Experiencing deep personal fulfillment, happiness, and sustenance comes from feeling connected to our authentic selves, which involves building an ongoing relationship with the Divine Presence within us, says author Yiscah Smith. Quite organically, then, we may begin sensing the Divine in our interactions with other people. This is because, for each of us, “our essence, as a creation by God, is God.”
Planting Seeds of the Divine elucidates how Judaism’s sacred texts can provide the foundation for the “end destination” of experiencing intimate encounters with the Divine Presence within—the God-consciousness that so many of us find elusive. Imagining ourselves as spiritual gardeners, we can cultivate our unique gardens with seeds centered on middot (emotional dispositions, character traits, spiritual sensitivities). Each seed corresponds to an aspirational Torah commentary, consisting of a selected Torah verse linked to one of the middot, a summary of the biblical text preceding the verse, classical commentaries, teachings of Hasidic and Neo-Hasidic masters and the author, and step-by-step experiential practices to help us internalize the middot and encounter the Divine.
Each seed contributes to the garden’s beauty—the beauty of the self in God-consciousness—which hopefully blossoms into a magnificent garden of the soul.
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Notes on Translations
1. Genesis (Bere’shit)
Bere’shit – The Need to Connect with Others Noaḥ – Talking to the Divine Lekh Lekha – Taking Our Next Step
Va-yera’ – Cultivating the Spiritual Practice of Hospitality
Ḥayyei Sarah – Spiritual Protest
Toledot – Spiritual Conflict Resolution
Va-yetse’ – Yearning for a Personal Encounter with God
Va-yishlaḥ – Transforming Heel Consciousness to Face Consciousness
Va-yeshev – Navigating Our Inner Opposing Personalities
Mikkets – Removing Our Disguises To Show Our True Selves
Va-yiggash – Seeking and Granting Forgiveness
Va-yeḥi – Finding Favor in Others
2. Exodus (Shemot)
Shemot – Overcoming Habitual Behaviors
Va-’era’ – Awareness of the Divine in Our Midst
Bo’ – Inner Self Renewal
Be-shallaḥ – Jumping Into Our Own Sea of Mystery
Yitro – Spiritual Intimacy
Mishpatim – Doing Before Understanding
Terumah – Creating the Inner Home for the Divine
Tetsavveh – Being in Service
Ki Tissa’ – The Inherent Value of Every Person
Va-yak’hel/ Pekudei – Transforming the Ordinary into Wonder
3. Leviticus (Va-yikra’)
Va-yikra’ – Hearing Our Individual Calling
Tsav – Keeping Our Inner Fire Burning
Shemini – A Time to Remain Silent
Tazria’/ Metsora’ – Spiritual Self-Care
’Aḥarei Mot/ Kedoshim – Letting Go of the Me to Be with the We
’Emor – Loving Peace and Pursuing Peace
Be-har/ Be-ḥukkotai – Taking a Leap of Faith
4. Numbers (Be-midbar)
Be-midbar – Ascending the Ladder of a Sinai Consciousness
Naso’ – Creating Soul to Soul Connections
Be-ha’alotekha – Receiving a Second Chance
Shelaḥ-Lekha – Cultivating Self-Confidence
Koraḥ – Healing an Inflated Sense of Self
Ḥukkat/ Balak – Using the Power of Speech To Enhance the Quality of Life
Pinḥas – Cultivating Shepherd Leadership Within You
Mattot/ Mas’ei – The Wondrous Journey to Your Soul
5. Deuteronomy (Devarim)
Devarim – Discovering Our Inner Moral Compass
Va-’etḥannan – Loving Life with All of Our Heart, Soul, and Might
’Ekev – Reimagining Mitzvot as a Source to Shine Our Inner Light
Re’eh – Seeing the Potential Blessing in Each Moment
Shofetim – Cultivating Wholeheartedness
Ki Tetse’ – Eliciting Compassion To Flow from Above
Ki Tavo’ – Dynamically Walking in the Eternal’s Ways
Nitsavim/ Va-yelekh – Connecting in Vulnerability
Ha’azinu – Remembering Our Third Parent
Ve-zo’t ha-berakhah -Touching Immortality
Notes
Bibliography
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