisions about home care, the financial implications, and the impact of political changes on caregiving. Finally, it emphasizes the significance of training and support for caregivers to ensure quality care for clients. SEEKERS OF MEANING TV SHOW AND PODCAST NOW AVAILABLE ON ROKU STREAMING SERVICE You can add the Jewish Sacred Aging TV channel to your Roku streaming subscription by visiting this page: https://channelstore.roku.com/details/600964/jewish-sacred-aging [https://channelstore.roku.com/details/600964/jewish-sacred-aging]. You can also watch this week’s show in the player below. The shows now include closed-captioning for the deaf or people with a hearing loss [https://nationaldeafcenter.org/resources/deaf-awareness/]. Click the “CC” button on the video player to activate closed-captions. LISTEN TO THE AUDIO PODCAST You can listen to the audio podcast version in the player below, or subscribe to the podcast in one of the popular platforms by clicking one of the buttons below the player. * Apple Podcasts [https://jewishsacredaging.com/wp-content/plugins/podcast-subscribe-buttons/assets/img/icons/Apple-Podcasts.svg]Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/podcasts-jewish-sacred-aging/id1097179245] * YouTube [https://jewishsacredaging.com/wp-content/plugins/podcast-subscribe-buttons/assets/img/icons/YouTube.svg]YouTube [https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxd9fMCyDa1-QhgaqYiXEvQG2_x0n74wmhttps://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxd9fMCyDa1-QhgaqYiXEvQG2_x0n74wm] * Spotify [https://jewishsacredaging.com/wp-content/plugins/podcast-subscribe-buttons/assets/img/icons/Spotify.svg]Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/3E5YA3XyQMgshD9knAqUmi?si=evzFo3JXT_GlXy6Lwepv6A] * Podchaser [https://jewishsacredaging.com/wp-content/plugins/podcast-subscribe-buttons/assets/img/icons/Podchaser.svg]Podchaser [https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/seekers-of-meaning-jsa-podcast-7531] * Amazon Music [https://jewishsacredaging.com/wp-content/plugins/podcast-subscribe-buttons/assets/img/icons/Amazon-Music.svg]Amazon Music [https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/eda9766d-d4e6-440a-899c-61e1ac1ba078/jewish-sacred-aging-podcasts] ABOUT THE GUESTS [https://i0.wp.com/jewishsacredaging.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/matt-and-rachel-a.jpg?resize=450%2C600&ssl=1]https://i0.wp.com/jewishsacredaging.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/matt-and-rachel-a.jpg?ssl=1 MATT FIELD (AND RACHEL FIELD) Matt and Rachel Field are the proud founders and leaders of Right at Home of North Suburban Chicago. Matt grew up on the North Shore, and Rachel grew up in Baltimore; they met at Union College in Schenectady, NY. Both have professional backgrounds in non-profit work, where they supported individuals and families in their communities. Since opening Right at Home in 2012, Matt, Managing Partner, and Rachel, Principal Partner, have built a dedicated team of professionals driven by core values including compassion, respect, advocacy, accountability, and innovation. Together, they ensure the organization consistently delivers exceptional care and serves the community with integrity and dignity. Outside of work, Matt and Rachel cherish spending time with their family and beloved dogs, Mabel and Louie. Matt enjoys lifelong fitness pursuits, while Rachel loves reading, is an avid walker, and enjoys playing mahjong with friends. [https://i0.wp.com/jewishsacredaging.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/audrey-friedland.jpg?resize=333%2C500&ssl=1]https://i0.wp.com/jewishsacredaging.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/audrey-friedland.jpg?ssl=1 AUDREY FRIEDLAND Audrey Friedland R.N. is the nurse manager for Right at Home, North Suburban Chicago. She graduated from Michael Reese Nursing School and has been a nurse for 47 years with a wide range of experiences. She has worked general medical/surgical floors in a hospital, out patient clinics for Northwestern, Psychiatrics, Pediatrics and Geriatrics. She was a director of nursing for 15 years in a skilled nursing facility.  At Right at Home Northwest Suburban Chicago, Audrey oversees client care, assesses new clients and clients with change of condition, updates care plans. Her role is flexible and spends most of her time visiting with clients.  Audrey lives with her husband and has 4 children and 7 grandchildren. Her hobbies are reading, crocheting and needlepoint. However, most free time is spent with her grandchildren.  The post Seekers of Meaning 5/23/2025: Understanding Home Healthcare Challenges [https://jewishsacredaging.com/som20250523/] appeared first on Jewish Sacred Aging [https://jewishsacredaging.com].

[https://i0.wp.com/jewishsacredaging.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/SOM20250516.00_01_25_27.Still174.png?resize=678%2C381&ssl=1]https://i0.wp.com/jewishsacredaging.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/SOM20250516.00_01_25_27.Still174.png?ssl=1 On this week’s episode of the Seekers of Meaning TV Show and Podcast, Connie Zweig delves into the concept of shadow work, exploring its significance in understanding our hidden selves and the implications of shadow projection in society. She and Rabbi Address discuss the resurgence of interest in shadow work, the psychological mechanisms behind projection, and the impact of mortality awareness on personal growth. Connie shares insights from her clinical practice and the importance of integrating body-mind connections in shadow work, emphasizing the need for self-reflection and understanding in navigating our inner darkness. CONNIE’S BOOKS [https://i0.wp.com/jewishsacredaging.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/ZweigMeeting-the-Shadow-Book-Cover.jpg?resize=295%2C445&ssl=1]https://amzn.to/43bBNxL Cheating… lying … jealousy … blaming … greed … shame… These forbidden feelings and behaviors erupt from the dark, denied part of ourselves-the personal shadow. But they erupt with a purpose: They are trying to tell us their secrets. Meeting the Shadow is a landmark collection of 65 wide-ranging essays by thought leaders – including Carl Jung, Joseph Campbell, Ken Wilber, James Hillman, Susan Griffin, Harville Hendrix—on the dark side of human nature as it appears in families, intimate relationships, sexuality, work, spirituality, politics, therapy, and creativity. It presents tools for Shadow Work that enable us to make a conscious relationship with the shadow, defuse negative emotions, release guilt and shame, achieve a genuine self-acceptance, and heal our relationships. Although we think of the shadow as containing only darkness, as Jung stated, its essence is “pure gold.” ---------------------------------------- [https://i0.wp.com/jewishsacredaging.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/ZweigRomancingShadowCover.jpg?resize=310%2C466&ssl=1]https://amzn.to/4mfp3h3 AN UPDATED EDITION OF THE BREAKTHROUGH BOOK THAT LAUNCHED SHADOW-WORK INTO THE WORLD―WITH A NEW FOREWORD BY KEILA SHAHEEN AND A NEW PREFACE The classic, provocative bestselling guide on shadow-work that “enables you to peel away the layers of your soul and get in touch with the purity of Being that lies within you” (Deepak Chopra, M.D.). “My guiding light . . . The wisdom within its pages served as both an anchor and a compass, guiding me toward a deeper understanding of the greater human experience.”—Keila Shaheen, author of the bestselling The Shadow-Work Journal Beneath the social mask we wear every day, we have a hidden shadow side: an impulsive, wounded, sad, or isolated part that we generally try to ignore. But as therapists Connie Zweig and Steve Wolf show in this landmark book, the shadow can actually be a source of emotional richness and vitality, and acknowledging it can be a pathway to healing and living an authentic life. “Romancing the shadow”—meeting your dark side, accepting it for what it is, and learning to use its powerful energies in productive ways—is the challenging and exciting work that Zweig and Wolf offer in this practical, rewarding guide. Drawing on the timeless teachings of Carl Jung and compelling stories of men and women whom they have helped in their clinical practices, Zweig and Wolf reveal how the shadow guides your choices in love, sex, marriage, friendship, work, and family life. With their innovative methods on shadow work, you can: • uncover the unique patters and purpose of your shadow • learn to defuse negative emotions • reclaim forbidden or lost feelings • achieve greater self-acceptance • heal betrayal • reimagine and re-create relationships • cultivate compassion for others • renew creative expression • find purpose in your suffering The shadow knows why good people sometimes do bad things. Romancing the shadow and learning to read the messages it encodes in daily life can deepen your consciousness, imagination, and soul. SEEKERS OF MEANING TV SHOW AND PODCAST NOW AVAILABLE ON ROKU STREAMING SERVICE You can add the Jewish Sacred Aging TV channel to your Roku streaming subscription by visiting this page: https://channelstore.roku.com/details/600964/jewish-sacred-aging [https://channelstore.roku.com/details/600964/jewish-sacred-aging]. You can also watch this week’s show in the player below. The shows now include closed-captioning for the deaf or people with a hearing loss [https://nationaldeafcenter.org/resources/deaf-awareness/]. Click the “CC” button on the video player to activate closed-captions. LISTEN TO THE AUDIO PODCAST You can listen to the audio podcast version in the player below, or subscribe to the podcast in one of the popular platforms by clicking one of the buttons below the player. * Apple Podcasts [https://jewishsacredaging.com/wp-content/plugins/podcast-subscribe-buttons/assets/img/icons/Apple-Podcasts.svg]Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/podcasts-jewish-sacred-aging/id1097179245] * YouTube [https://jewishsacredaging.com/wp-content/plugins/podcast-subscribe-buttons/assets/img/icons/YouTube.svg]YouTube [https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxd9fMCyDa1-QhgaqYiXEvQG2_x0n74wmhttps://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxd9fMCyDa1-QhgaqYiXEvQG2_x0n74wm] * Spotify [https://jewishsacredaging.com/wp-content/plugins/podcast-subscribe-buttons/assets/img/icons/Spotify.svg]Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/3E5YA3XyQMgshD9knAqUmi?si=evzFo3JXT_GlXy6Lwepv6A] * Podchaser [https://jewishsacredaging.com/wp-content/plugins/podcast-subscribe-buttons/assets/img/icons/Podchaser.svg]Podchaser [https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/seekers-of-meaning-jsa-podcast-7531] * Amazon Music [https://jewishsacredaging.com/wp-content/plugins/podcast-subscribe-buttons/assets/img/icons/Amazon-Music.svg]Amazon Music [https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/eda9766d-d4e6-440a-899c-61e1ac1ba078/jewish-sacred-aging-podcasts] ABOUT THE GUEST [https://i0.wp.com/jewishsacredaging.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/ZweigConnie.jpg?resize=378%2C378&ssl=1]https://i0.wp.com/jewishsacredaging.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/ZweigConnie.jpg?ssl=1 CONNIE ZWEIG Connie Zweig, Ph.D. is a retired Jungian therapist and author of Meeting the Shadow (A New Edition is now available) and Romancing the Shadow (A New Edition is now available). Her award-winning book, The Inner Work of Age: Shifting from Role to Soul, extends Shadow-work into midlife and beyond and explores aging as a spiritual practice. Her book, Meeting the Shadow on the Spiritual Path: The Dance of Darkness and Light in Our Search for Awakening, extends shadow-work into religion and spirituality. Her new PODCAST, Dr. Neil’s Spiritual Awakening to Non-Duality, posts on all podcast platforms. See her new SUBSTACK for livestreams and new writing: https://www.shadowworkawareness.com/about [https://www.shadowworkawareness.com/about]. The post Understanding Shadow Work: Insights from Connie Zweig on Seekers of Meaning 5/16/2025 [https://jewishsacredaging.com/som20250516/] appeared first on Jewish Sacred Aging [https://jewishsacredaging.com].

[https://i0.wp.com/jewishsacredaging.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/SOM20250509.00_21_15_26.Still173.png?resize=678%2C381&ssl=1]https://i0.wp.com/jewishsacredaging.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/SOM20250509.00_21_15_26.Still173.png?ssl=1 On this week’s episode of the Seekers of Meaning TV Show and Podcast, Rabbi Yiscah Smith discusses her forthcoming (June 1) book, Planting Seeds of the Divine: Torah Commentaries to Cultivate Your Spiritual Practice, a book that helps readers understand how Judaism’s sacred texts can provide the foundation for the “end destination” of experiencing intimate encounters with the Divine Presence within. [https://i0.wp.com/jewishsacredaging.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Yiscah-SMith-Book-Cover.jpg?resize=311%2C466&ssl=1] Experiencing deep personal fulfillment, happiness, and sustenance comes from feeling connected to our authentic selves, which involves building an ongoing relationship with the Divine Presence within us, says author Yiscah Smith. Quite organically, then, we may begin sensing the Divine in our interactions with other people. This is because, for each of us, “our essence, as a creation by God, is God.” Planting Seeds of the Divine elucidates how Judaism’s sacred texts can provide the foundation for the “end destination” of experiencing intimate encounters with the Divine Presence within — the God-consciousness that so many of us find elusive. Imagining ourselves as spiritual gardeners, we can cultivate our unique gardens with seeds centered on middot (emotional dispositions, character traits, spiritual sensitivities). Each seed corresponds to an aspirational Torah commentary, consisting of a selected Torah verse linked to one of the middot, a summary of the biblical text preceding the verse, classical commentaries, teachings of Hasidic and Neo-Hasidic masters and the author, and step-by-step experiential practices to help us internalize the middot and encounter the Divine. Each seed contributes to the garden’s beauty — the beauty of the self in God-consciousness — which hopefully blossoms into a magnificent garden of the soul. SEEKERS OF MEANING TV SHOW AND PODCAST NOW AVAILABLE ON ROKU STREAMING SERVICE You can add the Jewish Sacred Aging TV channel to your Roku streaming subscription by visiting this page: https://channelstore.roku.com/details/600964/jewish-sacred-aging [https://channelstore.roku.com/details/600964/jewish-sacred-aging]. You can also watch this week’s show in the player below. The shows now include closed-captioning for the deaf or people with a hearing loss [https://nationaldeafcenter.org/resources/deaf-awareness/]. Click the “CC” button on the video player to activate closed-captions. LISTEN TO THE AUDIO PODCAST You can listen to the audio podcast version in the player below, or subscribe to the podcast in one of the popular platforms by clicking one of the buttons below the player. * Apple Podcasts [https://jewishsacredaging.com/wp-content/plugins/podcast-subscribe-buttons/assets/img/icons/Apple-Podcasts.svg]Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/podcasts-jewish-sacred-aging/id1097179245] * YouTube [https://jewishsacredaging.com/wp-content/plugins/podcast-subscribe-buttons/assets/img/icons/YouTube.svg]YouTube [https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxd9fMCyDa1-QhgaqYiXEvQG2_x0n74wmhttps://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxd9fMCyDa1-QhgaqYiXEvQG2_x0n74wm] * Spotify [https://jewishsacredaging.com/wp-content/plugins/podcast-subscribe-buttons/assets/img/icons/Spotify.svg]Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/3E5YA3XyQMgshD9knAqUmi?si=evzFo3JXT_GlXy6Lwepv6A] * Podchaser [https://jewishsacredaging.com/wp-content/plugins/podcast-subscribe-buttons/assets/img/icons/Podchaser.svg]Podchaser [https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/seekers-of-meaning-jsa-podcast-7531] * Amazon Music [https://jewishsacredaging.com/wp-content/plugins/podcast-subscribe-buttons/assets/img/icons/Amazon-Music.svg]Amazon Music [https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/eda9766d-d4e6-440a-899c-61e1ac1ba078/jewish-sacred-aging-podcasts] ABOUT THE GUEST [https://i0.wp.com/jewishsacredaging.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/SmithYiscah.jpg?resize=678%2C1017&ssl=1]https://i0.wp.com/jewishsacredaging.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/SmithYiscah-scaled.jpg?ssl=1 RABBI YISCAH SMITH Yiscah Smith is a thought leader, spiritual activist and agent of change who addresses the spiritual practice of encountering the Divine spark within and beyond. She relies on Jewish spiritual teachings to inspire her students, acting as a compass, gently guiding them to their unique inner selves. She encourages, empowers and ennobles others to remain faithful to their individual spiritual paths. Yiscah teaches at the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies, Applied Jewish Spirituality (AJS) and the Institute for Jewish Spirituality (IJS). She founded Conscious Community Nachlaot, an organization in Jerusalem that hosts Shabbat spiritual gatherings. Her forthcoming book Planting Seeds of the Divine: Torah Commentaries to Cultivate Your Spiritual Practice, jointly published by the University of Nebraska Press (UNP) and the Jewish Publication Society (JPS), will be released this coming 01 June. To pre-order please click here [https://a.co/d/ec4qpZS]. The post Seekers of Meaning 5/9/2025: Planting Seeds of the Divine, with Rabbi Yiscah Smith [https://jewishsacredaging.com/som20250509/] appeared first on Jewish Sacred Aging [https://jewishsacredaging.com].