Weekly Meditation with Rabbi Angela Buchdahl

For this, the final episode of this podcast, Rabbi Angela Buchdahl explores the Jewish approach to goodbyes, revealing how Hebrew farewells like lehitra'ot ("until we meet again") and hadran alach ("I will return to you") express hope for reunion rather than finality. Reflecting on traditional blessings recited when seeing someone after a long separation, she notes that how Jewish tradition doesn't take reunions for granted. Join her for a short meditation on honoring both the difficulty of parting and the sacred nature of return.

In this episode, Rabbi Angela Buchdahl explores why Jewish tradition forbids directly counting people, requiring census-taking through numbering coins instead of individuals. She connects this ancient wisdom to modern dehumanization, explaining how the the Torah's instructions to "lift up the heads" means to see each person's unique gifts rather than as a number. Join her for a short guided meditation for recognizing the sacred worth of every soul — including our own.

In this episode, Rabbi Angela Buchdahl reflects on the emotional return of Edan Alexander, the last American living hostage, and the longing it stirred for hope and good news in dark times. She explores how journalism’s focus on dysfunction over solutions shapes our worldview—and what might change if we told stories driven by curiosity rather than fear. With insights from personal stories of empathy across divides, join her for a short meditative practice which can help us ask deeper questions, stay open, and practice sakranut—curiosity—in our daily lives.

Join Rabbi Nicole Auerbach as she leads a guided meditation focused on bodily awareness and appreciation, to notice pleasant sensations as part of the Jewish practice of counting the Omer between Passover and Shavuot. Drawing inspiration from the Torah portion Tazria-Metzora and the concept of Tiferet (beauty/harmony), she emphasizes how our bodies contain wisdom that helps us discern when to engage with community and when to turn inward for healing. The meditation invites participants to experience the continuous renewal of creation through mindful attention to bodily sensations, using the mantra uvtuvo michadesh (new each moment) as an anchor for awareness.

In this special Passover episode, Rabbi Angela Buchdahl gently guides us into presence through breath and gratitude, reflecting on the spiritual meaning of Mitzraim—the "narrow places" we each carry. Through meditation and reflection, Rabbi Buchdahl invites us to imagine our own path to liberation, drawing strength from community, tradition, and the possibility of spaciousness and renewal.

In this episode, Rabbi Angela Buchdahl explores how endings simultaneously serve as beginnings. She highlights the connection between the Hebrew words for "womb" and "compassion," suggesting that comfort and mercy accompany us through life's transitions. Join her for a short teaching and soothing meditation inviting us to recognize that with every ending or loss, something new is being born.

In this episode, Rabbi Angela Buchdahl examines the story of the Golden Calf to explore why we create idols during times of insecurity and fear. Through guided breathing and reflection, she helps us identify our own modern forms of idolatry—whether success, material possessions, or relationships—that we turn to when feeling anxious or uncertain. Join her for a meditation on surrendering false idols and reconnecting with the divine source, focusing on life's true light rather than worldly substitutes.

In this episode, Rabbi Angela Buchdahl explores the Purim story through the lens of identity, fear, and assimilation. Reflecting on the hidden nature of Esther’s Jewishness—and an unexpected connection to Fred Astaire—she invites us to notice where we may be hiding parts of ourselves and how mindfulness can help us respond with awareness instead of fear. Through breath and reflection, this meditation encourages us to embrace what is most essential within us and let it shine.

In this episode, Rabbi Angela Buchdahl reflects on the profound resilience shown by individuals who have endured extreme hardships, particularly focusing on the stories of hostages recently freed from Gaza. She shares the moving tale of Liri Albag, a young woman who was captured at 18 and demonstrated remarkable strength by standing up to captors to protect others. Through her stories, including one where she insisted on not leaving without her fellow captives, the episode explores themes of survival, the power of the human spirit, and the significance of resilience in the face of adversity. Rabbi Buchdahl encourages listeners to tap into their own sources of strength, drawing inspiration from the courage displayed by those like Liri.

In this episode, Rabbi Angela Buchdahl reflects on the joy and emotional weight of the recent hostage reunions, particularly the resilience and love demonstrated by former captives. She recounts a poignant story of five IDF soldiers who were captured together, with one soldier braiding the others' hair before they were freed—a powerful symbol of connection and strength. Join Rabbi Buchdahl for a teaching and meditation on the concept of Tikkun Olam not as "fixing" what's broken, but as "braiding the world together," weaving interconnectedness and mutual support, recognizing that our strength lies in unity and love.

In this episode, Rabbi Angela Buchdahl explores the story of Moses' speech impediment and how it intersects with disability theology, drawing on Rabbi Julia Watts Belzer's book, "Loving Our Own Bones." She delves into God's response to Moses's hesitationt to take on his leadership role, highlighting the first disability accommodation in the Torah and challenging traditional notions of limitations. Join her for a short teaching and meditation on accommodating our vulnerabilities, embracing our imperfections as part of God's divine plan -- and applying this practice to the collective work of justice and compassion.

Join Rabbi Angela Buchdahl for a meditation based on her family's experience of visiting Japan and drawing her family's fortune for 2025 based on the Japanese tradition of Omikuji, or "sacred lots." The fortune they received sparked reflections on fate, agency, and how our fortunes might not be as set in stone as they seem. Listen in for a meditation on how we might reshape our "lot" in life, just as the Japanese tie bad fortunes to pine trees to prevent them from following them home.

Rabbi Angela Buchdahl offers a teaching and meditation based on a red-tailed hawk's unexpected visit to her balcony, leading to a profound reflection on community and connection. The story evokes memories of Pale Male, the legendary red-tailed hawk of New York City, whose presence symbolized the power of perseverance and finding one's place in a vast, often daunting world. Join her for a meditation exploring our sense of belonging, the importance of community, and the lessons we can learn from the flight of birds — especially how we support each other in times of strength and vulnerability.