Present Tense Judaism: Rabbi Michael's Journey | Episode 237
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Present Tense Judaism: Rabbi Michael's Journey | Episode 237
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Rabbi Michael Steven Ross shares his journey from Los Angeles journalist to Reconstructionist Rabbi, providing insight into how his experience with dystonia led him to Jewish meditation and community building. His story weaves together family traditions, medical challenges, career transitions, and spiritual awakening.
• Growing up in Los Angeles with meaningful Jewish traditions, particularly Shabbat dinners at his great-grandparents' home
• Developing dystonia as a teenager, requiring over 100 doctor consultations for diagnosis and creating a spiritual crisis
• Learning biofeedback techniques to manage involuntary muscle spasms, which later connected to meditation practices
• Working as an assistant managing news editor at the Oakland Tribune before a life-changing personal transition
• Finding healing through Jewish community and meditation practices after his first marriage ended
• Transitioning from journalism to Jewish education and rabbinical studies after rediscovering spiritual joy
• Receiving transformative deep brain stimulation surgery that dramatically improved his physical abilities
• Currently serving both Kent State Hillel and Temple Beth Shalom in Hudson, building community across generations
• Finding mindfulness and connection through baseball, especially playing catch with his teenage son
#PresentTenseJudaism #RabbiMichael #JewishJourney #FaithJourney #ReligiousLeader #SpiritualGrowth #JewishCommunity #JewishIdentity #JewishLife #ReligiousExperience #FaithfulReflection #SpiritualTransformation #JewishLeadership #JewishEducation #JewishInspiration #VoicesforVoices #VoicesforVoicesPodcast #JustinAlanHayes #JustinHayes
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