One of the defining features of what we call Jewish Renewal is the emergence of an Eastern inspired marriage of Buddhism and mystic Judaism. This has given rise to a new movement, Jewish meditation practices. Last week I got an email from Rabbi Jeff Roth. The founder and Director of the Awakened Heart Project asked who I was and why I sent him a Sabbath greeting. I honestly don't remember doing that, but hey, since I had him on a thread I asked him to join me on this edition of Not That Kind Of Rabbi. Here's our conversation.

Estelle Frankel is a practicing psychotherapist, author, spiritual director and seasoned teacher of Jewish mysticism and meditation. For over forty years she has been a thought leader and popular public speaker on the integration of depth psychology, Kabbalah and the world's great spiritual traditions. Estelle is the author of numerous essays and two popular books: Sacred Therapy: Jewish Spiritual Teachings on Emotional Healing & Inner Wholeness and The Wisdom of Not Knowing: Discovering a Life of Wonder by Embracing Uncertainty. Info about Estelle's teaching schedule and other offerings can be found at www.estellefrankel.com

Yisroel Bernath was 15 years old living in Chicago and doing what lots of kids in the windy city were doing back then, playing basketball. He and his kippah wearing friends were having a pretty good time. Then everything changed. There were threats, a gun was drawn, shots were fired as he fled. Justice was served but could Yisroel ever forgive the perpetrators? On this episode of Not That Kind of Rabbi we join Rabbi Bernath to talk about his book, The Forgiveness Experiment.

Not so long ago in Spokane Washington, otherwise known as the heart of the inland empire, there was a little boy named Josh, later to become Yoshi. His friends went to Hebrew school, he didn't. His friends learned how to write doo doo in Hebrew, he didn't. But he wanted to so he went to Hebrew school. Well now, living in Cleveland, he has moved far beyond the days of doo doo. Now he leads a movement that aligns the spirit with the body. Embodied Judaism, gets us out of our heads and into our hearts. The Mitsui Collective and the Mitsui Method are his life's work at this moment. Let's check in with Yoshi Silverstein.

In his latest book , Diary of a Low-Born Cleric, We travel with him through the ebb and flow of his new'ish life as an Anglican Priest. Born to a Jewish father and Christian mother Michael has gone from an adamant right of centre Catholic to a progressive Anglican minister. It's been quite a ride.

On this episode of NTKR I spend some earthy time with Tiferet Nashman. She's the Executive Director of something called Shoresh. It's the centre for Jewish environmental programs. As easy as it is to keep our spiritual life contained in four walls and only visited occasionally, what would happen if we knocked those walls down and connected instead with the heaven that is all around us? Let's find out.

Sometimes it's better to stop talking and even better, to stop arguing our strongly held views. Better to pick up a crayon or a paintbrush and with no agenda just splash about in the wading pool of abstract images. That's one thing that Jewish artist, facilitator and filmmaker Jay Ginsherman is doing. This week on Not That Kind of Rabbi we get out of our heads and into our creative souls. Have a listen.

Paige Lowenstein was on the path to becoming a Rabbi in the traditional way. The well respected Reform seminary. Two years in she had a psychedelic experience on psilocybin mushrooms. That changed everything. She packed up and moved to the majestic redwood forests of northern California and finished her Rabbinic studies with Jewish Renewal's Aleph Ordination Program. Question is, now that your mind has been blown, what's next?