The Journey of Enoughness

The Journey of Enoughness While the liturgical poem “Dayenu” holds an important place in the Passover seder, it has a message that is relevant far beyond the bounds of the holiday.  Framed by the rhetorical question “How much goodness has G-d bestowed upon us?”, Dayenu parses Jewish history from being taken out of Egypt through […]

Gratitude in Freedom and in Bondage

Gratitude in Freedom and in Bondage Is it possible to feel gratitude not only when we are free, but also when we are bound? Our partner artists at In[HEIR]itance Project teach us that there are many ways that creativity allows us to process, reflect, and respond to complicated questions like this. In this activity, they […]

The Building Blocks of Strength

Perfect for Kids The Building Blocks of Strength What gives us strength when we are weary? What are the elements from which we can draw the energy to help us endure when we are feeling weak? Our bodies get strength from food and sleep; our souls get strength from inspiration, trust, and faith. There are […]

Created According to G-d’s Will or Created in G-d’s Image?

Created According to G-d’s Will or Created in G-d’s Image? בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה’ אֱ-לֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם שֶׁעָשַֽׂנִי כִּרְצוֹנוֹ. Blessed are You, our G-d, Ruler of the Universe, Who made me according to Your will. What a gift it is for G-d to have made us all according to G-d’s will. It is something we can […]

Create a Dream Board

Create a Dreamboard Imagine it is exactly one year from now, and you are looking back at this upcoming year, grateful for how far you’ve come. Let’s take some steps to help get you to that point by creating a dream board. A dream board is a great way to help realize your vision of […]

Celebrating Yourself: A <em>Shehecheyanu</em> Experience

Celebrating Yourself: A Shehecheyanu Experience While Jewish tradition is full of blessings and prayers of gratitude, there is one that perfectly sums up the mindset of appreciation: The Shehecheyanu blessing. Literally, Shehecheyanu means “that we are alive”, and it is a statement of recognizing time and appreciating that we are alive in this moment. It […]

Cultivating Gratitude: Institute for Jewish Spirituality

Cultivating Gratitude: Institute for Jewish Spirituality How can we cultivate the midda—character trait—of Hodaya, which consists of both acknowledgement and gratitude? In this video Rabbi Marc Margolius explores why we sometimes struggle with gratitude and helps us cultivate it as a practice.  https://vimeo.com/391286946 We are grateful to Rabbi Marc Margolius and the Institute for Jewish […]

Create Gratitude ID Cards

Perfect for Kids Create Gratitude ID Cards In this activity, we will give thanks to ourselves, by discovering the pieces inside of us that we are grateful for.  This is a private journaling activity. It does not need to be shared, but rather is an opportunity to “take stock” and recognize the good within us.  […]

Craft a Gratitude Wall Hanging Ritual

Craft a Gratitude Wall Hanging Ritual Judaism has many names for G-d, but there is one in particular that we often see displayed in our homes – particularly on the doorposts. Jewish homes are traditionally marked by the presence of a mezuzah, a door-marker, and they are often adorned with the letter Shin or the […]

The Meaning Making Collection

The Meaning Making Collection When you dig inside yourself, what gives you meaning? How do we find and make meaning in our lives? While our other collections direct you outward to the forces around you, this collection will illuminate the sources of meaning inside of you.  When we reflect on what’s within us — our […]