What is Jewish spirituality? For that matter, what is spirituality, and why is it an important, even necessary part of life? Rabbi Josh Feigelson and Michal Smart Fox of the Institute for Jewish Spirituality join David Bryfman to discuss what it means to have a Jewish spiritual practice, and why understanding spirituality is critical for Jewish educators. They look at how COVID has changed our collective quest for spirituality, and the growing body of research that points to the benefits a regular spiritual practice can have. Be sure to look out for when Peloton sneaks into the conversation!
If you’ve never experienced Jewish spirituality, be sure to stick around until the end of the episode for a short Jewish spiritual practice led by Rabbi Feigelson.
This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Gabriel Weinstein. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben. This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media. If you enjoyed the show please leave us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released.
To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.
Additional Resources:
Institute for Jewish Spirituality
Free Daily Meditation from Institute for Jewish Sprirituality
U.S. Teens Take After Their Parents Religiously, Attend Services Together and Enjoy Family Rituals from Pew Research Center
The Pew study cheat sheet: 10 key conclusions from the new survey of American Jews
Navigating Uncertainty: The State of Religion & Young People 2021 by Springtide Research
National survey on youth and religion raises concern about Gen-Z Jews — and questions about how to understand them by Rabbi Josh Feigelson on JTA
‘The ways of Torah are peaceful’: Why football presents a dilemma for American Jews by Rabbi Josh Feigelson on JTA
Is the pandemic the perfect opportunity for faith leaders to reach Gen Z? by Mya Jaradat
