Tyler’s Torah Thoughts for 16 Shevat 5784
Parsha Be-Shallah: (Exodus 13:17 – 17:16)
Sixth Portion: Exodus 16:11 – 15:36

This morning’s Torah Thoughts are going to be different. This portion has special significance to me. So much so, that I set it apart. I will write about it tomorrow with the seventh portion.

Every year, This portion has connected me to some of the most challenging moments in my life. My mom passed away on the day we read this portion in 5782. My marriage came to an end on this day. And today? It is life. Which given what I am learning – the month of Shevat is all about death and rebirth.

I wanted to highlight some things I’ve written about on this day in the past. I wanted to begin by discussing the name “Hashem.” I use that name a lot. And it doesn’t always resonate with others.

One of my favorite Jewish authors, Shterna Ginsburg (who wrote “Your Awesome Self” and started me on this journey of self love) says this:

“The word ‘Hashem’ means different things to different people. Many people have been hurt in the name of Hashem. Many people feel distant from Hashem, because their abusers were individuals who professed to believe in Hashem. Others see Hashem as a theory that is meaningful in discussions but irrelevant in practical life.”

But Hashem is different than that. Here are Six Truths that Shterna writes about Who Hashem really is;

1. 1. Hashem is the Exclusive Power. In fact, Hashem is the one and only true existence, for everything exists only through Him. Hashem creates and recreates the world every moment. The only reason that anything exists is because Hashem wants it to exist.  Nothing has value or power on its own; all of creation is entirely dependent on Hashem. Nothing exists outside of Him.
   2. Hashem is present. Hashem is fully present here and now, in every inch of our lives. There has never been and there will never be a corner of the world that is empty of Him. Believing is seeing. When we open up our minds and hearts to Hashem’s presence, we can experience His Presence in a tangible way.
   3. Hashem loves each and every one of us. Each of us is Hashem’s dear, precious child. Hashem loves us intensely and wants only the best for us. This is true no matter what we’ve done and no matter why we think it’s not true for us – there is nobody who is an exception to His Love. The primary manifestation of Hashem’s presence is His kindness. Everything about our experience of Hashem – everything that happens in our lives – is an extension of that kindness.
   4. Hashem directs every detail of the world. Nothing can happen to us without Hashem wanting it to happen. We can’t get what we aren’t divinely intended to have. Nobody can take away from us that which we are intended to have. And every single detail of our lives is directed by Hashem for a purpose that is in our best interest.
   5. Hashem created us for a purpose. Hashem wants to be known in every blade of grass in the earth, every dream soaring in the heavens and everything in between. Hashem wants to be depended upon in every room in our homes and in every corner of our hearts. As carriers of His Light, we are entrusted with this mission to know Hashem and to let His Presence make a difference in every part of the world, within every dimension of life.
   6. Hashem wants to have a relationship with each of us. It is commonly understood that believing in Hashem is about doing more Mitzvos and staying away from transgressing His will. That’s just one small corner of the scene. In the full picture, our relationship with Hashem is not meant to be transactional. It’s meant to be transformational. Hashem wants us to turn to Him with our joys and with our sorrows, on our good days and on our better days. Hashem wants us to trust Him and depend on Him. Hashem wants to take us out of our misery and self-pity; He wants us to hold onto Him, riding on His truth to overcome our limitations.

If you don’t like this word, Hashem? Substitute it – Call Hashem “Source” or “God” or “The Universe” or (as I have discovered) “Love.”  Because if the name is what is blocking us? Why allow that to?

And. In addition, I am learning balance.

We will dig more into this soon. Have an amazing day!

Here are my thoughts from the past two years:

Tyler’s Torah Thoughts for 12 Shevat, 5783

Wow. This was from a year ago. One of the most challenging days of my life. I read this and I’m just floored.

This morning, the Torah portion discusses the process of manna in the desert.

The Israelites were called to gather the manna every day and then double it on Fridays.

One passage stands out. It says no matter how much or how little they gathered it was the same amount. They measured it and miraculously, no matter how much they gathered, it was the same amount.

The key concept I’m learning (and as I tried “Yin” yoga last night this was my lesson) is about balance. When we are out of balance (which doing yoga is teaching me) we are put in touch with where we need to shift.

Hashem provides us all; enough. But we don’t believe that.

Because those who tried to hoard the manna and not eat all of it and leave some until morning? It turned rancid and developed worms. That’s a mentality of lacking. They didn’t trust Hashem to provide enough the next day.

This leads me to think that do we use what we are spiritually given each day? Or do we hoard it thinking it won’t come tomorrow? And does that backfire and become rancid Because we are stuck in a deficit mindset?

And. Do we think we don’t have enough because we think we deserve MORE? Which is still a deficit.

Loving each day as enough on its own, and not worrying about tomorrow’s Manna? That is the lesson.

So what are we doing today to gather our spiritual manna- which is free and liberating?

And what are we holding onto spiritually for tomorrow? What are we not consuming spiritually, trusting that tomorrow the spiritual manna will come?

Thoughts?

Tyler’s Torah Thoughts for Shevat 12, 5782

Today is the Yahrtziet for my mothers passing in 2008. It’s a heavy day for so many reasons.

To honor her, and to veer a smidge from Torah (don’t worry, tomorrow will be full of torah thoughts), I wanted to share more about why I call God “Hashem” sometimes. I use it a lot in my torah thoughts, and I have received questions about it.

I first learned about the depth of Hashem from the book “Your Awesome Self” by Shterna Ginsberg. It really is a life changing book, and has grounded me in a foundation of Torah and Spirit.

Shterna writes, “The word ‘Hashem’ means different things to different people. Many people have been hurt in the name of Hashem. Many people feel distant from Hashem, because their abusers were individuals who professed to believe in Hashem. Others see Hashem as a theory that is meaningful in discussions but irrelevant in practical life.”

But Hashem is different than that. Here are Six Truths that Shterna writes about Who Hashem really is;

1) Hashem is the Exclusive Power.

In fact, Hashem is the one and only true existence, for everything exists only through Him. Hashem creates and recreates the world every moment. The only reason that anything exists is because Hashem wants it to exist.

Nothing has value or power on its own; all of creation is entirely dependent on Hashem. Nothing exists outside of Him.

2) Hashem is present.

Hashem is fully present here and now, in every inch of our lives. There has never been and there will never be a corner of the world that is empty of Him. Believing is seeing. When we open up our minds and hearts to Hashem’s presence, we can experience His Presence in a tangible way.

3) Hashem loves each and every one of us.

Each of us is Hashem’s dear, precious child. Hashem loves us intensely and wants only the best for us. This is true no matter what we’ve done and no matter why we think it’s not true for us – there is nobody who is an exception to His Love. The primary manifestation of Hashem’s presence is His kindness. Everything about our experience of Hashem – everything that happens in our lives – is an extension of that kindness.

4) Hashem directs every detail of the world.

Nothing can happen to us without Hashem wanting it to happen. We can’t get what we aren’t divinely intended to have. Nobody can take away from us that which we are intended to have. And every single detail of our lives is directed by Hashem for a purpose that is in our best interest.

5) Hashem created us for a purpose.

Hashem wants to be known in every blade of grass in the earth, every dream soaring in the heavens and everything in between. Hashem wants to be depended upon in every room in our homes and in every corner of our hearts. As carriers of His Light, we are entrusted with this mission to know Hashem and to let His Presence make a difference in every part of the world, within every dimension of life.

6) Hashem wants to have a relationship with each of us.

It is commonly understood that believing in Hashem is about doing more Mitzvos and staying away from transgressing His will. That’s just one small corner of the scene. In the full picture, our relationship with Hashem is not meant to be transactional. It’s meant to be transformational. Hashem wants us to turn to Him with our joys and with our sorrows, on our good days and on our better days. Hashem wants us to trust Him and depend on Him. Hashem wants to take us out of our misery and self-pity; He wants us to hold onto Him, riding on His truth to overcome our limitations.

As we move forward studying the Torah, I felt like this was a good framework to share. I don’t always live this out. But more and more I am understanding the reality of Hashem, and that is why I use that name.