Menachem’s Musings: Recent Episodes
Menachem Wolf
Being a rabbi means I walk through many doorways into other peoples lives. These doorways are often locked as they open into the real and raw side of life. The experience doesn’t end when I ‘cross back into my space’. The lessons and experiences stay with me and become a part of my life, a part of my journey and spiritual exploration.The podcast has a number of different aspects to it and occasional guests, your questions and feedback will contribute to the themes i may explore. You can contact me or if you wish to sponsor an episode, do so via podcast@spiritgrow.org. Thank you for tuning in, Rabbi Menachem Wolf
Do you ever discover you are completely consumed wiht fear and anxiety while involved in a meaningful activity? Rabbi Menachem Wolf shares some techniques that may assist you from letting those thoughts quickly consume and ruin the meaning and productivity of the said activity.
To share feedback or consider dedicating an episode contact us via podcast@spiritgrow.org
In this episode Rabbi Menachem Wolf challenges the expressions of empathy and anger that result form events around us.
In a recent conversation with Geoffrey, Menachem started exploring how an ancient idea in Jewish spiritual teachings - Live with the attitude that the world was created for me!- may actually help us clear our lives of guilt, anger, frustration and their negative impacts on our health.
The first 20 minutes Rabbi Menachem Wolf explores the anger and guilt reactions we have when observing other people (or our own) pain and injustice. In this first half Menachem shares two ancient Jewish tales 1) about Moses hitting the rock and Gods seeming overreaction 2) Rabbi Akiva's tortured end of life.
If you feel like you want to get to the lesson you can skip to the 20:00 mark but we dont recommend it.
The second half (20:00 onwards) explores a wonderful set of ideas that can help a person reframe reality without needing deeper commentary to help us overcome each sad story that life throws at us.
To share feedback or consider dedicating an episode contact us via podcast@spiritgrow.org
In this episode Rabbi Menachem Wolf explores Jewish mystical teachings that teach us to laugh at scary and negative thoughts.
Ada is a daughter and sibling who struggles with negative thoughts about her older brother. She hates him and at the same time is ashamed and disgusted by her own negative thoughts towards her brother.
Menachem shares how he and Ada went beyond mindfulness type meditations to overcome these challenging thoughts. Menachem taught Ada to laugh at the bad thoughts.
Let me know your thoughts or consider dedicating an episode via podcast@spiritgrow.org
Recently I participated in a smoking ceremony conducted by an Aboriginal Elder. The experience moved me on a social and spiritual level. As I tell the story I will share some spiritual reflections that draw on what happened (13:25)- particularly thoughts on mikveh, mezuzah, soul alignment with land and God, as well as social observations (22:15) that touch on connectivity, the Holocaust, William Cooper and the hope for a good future.
Let me know your thoughts via podcast@spiritgrow.org