BARBARA'S TCHATZKAHS

Spiritual Bonding By John Paul There will be times when someone special will walk into your life and a bonding of the spirits will take place. This means that both people are compatible, and that their inner spirits are harmonious with each other. Because of this, a kinship is started first, followed by deep inner emotional feelings for each other, all because the spirits are harmonious. At this point we say that we have an attraction for each other, or that the chemistry is right. The true understanding of relationships is in the divine human spirit, which is the foundation of all happy and good relationships. Sometimes we allow reason to cloud our judgment so that we are unable to become aware of our true feelings. We feel through our mind instead of our hearts, and become confused. When that special person enters your life, and you sense the bonding of the spirits, then hold on tight and don't let go, because unions such as this do not happen all the time. How Will I Know? You w...

Tales from the Tombs of Israel Judith Fein It certainly seemed odd. People who were otherwise sane, intelligent, and credible would travel to the part of northern Israel known as the Galilee to pray at the tomb of the first-century rabbi Jonathan ben Uziel. Afterward, they would rapturously report that they had met their soul mates and gotten married. Since I was in the vicinity of the tomb, I decided to check out the departed matchmaker. Fortified with a healthy dose of skepticism, I entered the tsyun, a low, whitewashed building made of local rocks, cement, earth, and stones. Inside, the sepulcher was draped in dark velvet. On the women’s side — men and women are separated in Orthodox Judaism — some prayed earnestly from Hebrew prayer books and several deposited coins and bills into charity tins. Some left offerings, including bright-colored cloth, silk and chiffon scarves, plastic hair ornaments, and underpants. Underpants? I walked back outside more amused than inspired. When my hu...