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Jay Michaelson is an award-winning journalist, meditation teacher, podcast host, and author of ten books.

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Books
- The Secret that is not a Secret:Ten Heretical Tales
  
  The Heresy of Jacob Frank:From Jewish Messianism to Esoteric Myth
  
  Enlightenment by Trial and ErrorTen years on the Slippery Slopes of Jewish Spirtuality, Postmodern Buddhism, and Other Mystical Heresies
  
  The Gate of TearsSadness and the Spiritual Path
  
  Evolving DharmaMeditation, Buddhism, and the Next Generation of Enlightenment
  
  Redefining Religious LibertyThe Covert Campaign Against Civil Rights
  
  God vs Gay?The Religious Case for Equality
  
  Everything is GodThe Radical Path of Nondual Judaism
  
  Another Word for SkyPoems
  
  God in your BodyKabbalah, Mindfulness, and Embodied Spiritual Practice
  
  isHeretical Jewish Blessings and Poems
  
  AnthologiesAnthologies featuring Jay Michaelson
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Recent Articles

It’s time for Israel’s far right to go

Nov 30th, 2023 in Forward
Psychedelics in a World at War

Nov 30th, 2023 in Both/And
What I’m thankful for (even) this year

Nov 22nd, 2023 in Both/And
Why is there a generation gap over Israel? Because of 20 years of the Israeli right

Nov 22nd, 2023 in Forward
Israel’s hostage deal makes the best of an impossible situation

Nov 21st, 2023 in Forward
more...

Upcoming Events

Dec 4th, 2023
Finding Your Way, with Sharon Salzberg and Jay Michaelson
New York Insight Meditation Center in Online

Dec 5th, 2023
The Secret That Is Not a Secret: A Conversation with Jericho Vincent
Online in The World of Briyah

Dec 24th, 2023
The 2023 Adamah Meditation Retreat
Isabella Freedman Jewish Retreat Center in Falls Village, CT

more...

jaymichaelsoninsta

Are there limits to American, and American Jewish,

Are there limits to American, and American Jewish, support of Israel? There should be -- and the ethnic cleansing promoted by Israel's far right ministers ought to exceed them. New in @jdforward .

For 28 years, I've sent out a poem on the first sn

For 28 years, I've sent out a poem on the first snowfall of the season. This year's comes from the 13th century #chanbuddhism master Wumen Huikai.

On the interfaces and tensions between immediate p

On the interfaces and tensions between immediate political action and long-term spiritual transformation. This week in the Both/And newsletter -- jaymichaelson.substack.com .

Is this the Jay Michaelson/ @babaramdass mashup we

Is this the Jay Michaelson/ @babaramdass mashup we've all been waiting for? Sort of, if you click play. Mostly, though, it's me having a great time on @david_nichtern 's "Creativity, Spirituality, and Making a Buck" podcast, in which we talked about all three of those. Link in bio or "wherever you get your podcasts."

Gratitude isn't opposed to yearning and longing, o

Gratitude isn't opposed to yearning and longing, or even striving. It forms a foundation for it, gives it proportion. #mayaangelou

Thanksgiving is a practice -- which means it can b

Thanksgiving is a practice -- which means it can be most valuable when we're not in the mood for it. In this week's newsletter, I talk about how I'm cultivating gratitude in the midst of some other, more difficult states of mind. Subscribe at jaymichaelson.substack.com

In a conflict marked by moral absolutism, today's

In a conflict marked by moral absolutism, today's hostage deal is a triumph of difficult compromise. New on the front page of @jdforward (and no paywall).

I've long been familiar with #walterbenjamin 's co

I've long been familiar with #walterbenjamin 's conception of the angel of history, blown backward into the future. But the when a friend posted this rendition of it, I was struck by its language, its poetry, its timeliness, and its tragedy.

We all need a break from the hard stuff. So, join

We all need a break from the hard stuff. So, join me in raising a glass to the disgraced camp self-parody of the con man, George Santos. New in @thedailybeast (link in bio).

It now appears that Hamas is basing military insta

It now appears that Hamas is basing military installations in hospitals, presenting Israel with a moral dilemma. I explore this latest painful moment in the war in @jdforward (link in bio).

From "Come Healing" by #leonardcohen

From "Come Healing" by #leonardcohen

This week in the Both/And newsletter: Why are we b

This week in the Both/And newsletter: Why are we being so awful to one another?
jaymichaelson.substack.com

Tell me about it.

Tell me about it.

It's always a good break from current affairs to t

It's always a good break from current affairs to talk about the notorious and innovative Jewish heretic #jacobfrank , this time on the Hebrew Union College "College Commons" Podcast. Link in bio for the full episode, or listen "wherever you get your podcasts." @jewishbookcouncil @hucjir

Did you see the latest polls in six key swing stat

Did you see the latest polls in six key swing states? Despite the Democrats' excellent performance in this week's election, Donald Trump is actually ahead in five of them. In the newsletter this week, I take a look at both the economic and psychological reasons for Trump's terrifying success.

(Link in bio to jaymichaelson.substack.com)

If #tonimorrison can balance not looking away with

If #tonimorrison can balance not looking away with not succumbing to despair, maybe I can as well.

Thank you @abbychavastein for these kind words abo

Thank you @abbychavastein for these kind words about my new collection of short stories, "The Secret That is Not a Secret." The book will be out in a month -- preorder is available at all the usual places.

The censure of Rep. Rashida Tlaib was a Republican

The censure of Rep. Rashida Tlaib was a Republican trap, not a proper use of the censure power. However problematic her statements, abusing the censure in this way is inappropriate and only elevates her status. My take in @jdforward is online now at forward.com or at the link in bio.

Holding a lot of pain.

Holding a lot of pain.

I am aware of the irony of posting this on social

I am aware of the irony of posting this on social media... but I've gone on a media and social media diet, and I think you should consider one too.

New in the Both/And newsletter -- jaymichaelson.substack.com

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