equanimity
rabbi russ resnik
equanimity and adrenaline

A few years ago, I took up rappelling, the art of descending sheer cliffs by rope and harness, so that we could explore the red-rock canyons of Southern Utah. After I had begun to learn the basics, Steve, our guide, said to me, “You’re one of those people who wants to speed up when your adrenaline starts to flow.”

equanimity and adrenaline
loving-kindness
rabbi russ resnik
fairness or freebie?

Some things in life have to be earned, and some things cannot be. We can earn respect and reputation by our behavior, but sometimes we need help, or forgiveness, or just a break, that we haven’t earned and don’t deserve. And we can also give to others gifts they don’t deserve and don’t have to earn. That sort of undeserved kindness is captured by the word Hesed, often translated as lovingkindness.

fairness or freebie?
adaptability
rabbi russ resnik
age and adaptability

The other day I had coffee with Hal, the father of one of our chavurah members. He had just written his second novel, this one based on his amazing experiences as a Jewish-American soldier fighting the Nazis in World War II. We got together to talk about his book.

age and adaptability
silence
rabbi russ resnik
authentic listening

One of the current terms of religious discussion that I’ve grown to suspect is “spirituality.” I’m tired of hearing people say, “I’m not religious; I’m spiritual,” which often means I don’t have any outward signs of religious or transcendent life, but, trust me, I possess many lofty sentiments.

authentic listening
loving-kindness
rabbi russ resnik
chesed in action

Chesed or loving-kindness is an essential human attribute, but it’s first of all a divine attribute. If we want to cultivate chesed, we should pay attention to how Hashem exercises it. And God’s chesed is on display at the conclusion of the Haftarot of Comfort, the passages from Isaiah that we read during this period between Tisha B’av and Rosh Hashanah.

chesed in action

from the mussar masters

art-pearls

“Align the course of your feet, and [thereby] all your ways will be corrected.” – Proverbs 4:26

“If a person in need of discipline is obstinate and resistive, he may suddenly crumble, and there will be healing for him.” --Proverbs 29:1

“One who deals responsibly and truthfully with others and with whom the souls of others are at ease, it is as if they have fulfilled the entire Torah. --Mekhilta on Exodus 15:26

“In all your ways know Him and He will align your paths.” --Proverbs 3:6

“It is good to give charity before praying.” --Shulchan Arukh, Orach Chayim 92:10

“Only he who prepares prior to Shabbat eats on Shabbat." --Talmud, Avodah Zara 3a

“All your actions and possessions should be orderly – each and every one in a set place and set time. Let your thoughts always be free to deal with that which lies ahead of you.” – Rabbi M.M. Lefin of Satanov,  Cheshbon Hanefesh

“Fish die when they are out of water, and people die without law and order.” --Talmud

parasha noach and equanimity of judgment

art-podcast.jpg

Commentary on Parasha Noach from the First Fruits of Zion Torah Club v.1 audio magazine by Boaz Michael and Toby Janicki. Used with permission.

This discussion on Parasha Noach (Genesis 6:9-11:32) reflects on the personal ethics of judging one another, giving the benefit of the doubt, and holding equanimity when dealing with these situations. 

{enclose 2010-10-04_Noach_Equanimity_TC1.mp3}

lessons from a beetle

lessons from a beetle

art-beetleLast fall, my wife and I took a 10 mile walk on the Snoqualmie-Preston trail east of Seattle.  It’s a very scenic trail near the famous Snoqualmie Falls and is in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains.  The unfortunate thing about walking on trails like this is you can’t always have your head up to view the scenery.  There’s a lot going on beneath your feet that requires extra care as you walk.  One wrong move and you will step in goose guano, slip on a slug, or crunch a bug.

be sure, then go ahead

be sure, then go ahead

The greatest impediment to ethical growth may not be ignorance, but immobility. We might have a sense of right, and a conviction about some excellent course of action, but fail to pursue it through indecisiveness, endlessly weighing the pros and cons, or the difficulties and complications and never getting around to doing the right thing.

pleasant with the young

pleasant with the young

art-hands2

When one is engaged in any act of service, such as giving charity, offering prayer, performing an obligatory or voluntary act, or voicing rebuke, he should not engage in it with any pride or arrogance in his heart.  Rather, he should be humble and lowly before the Creator, both outwardly and inwardly.  [His act] should be as nothing to him, when compared with how much he owes G-d – so much more than this one act!  As it says, "With what shall I come before Hashem, bow low before G-d on high?  Shall I come before Him with burnt-offerings, with yearling calves?  Would G-d be pleased with thousands of rams?... He has told you, O man, what is good, and what G-d requires of you: only to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk modestly with your G-d."  (Micah 6:6-8)  – Rabbi Bachya ibn Paquda, Duties of the Heart, The Gate of Humility

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These are our special April Fools 2012 articles. Trust with caution!

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