In this episode of The Neshamah Project, we explore two luminous teachings from the Maor VaShemesh that reveal how embodied life itself can become a vessel for awakening. First, we reflect on Abraham’s transformation into a living conduit of divine presence—his body, breath, and being illuminated from within. Then we turn to his moment at the tent’s entrance, where overwhelming spiritual light brings him to the edge of dissolution, and simple acts of hospitality become a grounding force. Together, these teachings remind us that spirituality isn’t about leaving the body—it’s about coming home to it. The sacred moves through breath, touch, and service. Presence is found not in escaping the world, but in loving it fully.
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In this episode of The Neshamah Project, we explore two luminous teachings from the Maor VaShemesh that reveal how embodied life itself can become a vessel for awakening. First, we reflect on Abraham’s transformation into a living conduit of divine presence—his body, breath, and being illuminated from within. Then we turn to his moment at the tent’s entrance, where overwhelming spiritual light brings him to the edge of dissolution, and simple acts of hospitality become a grounding force. Together, these teachings remind us that spirituality isn’t about leaving the body—it’s about coming home to it. The sacred moves through breath, touch, and service. Presence is found not in escaping the world, but in loving it fully.
Neshamah Project Podcast: Episode 89: Desire and the First Fruits of the Heart
The Neshamah Project
24 minutes 4 seconds
2 months ago
Neshamah Project Podcast: Episode 89: Desire and the First Fruits of the Heart
In this week’s episode, we explore the mitzvah of bringing the first fruits and the deeper spiritual meaning hidden within it. The Maor VaShemesh teaches that the practice is not only about gratitude, but about desire itself—how we meet our strongest cravings and transform them into offerings of the heart. Along the way, he weaves the story of Laban, Egypt, and the gathering of holy sparks into a map for spiritual life, reminding us that every act of restraint, every pause before pleasure, can help repair something ancient. What does it mean today to dedicate our “first fruits”—our first energy, first thoughts, first creativity—to the sacred?
The Neshamah Project
In this episode of The Neshamah Project, we explore two luminous teachings from the Maor VaShemesh that reveal how embodied life itself can become a vessel for awakening. First, we reflect on Abraham’s transformation into a living conduit of divine presence—his body, breath, and being illuminated from within. Then we turn to his moment at the tent’s entrance, where overwhelming spiritual light brings him to the edge of dissolution, and simple acts of hospitality become a grounding force. Together, these teachings remind us that spirituality isn’t about leaving the body—it’s about coming home to it. The sacred moves through breath, touch, and service. Presence is found not in escaping the world, but in loving it fully.
