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Spiritual Sparks.
Rabbi Ze'ev Smason on the small sparks of everyday life: a story, three ideas, two quotes, and one question to carry into the week.
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Around the World on Foot -- in 28 Years!
In November 1998, a 29-year-old British man named Karl Bushby set out on a walk -- around the world. Starting from the southern tip of South America, Bushby planned to…
A Stranger's Lost Wedding Ring: How Far Would You Go to Find It?
Over Labor Day Weekend, Michael Hamtil and his 13-year-old son stood on a rocky cave ledge overlooking the Current River in Missouri's Ozarks. They counted to three and…
Readers Respond
One of the pleasures of writing Spiritual Sparks is hearing from you. Sometimes a reader adds a new dimension to something I've written. Sometimes a personal experience…
Why Were They Applauding in Maine?
Football fans will recognize the name Don Shula. The legendary Miami Dolphins coach led his team to two Super Bowl championships and the NFL’s only perfect season. He…
What Color Were the Patient's Eyes?
My late father-in-law, Dr. Irwin Siegel, was an accomplished physician and surgeon who also helped train young doctors. He once told me about an exercise he regularly…
What Lens Are You Looking Through?
A wise old man sat just outside a city when a traveler approached him. “What kind of people live in this city?” the traveler asked. The wise man answered with a question…
Every piece 65
- 65The MIT Mathematician Who Calculated Happiness
- 64Around the World on Foot -- in 28 Years!
- 63A Stranger's Lost Wedding Ring: How Far Would You Go to Find It?
- 62Readers Respond
- 61Why Were They Applauding in Maine?
- 60What Color Were the Patient's Eyes?
- 59What Lens Are You Looking Through?
- 58You Never Know!
- 57Cherish
- 56The Sound of Silence
- 55The Long Light of Distant Stars
- 54Looking in Your Inner Mirror
- 53The Joy Is in the Journey
- 52Playing to Win
- 51Time in a Bottle
- 50Finding a Sense of Where You Are
- 49Why Chocolate Can Be Spiritual
- 48Who Are You When No One's Looking?
- 47Beginning Again
- 46Taking the High Road
- 45R-E-S-P-E-C-T
- 44The New Sensation Hiding in Your Laundry Basket
- 43Readers Respond — Hidden Seasons, Hidden Strength
- 42The Circle Game
- 41Walk a Mile in My Shoes —
- 40He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother
- 39Are You a Good Listener?
- 38Can Sugar Look Like Salt?
- 37You're an Original — Why Compare?
- 36Running on Empty? Think Again
- 35The Cure for Hurry Sickness
- 34Coincidence — More Than Meets the Eye?
- 33Creativity: The Soul's Outward Breath
- 32Laser Vision
- 31Living With Fascination
- 30A Good Laugh
- 29Famous Last Words
- 28Deep Roots, Lasting Growth
- 27Becoming Excellent, Becoming You
- 26To Listen Is To Care
- 25Nurturing Hope
- 24The Gift of Light
- 23Do Miracles Still Happen?
- 22Life is a Test
- 21Gratitude: From Heart to Habit
- 20Awe!
- 19A Good Heart: The Jewel Within
- 18Life Is Short — It Goes Fast
- 17Truce at Heart: Finding Peace with Yourself
- 16The Healing Touch of Empathy
- 15A Mother's Heart & Soul
- 14Time's Treasure
- 13The Gift of Forgiveness
- 12What is Spirituality?
- 11The Path to True Happiness
- 10Friends Lift Our Soul
- 09From Cookies to Cabernet
- 08Dreams -- Messages From Afar?
- 07Love, Giving, and Popcorn
- 06Purpose ... Why Am I Here?
- 05Beauty's Deeper Dimensions
- 04The Soul is Your Essence
- 03When Life Hurts
- 02The Language of Touch
- 01How Does Music Touch Your Soul?
Also Every Week
- Your Weekly DoseRabbi Eliyahu Schusterman of Chabad Intown, on the week and what it asks of us.Read Your Weekly Dose →
- The Shabbat DropMiranda Lapides on Jewish joy, culture, and the week just gone.Read The Shabbat Drop →
- Gimme Some TorahRabbi Eli Garfinkel on the day’s portion, most days of the week.Read Gimme Some Torah →
- Finding the JoyUri's weekly turn through the parsha, looking for the joy in it.Read Finding the Joy →