Raising Holy Sparks

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Celebrating the beauty in the seemingly mundane. Discovering the extraordinary amidst the "ordinary" in the world around us. So much wonder out there! Let's get started! Reb Misha Clebaner is a passionate educator of Judaism and Spirituality.

Reb Misha Clebaner - Educator of Judaism and Spirituality


    • Jan 7, 2022 LATEST EPISODE
    • weekly NEW EPISODES
    • 23m AVG DURATION
    • 125 EPISODES

    5 from 17 ratings Listeners of Raising Holy Sparks that love the show mention: reb, holy.



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    Latest episodes from Raising Holy Sparks

    Practical Judaism - Bo

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 7, 2022 3:00


    As global cultures have shifted in the past century, traditional conceptions of women in religion are starting to shift as well. Yet these ideas are not entirely new. Although the first Eastern European Jewish school for girls started in 1907, there was a school for Sephardic girls in London that had opened in 1731.

    Practical Judaism - Va'era

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 31, 2021 3:29


    There are a variety of reasons that we may be happy at the exact same moment when someone else is in pain or failing. In the case of this teaching from the Talmud, the angels cheering on the Israelites were happy to see the slavemasters and charioteers of the Egyptian Pharoah drowning in the Sea of Reeds. The failure of the Egyptian army meant the survival of Israelite families. In this new (secular) year let us not rejoice at the downfall of others, but rather let's weep that suffering exists for anyone.

    Practical Judaism - Shemot

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 24, 2021 2:52


    Clothing can be transformative. It can help us connect to our heritage. It can make us feel beautiful. It can take us from feeling down and out and transform us into feeling like we RUN the world! There is a teaching that says the Israelites were worthy of redemption because they stayed true to their heritage and to themselves in three ways: they did not change their names, language, or clothing. How does clothing impact the way that you think or feel?

    Practical Judaism - Vayechi

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 16, 2021 4:00


    In this week's torah portion of Vayechi, we conclude the Book of Genesis with a lesson on assertiveness and self-advocacy from Joseph as he gently reprimands his father, Jacob, for giving the correct blessing to the wrong child. What an act of bravery and courage! How rare it is to reprimand an authority figure, a hero, or a loved one!

    Practical Judaism - Vayigash

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 10, 2021 3:09


    In this week's parasha of Vayigash, the story of Joseph comes full circle. It starts off with him being hated by his brothers for his over-active imagination and wild dreams. But now, it is these very dreams and his ability to interpret dreams that allows for him to rise through the ranks of the Egyptian court. The quality that others perceive, or even we ourselves perceive, to be our greatest weakness is actually connected to our greatest strength. This week, let's NOT change a thing about ourselves!

    Practical Judaism - Hanukkah

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 3, 2021 3:09


    What is the difference between a ceremony and a holiday? In a wedding ceremony, for example, you perform rituals and recite specific words with the intention that you will try your hardest to fulfill them. You are committing yourself to those ideas. A holiday is a celebration of someone else that did the hard work of dedicating themselves to an idea. You are merely applauding their efforts. Let us reflect on the areas of our lives where we are on auto-pilot and where we could use some rededication..

    Practical Judaism - Vayeshev

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 26, 2021 3:38


    In this week's Torah portion of Vayishlach, Joseph has a dream of his brothers bowing down to him. This leads them into a furious rage and they sell him to slave traders heading to Egypt. When we have a dream, some may call us crazy or unrealistic. Others may be offended by our big ideas. Yet more often than not, when we stick to our dreams we are transformed by the journey, even if the destination we reach is not the one we had in mind. Meditation at the end of the episode.

    Practical Judaism - Vayishlach

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 19, 2021 4:28


    In this week's Torah portion of Vayishlach, Jacob has his name changed to Israel - the one who wrestles with God (sar el). The concept of God is a tricky concept. In my experience, I have found two main obstacles for someone having a relationship with G-O-D. The first obstacles are the classical images of God, and the second is the name itself. "To wrestle with, or doubt, God is perhaps the strongest form of faith." - Rabbi Misha Clebaner

    Practical Judaism – Vayetze

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 12, 2021 3:18


    In this week's Torah portion of Vayetze, Jacob is exhausted from being on the run from his brother Esau after getting his blessing through deceptive means. He finds himself at a random location, later Jewish thinkers say that it is Jerusalem. The same commentators say that God made the sun set early so that Jacob would stop, rest, and spend the night there. “The better your sleep, the more clearly you can think while awake, and it may enable you to seek help when a problem arises. - Dr Joshi, Stanford

    Practical Judaism - Toldot

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 5, 2021 2:16


    Step 1, find a red lentil recipe that you like. Step 2, enjoy the soup and the blessings in your life with humility and gratitude. Step 3, pay it forward and share blessings with others.

    Practical Judaism - Chayei Sarah

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 29, 2021 3:24


    In this week's Torah portion of Chayei Sarah, we meet Isaac for the very first time since he was nearly sacrificed by his father, Abraham. When we meet Isaac in his state of PTSD, we find him out in the field meditating before the sun is ready to set. Isaac is no longer content to trust his mental (let alone physical) health to other people. Instead, he takes his fate, happiness, and general well being into his own hands (and God's), and sets out to be alone in a field to meditate and center himself.

    Practical Judaism - Vayera

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 22, 2021 3:17


    "Looking up, Abraham saw three men standing near him. As soon as he saw them, he ran from the entrance of the tent to greet them." What about those that don't run to grab an opportunity or tackle a challenge? It's important to remember that psychologists say that "procrastination is an emotion regulation problem, not a time management problem.”

    Practical Judaism - Lech Lecha

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 15, 2021 3:02


    In the Talmud, it is taught that "everyone has a share in the World To Come except for some, this includes the one who humiliates another in public and one who calls another by a derogatory name." When we are called by our chosen name (or title, or pronouns, or whatever it may be) we are seen for who we really are. When others refuse to call us by this name and we demand it of them, it means we see ourselves for who we are and know that we are worthy of respect and love in all situations.

    Practical and Embodied Judaism – Parasha Noach

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 8, 2021 4:06


    One of the many best selling books of Rabbi Harold Kushner is called "When Bad Things Happen to Good People" however most people often think it is called "Why Bad Things Happen to Good People". Yet there is no why or why not. Chaos is simply baked into the fabric of the universe. Chaos can be destructive but it can also be creative. Is the reason we come down with an illness or get dumped because we are sinners? Some stories in the Torah say yes - but others say no, chaos is just the natural state of affairs. Meditation Impromptu 02 by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license.

    Practical and Embodied Judaism - Parasha Beresheet

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 1, 2021 3:21


    Welcome to the new season of the 'Raising Holy Sparks' podcast. This year, we will be focusing on the ideas of Judaism and will strive to take them out of the theoretical and instead turn them into the practical. Dr. Dan Siegel taught 'name it to tame it'. The idea was for people to label emotions to reduce stress and anxiety. An intention that I offer you all: What is a blessing or a challenge that you are going through this week? Name it!

    Kavanah (Intention) For The Week - Jewish Water Rituals

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 12, 2021 3:05


    Kavanah (Intention) For The Week - Jewish Water Rituals

    What's the goal: a worthy space for the Holy, or a Holy people worthy for that space?

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 12, 2021 34:23


    What's the goal: a worthy space for the Holy, or a Holy people worthy for that space?

    What did the Israelites really think about the Torah at Mt Sinai?

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 5, 2021 32:09


    What did the Israelites really think about the Torah at Mt Sinai?

    Re-released Episode: Purim and Drinking

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 26, 2021 37:17


    Rabbi Mark Borovitz describes his transition to recovery from drug and alcohol abuse as though he was "struck sober". Nowadays Rabbi Mark as the CEO of Beit T'Shuva, a Jewish addiction treatment center, helps to facilitate similar healing for others.

    What's the point of synagogue? What we can learn from the creation of the tabernacle!

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 19, 2021 33:24


    What's the point of synagogue? What we can learn from the creation of the tabernacle!

    "Can you hear me now"? Listening for new inspiration - Parshat Mishpatim

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 12, 2021 34:31


    "Can you hear me now"? Listening for new inspiration - Parshat Mishpatim

    Facebook Live Lecture Series on the Book of Exodus - Parshat Yitro

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 5, 2021 36:35


    Facebook Live Lecture Series on the Book of Exodus - Parshat Yitro

    Facebook Live Lecture Series on the Book of Exodus - Parshat BeShalach

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 29, 2021 23:49


    Facebook Live Lecture Series on the Book of Exodus - Parshat BeShalach

    Recording of Facebook Live - Reading Avivah Zornberg on Exodus - Parshat Bo

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 22, 2021 29:56


    Recording of Facebook Live - Reading Avivah Zornberg on Exodus - Parshat Bo

    Audio of Facebook Live - Reading Avivah Zornberg on Exodus - Parshat Vaera

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 15, 2021 37:26


    Audio of Facebook Live - Reading Avivah Zornberg on Exodus - Parshat Vaera

    Recording of Facebook Live Lecture Series on Exodus - Parshat Shemot

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 8, 2021 35:52


    Over the course of the next few months, up until the holiday of Passover/Pesach, I will be going through each torah portion from the Book of Exodus and analyzing the stories through the interpretive lens of Avivah Gottlieb Zornberg's 'Particulars of Rapture' - her prize-winning book on Exodus. For the video version of this recorded content, please go to facebook.com/rebmisha.

    Re-released Episode: If I Show You The Real Me Will You Still Love Me? w/Elad Nehorai

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 18, 2020 32:57


    Originally aired Jun 14 2019. Have you ever bared your soul to someone? In this episode, I speak with Elad Nehorai, editor and founder of Neshamas - an online platform that allows people to share their experiences in the Jewish community as anonymous individuals.

    Re-released episode: The Messy and Beautiful Truth Behind Philanthropy w/Charlene Seidle

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 11, 2020 28:13


    Originally aired Jun 21st 2019. In this episode we raise up hidden sparks of transformation. While most know the word "charity", we rarely think about what makes philanthropic organizations so effective. I discuss this and much more with Charlene Seidle from the Leichtag Foundation.

    Re-released Episode: A Godly Bible Filled with Errors? w/Zev Farber

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 4, 2020 35:43


    Originally aired July 12th 2019. A city is inhabited by the Israelites through force in one chapter but a few chapters later it says there was always coexistence. Did God make a mistake or did the human authors understand their holy cities differently? Dr. Zev Farber helps us find out.

    Re-released Episode: Islam, Feminism, and Interfaith Dialogue w/Dr. Celene Ibrahim

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 27, 2020 30:40


    Originally aired July 19th 2019. From the formative experiences of a diverse boarding school in New Mexico to studying Arabic in Egypt, Dr. Celene Ibrahim has been transformed by the world of interfaith conversations and the voices of women. She is now a scholar and activist for both.

    Re-released Episode: Hip Hop Meets Feminist Kabbalah w/Victoria Hanna

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 20, 2020 28:30


    Originally Aired Aug 16th 2019. Victoria Hanna is a vocal artist; not a singer. You will instantly see the difference when you watch her music videos. It's not just about the melodies that make your body move, it's also about uttering words in a way that will wake up your soul.

    Re-released Episode: The Mystical Joy of Judaism and Love in Sufism w/Netanel Miles-Yépez

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 14, 2020 34:48


    Originally aired Aug 23rd 2019. Netanel Miles-Yepez is a scholar of the mystical traditions of Judaism and Islam - Hasidism and Sufism, respectively. Netanel discusses the lessons that he learned from his teacher Reb Zalman Schachter-Shalomi and how he passes these lessons on.

    Re-released Episode: Life After Addiction and Recovery w/Rabbi Ilan Glazer

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 6, 2020 36:55


    Originally aired Sept 13th 2019. When it comes to addiction and recovery, Rabbi Ilan Glazer believes it is crucial to get to the core of the issue. Whether stress management, self-love, or emotional and spiritual reflection, Rabbi Ilan advocates for the good life after addiction.

    rabbi ilan glazer re released addiction and recovery
    Re-released Episode: Rabbi Misha on the Struggles of the Spiritual Journey

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 30, 2020 33:31


    Originally aired Dec 14th 2018. In this episode I talk about the moments in my life where I doubted everything. I kept asking myself why bother continue going forward with: prayer - if it doesn't help me feel; with Torah - if it isn't historically true, etc. Have you had moments like this?

    Re-released Episode: Discussing Depression, Growth and Surviving Suicide Loss w/Dr. Natalya Bogopolskaya

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 9, 2020 56:24


    Originally aired Jan 18th 2019. Coping with loss after the passing of a loved one or struggling with depression - what are the tools that we can use to grow? Dr Natalya Bogopolskaya touches on the well-known PTSD but also introduces the relatively newer concept of post-traumatic growth.

    Re-released Episode: Poetry As The Anti-Obituary w/Mark Yakich

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 2, 2020 36:01


    Originally aired Aug 9th 2019. I had always wanted to pray - to open my heart and express my thoughts and feelings out to the world - to God - in a completely honest and vulnerable way but the pressure was too great... that is, at least, until I read the writing of Professor Mark Yakich.

    Re-released episode: The Power of Habits in Business and Religion w/Jevin Eagle

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 25, 2020 36:00


    Originally aired January 11th 2019. Once the CEO of DavidsTea and a senior executive at Staples, Jevin Eagle left behind a successful career in business to pursue his life-long dream of becoming a Rabbi, Jevin shares with us his journey from the boardroom to the study hall.

    Re-released Episode: Just A Dash of Orange Blossom Water with cookbook author Sara Gardner

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 11, 2020 62:17


    Originally aired March 1st 2019. From expert tips on food photography all the way to editing and publishing a cookbook, Sara Gardner walks us through her journey in putting together the Rosh Hashanah Seder Cookbook: Stories and Recipes from the Reform Jewish community of Madrid.

    Re-realeased Episode: Surprising Alliances in the Pursuit of Welcoming the Stranger w/Rabbi Susan Silverman

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 4, 2020 38:11


    Originally Aired Aug 30th 2019. For the asylum seekers that have arrived in South Tel Aviv fleeing forced army conscription, torture, and sexual assault in their native Sudan and Eritrea they have faced many hurdles yet also found many friends in people such as Rabbi Susan Silverman.

    Re-released Episode: A Jewish Mysticism of Time and Space w/Hadar Cohen

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 28, 2020 42:35


    Originally Aired March 29th 2019. Hadar Cohen, a community organizer, poet, and educator joins me in conversation and spells out the importance of noticing the universe and how the lessons learned there can help us grow. We also discussed Silicon Valley and a new culture for the 21st cent.

    Re-released episode: Pride In Our People From Pride in Our Food w/Jeffrey Yoskowitz of 'The Gefilteria'

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 21, 2020 44:33


    Originally aired May 10th 2019. What was once a rich and vibrant culture of Ashkenazi Jewish food in the Old World is now often seen as boring and bland. That is, at least, until recent years when the younger generation of Jews has fought to reclaim their proud Ashkenazi heritage.

    Weekly Torah Portion – Devarim

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 24, 2020 9:39


    Asking for help is a trait that must be practiced. In the book of Exodus it is Moses' father-in-law that suggests that the Israelite leader create a system of delegates. Yet, in our parsha of Devarim, it is Moses himself that asks for help. Either way, the importance of seeking support reigns supreme.

    Re-released Episode: Joining The Tribe w/Rabbi Adam Greenwald

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 26, 2020 39:10


    Originally aired Sept 20th 2019. In 2014, Rabbi Greenwald was named one of “America’s Most Inspiring Rabbis” by the Jewish Daily Forward. In 2016, Rabbi Greenwald received the prestigious Covenant Foundation's Pomegranate Prize. This week he joins the RHS podcast.

    Weekly Torah Portion – Shelach Lecha

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 19, 2020 7:20


    This week's torah portion is the source of the 3rd paragraph of the Shema/VeAhavta and it instructs us to wear 'tzit-tzit', the fringes at the corners of our garments. How powerful can a ritual to wear fringes be? This uniform custom has been practised by the Jewish people across time and space. While the Shema and the Ve'Ahavta may not be as emotional as other Jewish prayers, it has grounded our people in ritual for thousands of years.

    Weekly Parshah Reflections – Be'haalotecha

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 12, 2020 10:05


    In this week's torah portion of Be'haalotecha the Israelites complain about their gift of manna and instead demand meat to eat. Incapable of seeing the good in what they have, the Israelites lay the groundwork for further negativity and short-sightedness. This spells trouble as they will soon be punished with wandering the desert for 40 years.

    Weekly Parshah Reflections – Naso

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 5, 2020 9:18


    This week's torah portion of Naso introduces a bizarre ritual called 'sotah'. In this ritual, a man that suspects his partner of adultery brings her before the priests. They write down a few verses from Torah on parchment and place it into a vessel with water. Once the ink dissolves into the drink, the accused woman must drink it. We unpack this story. I Am a Man Who Will Fight for Your Honor by Chris Zabriskie is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license.

    Special Holiday Edition - Shavuot

    Play Episode Listen Later May 29, 2020 6:22


    The real focus of the Ten Commandments is not how a 'person' acts; instead, it is about how 'people' respond to one another. The hope is not that we be perfect beings but rather that we be present and engaged ones. Each commandment is an invitation to be a better partner in the relationship. I Am a Man Who Will Fight for Your Honor by Chris Zabriskie is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license.

    Weekly Torah Portion – Ba'Midbar

    Play Episode Listen Later May 22, 2020 7:29


    In Hebrew, writing 'in the desert' is spelled using the same four letters as writing 'through the act of speaking'. Both speech and deserts can lead to great confusion. What is the oasis when it comes to communicating our emotions? - Song!

    Weekly Torah Portion – Behar-Bechukotai

    Play Episode Listen Later May 15, 2020 11:24


    In Exodus the Israelites are commanded to observe Shabbat. In this week's torah portion they are commanded to allow the land to rest every seven years - Shemitah. While there are economic benefits to rest and renewal, there are also many economic fears. Nevertheless, mitzvot are not given based economic impact, rather based on soul impact. Although it is scary or challenging to cease creating, counter-intuitively it is precisely this cessation that creates a new version of ourselves.

    Weekly Parshah Reflections – Emor

    Play Episode Listen Later May 8, 2020 7:54


    The upcoming holiday of Lag B'Omer commemorates the end of a plague that struck the students of Rabbi Akiva. It is said they were struck by plague because of their bitterness and pettiness against one another. This stands in stark contrast to Rabbi Akiva who taught that love of your fellow human is core to what it means to be a Jew. I Am a Man Who Will Fight for Your Honor by Chris Zabriskie is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license.

    Weekly Parshah Reflections – Achrei Mot-Kedoshim

    Play Episode Listen Later May 1, 2020 11:29


    "The Golden Rule".. perhaps the most commonly quoted commandment from the whole of Torah: 'You shall love your neighbour as yourself'. When it comes to this principle, due to certain subconscious tendencies, we often lie to ourselves in order to preserve the created version of who we think we really are. But in noticing these obstacles we can truly live out the 'Golden Rule'. I Am a Man Who Will Fight for Your Honor by Chris Zabriskie is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license.

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