Raising Holy Sparks

Spoken word artist Andrew Lustig has had his poetry reach millions in viral videos and has presented in hundreds of live performances. In this episode I speak with Andrew about nervousness before speaking in front of large groups, creativity and much more

In this episode I speak with Rabbi Lauren Tuchman, the first blind women to ever enter the rabbinate. We discuss the elements from her childhood that made her feel welcome, double standards around accommodations, and making holidays sensory experiences.

A Haiku: we discuss talmud, and studying the whole thing, and writing haikus. If that's not 17 syllables feel free to email me at hello@mishaclebaner.com. I speak with Rabbi Avi Strausberg about her 7.5 years of reading and writing her way through talmud.

Did you know that there is a Jewish community in Uganda? Guess how big it is! Tune in to find it. We also discuss diversity in American Jewish spaces. We chat logistics for getting ready to travel, and what it means to feel at "home".

A community builder, artist, and pioneer. Rachel "Bluth" Rosenbluth is a student at Yeshivat Har-El, an Orthodox Rabbinical program. From leading Shabbat services on the beaches of TLV to getting into the thick of peacework, she's there with a full heart.

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.

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.

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?

The torah portions of Shemini, Tazria, Metzora. "It's all about what comes in and what goes out". Chapter 11 spells out kosher food laws, so I explore what that means. Ch 15 talks about the body and whether or not it's gross. Here are my thoughts, enjoy!

The torah portions of Tzav & Shemini. In this source sheet, I talk about the proper way to bring our gifts into this world, the importance of sharing, letting your actions speak for themselves, holiday time consumerism, and martyrdom.

In Episode 3 I share some of the resources and tools that I have used along the windy and ongoing journey that is spiritual life. I share some accessible ways to approach shabbat and why it shouldn't matter that meditation leads to tangible benefits.

The torah portion Vayikra. In this episode I talk what it means to be called, whether or not hierarchies are a good thing, and how talking about how much you've changed is meaningless unless there are tangible actions to back it up.

The torah portions of Vayakhel & Pekudei. In this episode I talk about artistry in the torah and whether that resonates with audiences, elevating the stories of women, seeing the light in every person, and not being afraid to share that light with others.

In this episode, we take a look at Pirke Avot 4:2 which teaches that a mitzvah (commandment, positive deed) creates a momentum for doing more mitzvahs later down the road. With that in mind - what does it mean to let perfectionism interrupt our progress?

Originally this was going to be a sound check for the first official episode of Raising Holy Sparks, but it turned out to be a really fun and interesting conversation. Topic: creating community as a millennial, what is prayer, and being our truest self.

Hello and welcome to the first ever episode of Raising Holy Sparks. In this episode I share the meaning behind the name of the show, what you can expect in future episodes, and a nutshell version of my journey towards becoming a rabbi. Hope you enjoy it!