Swan Lake with Wildflowers, Julie Danan
Shalom, everyone! I haven’t posted since Passover. . . has anything happened?
Seriously, over the past few months, as we have all–the whole human world–been dealing with the many challenges of the COVID Pandemic, Wellsprings of Wisdom has been going through a full redesign and re-imagining. Thank you to our designer and web-mayven Shaughn Barholle. I hope that you enjoy the beautiful new look of the site.
Each Gateway (i.e. themed page such as “Light” or “Trees”) now has a scroll-through catalog of posts at the bottom of the page. The posts still link to the next one if you want to go in the order that I planned for that theme. Or you can just pick and choose what interests you!
Swallowtail Butterfly, Julie Danan
I started Wellsprings of Wisdom as a virtual retreat center, an alternative to the noisy and sometimes negative content on the internet. Here you can explore the wisdom of nature and the nature of ancient Jewish wisdom. At first, I used a lot of photos from other people. Over the past few years I have taken up nature photography as a passionate hobby. I went from a cell phone camera to a simple fixed-lens camera, to my first mirrorless camera with three lenses, and most recently have gotten a 100-400mm lens for wildlife and bird photography. So more and more of the photography on the sight is now my own, including the home page (For other people’s photos, I always credit the sources in the posts and use with proper permissions). One of my goals is to create inspirational materials with my nature photography and to offer them through this site.
I post daily nature photos–and some inspirational messages–as @Wellsprings on Instagram, and mirror much of that content on Wellsprings of Wisdom on Facebook. Your follows and friendship will be appreciated on either platform.
Also over the past few years, I have pretty much stayed quietly in the background of this site, as “your guide.” Going forward, that role will remain, but I will also be adding more of my own ideas and more about me as a rabbi and teacher. That’s because until now my primary job for three decades has been congregational leader (20 of those years as an ordained rabbi), and this was my personal creative, “fun” project on the side.
However, I found out this spring that, due to the recession and economic changes, my current pulpit in Westchester, New York, will continue only until Summer 2021. God willing, at that point I hope to embark on a new phase as an independent rabbi, writer, teacher, and photographer. So over this coming year, God willing, I hope to put in more about me and what i have to offer the world from my own Wellsprings of creativity: including teaching, life-cycle leading, writings, and inspirational materials made with my photos. Behind the scenes, I have also been working on self-publishing my late mother’s spiritual memoir and writing my own spiritual memoir (which of course, involves a lot about Nature).
So as we enter the New Year, I’m still busy as a congregational rabbi leading lots of services–albeit mostly on Zoom–but I will also be adding to this site. Contact me if you have ideas such as materials you would like from Wellsprings, or online courses you would like to see. I appreciate your support of Wellsprings of Wisdom over the Years, and hope to keep teaching and connecting, on line, and hopefully soon in person again.
Featured Image: Swan Lake with a crown of wildflowers, Rockefeller State Park Preserve, Summer, 2020, Julie Danan
Visit the HOME PAGE to check out the new experience!
P.S. If you are reading this page in the “What’s New” Column and want to comment, click here (or click on the title) and it will take you to this individual post where you can do so.
Dear Rabbi
Very impressed with the daf Yomi contribution which led me to your Wellness Spring (all the way from Melbourne Australia)
I wish you every success in all your doing יישר כח ובהצלחה גדולה!
Etty Ben-David
Dear Etty,
Thank you so very much for the kind words and support!
I would love it if you wish to sign up for future newsletters and stay in touch.
Rabbi Julie
Lovely photos from a fellow creative soul ( poet, playwright, fiction and non fiction writer and author and sometime-photographer) who continues to explore the natural and man-made world. Good luck! Also doing the Daf Yomi alone
Thank you so much! I would love to see your work, too, if you want to provide a link or social media account.
Good luck with the Daf Yomi. I listen to the podcasts from Hadran and have a weekly Hevruta (study buddy) to review.
Please consider signing up for my occasional newsletter to stay in touch.
Sure, send me your occasional newsletter. I am gearing up to self-publish my book, Why Is Grandma Naked? Caring for Your Aging Parent. If you’d like an advance reader copy let me know.
Good for you! Best of luck with your book. I don’t think I would be a good advance reader as my parents passed on before aging, sadly 🙁
I will add you to my email list; people can also sign up through this website.
Thank you for sharing all of this. Big changes. So many possibilities. You have blessed and touched so many of us in your 30 years as a Jewish leader. I look forward to continuing being part of your chevra, in this next chapter. You have so many gifts, so many talents and I know you will continue to enrich the world with your leadership.
Thank you so much, Lisa. Gam berucha tihiyi.
you will be great wherever your path leads, whatever you feel chosen to be/do.
Thanks so much, Rav Terry. I would love to check in with you during this journey.
Best wishes. Behatzlaych
Thank you so much, Reb Louis. Much appreciated!
Blessings Rabbi Julie one these new things happening and your continually beautiful and empowered contributions of good in the wold! Love, your sister Pastor
Thank you so much, dear Pastor Peg!