Greetings friends
How are your springs going? During these winter storms, remember, it is the time for renewal for life, for love, for our souls.
This week, we celebrate the genocide that did not occur. We do it with celebration, story, and examination of who we are or want to be.
We celebrate Purim – a day of lot casting when Haman tried to eradicate the Jews. And it is happening again – change the “n” to “s” and Haman becomes Hamas – and they are trying where so many have failed before.
Several thousand years ago, we had Esther to save us. There are always Esthers to be found. We will always survive.
Because spring just dawned, we are in the midst of the first 12 days of the ancient year. They took this date of equal light and equal dark, of balance, and viewed it as a time to choose how you want your life to unfold. They believed that every year, you had a blank canvas to paint your masterpiece, to imprint your will on the empty picture of life and that each of the first 12 days represented the 12 months of the year.
Each day, you put the energy of the month into that day, and when we look at the days we had and the days to come, we see:
Day — A true blank slate so you can initiate a new project; you can also think about the image you project.
Day 2—Security and value: Where do you get your sense of security from? It’s not always money. Do something that fosters your sense of personal security.
Day 3—Siblings and communication skills: Speak with a brother/sister, write a poem, or share a song.
Day 4—Mother, home, emotional foundation—visit mom—it doesn’t have to be physical; it can be virtual or spiritual. Do something to make your home more comfortable.
Day 5—Love of life and excitement; life in an artistic vein—do something that really fosters how you love to live life; do something exciting, invigorating.
Day 6—Health and pets. Think about what you need to do to make yourself healthier this year, and enjoy the unconditional love of a pet—yours or a friend’s.
Day 7—Partnerships, business or personal; long-term relationships. We all have partners in life. Foster the relationships.
Day 8—Transformation. What do you see yourself becoming with the next phase of your life? What steps do you need to take?
Day 9—Higher learning—whether school or universal understanding of life, religion, or spirituality—explore something beyond your current comfort level.
Day 10—Father, authorities, career, achievement in society – call Dad.
Day 11—Hopes, dreams, wishes, friends, and networks—Think about your real hopes and dreams; call a dear friend and tell them they are important in your life.
Day 12—Subconscious and spirituality; your secrets and karma – what are you bringing forward that you have to work on?
You can change your life with these 12 days. They represent a key time to initiate change. Change your world and make it what you want, and you do this by changing yourself.
Our journey through life is a very important one, perhaps more than you thought. We carry three intertwined aspects with us through our lifetimes. The highest is the soul. We take it with us lifetime to lifetime – our soul has been our constant companion from the beginning of time; the lowest is the body - the vessel which carries the other two and is completely disposable and always was - before we knew disposable was ok. It is cast aside on death and recycled, and the other two parts move on.
The second and middle one is probably the one we are most familiar with, and perhaps the most influenced by, is our personality. We do carry it from lifetime to lifetime, but it is always changing—picking up on what it learned in each, so we carry those traits with us to the next life, and they reappear, and we have certain familiarity. Personality is the part of us that is constantly in some kind of reaction state to the present moment, so it changes during life and from lifetime to lifetime. These three parts make you, you—and you have complete control of them and the ability to change.
This week, we begin a new book—the Book of Leviticus. It is the shortest of the five books that make up the Torah, and it sits squarely in the middle of the structure in a way that may be unsettling to many modern readers. We have been reading a story—and now, a break to read ritual.
This is perhaps the oddest of the Five Books of Moses because the Book of Leviticus is predominantly concerned with Levitical rituals. So, this week, you get to become a priest - a Levite - and you begin to learn about sacrifices—
- The Burnt Offering
- Grain Offerings
- Offerings of Well-Being
- Sin Offerings
- Offerings with Restitution
You’ve never done one; You’ll never do one —
Leviticus describes the sacrificial service and the duties of the priests. It also introduces ritual purity, the biblical diet, the calendar of appointed times, laws of holiness, and laws relating to redemption, vows, and tithes. In addition, Leviticus discourses on ethical instruction and holiness. It is a manual for the priest and has so little ability to connect with a typical reader.
Enjoy this week’s reading, and keep practicing forgiveness, kindness, and acceptance. Use this time to continue to forgive those you need to forgive and ask forgiveness from those you need to seek forgiveness from. Give thanks and celebrate your freedom and joy; do not succumb to fear – and please feel free to share this audio and video with any you think might enjoy it, and, of course, enjoy all of our past audio and video episodes, which are available on our YouTube channel. This episode will be posted on our channel - click here to watch the Rabbi David Gellman Show in the 2024 cycle.
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Thank you all for allowing me into your homes, into your electronic devices, into your hearts, as you are all with me in mine.
Be well, be happy, be healthy, be free, be kind, be forgiving, be compassionate, be independent of mind and deed, be mindful of your intentions, and be good to yourself. Continue to celebrate freedom of choice in your life, do not give in to the fear that is so prevalent, and enjoy the peace that comes from acceptance. As always, if you have any questions or suggestions or just want to say “hi,” please send me an email. I love hearing from you.
Remember, anytime you do not want to receive these anymore, please send me an email so I can remove you. I truly appreciate your sharing your sacred time with me.
Enjoy and celebrate your life and the lives of others, and in doing so, be kind, be yourself—be you; be happy. May you all sow the seeds of and reap the rewards of peace, love, and miracles. Make sure you also celebrate your unique individuality and your incredible awesomeness.
Continue to imprint your will on the blank canvas of time and determine what your year will be like. And, remember, your world is what you make it. Just wish upon a star, and continue to be a miracle in someone’s life, and light the light of love.
Blessings
RD
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