Life is so full, Thank God, there is no ending and no beginning, and we are all potential vessels of light, love and joy! Chodesh Tov is our wish when it is a new Jewish month, and Adar is the happiest month of the year. We are preparing for the holiday of Purim, and we are commanded to increase our joy. I am happy to follow and lead with joy, because it is where I feel free and full of possibility. We are preparing for Purim at Midreshet Berot Bat Ayin, practicing our Purim Shpiel, and wrapping our Mishloach Manot. Enjoy a fun video of Rebbetzin Chana Bracha Siegelbaum as King Achashverosh.

A beautiful friend, Barbara Heller, thought of me in a deep Torah class when she kept on hearing the word YULI, which made her think of my name Yulia. She sent me the recordings and it was talking about being a conduit from above to below. I connect to that so deeply because I love being of service, connecting people and always see the positive in every situation. Even if life is hard, what is on the other side is magic and a miracle, period. This is how I feel, and we are all going through different journeys, but this is my truth, my reality and I will not apologize for it or diminish it. Baruch Hashem every area of my life right now I am embraced and encouraged to just be me. If it is too much, that is fine too, Everything is a reason, a season or a lifetime. You do you , boo.

Back to me, because it is all about me. I am not talking about EGO, it is the exact opposite of ego, it is our essence, who we are even before we were given our name, that signifies our purpose in this world. With my clients and students, I love when I ask them for something, and they say no Yulia, it is all about me. I am so satisfied and proud that the lesson has been learned. If we do not put ourselves first, who else will do it for us? We are unique, and what we do and how we are, will never happen in any other way.

I was born in the USSR, it was illegal to be outwardly Jewish, and even though my Hebrew name is Yehudit, after my Kavkazi great grandmother on my father’s side, my mother chose the name Yulia for a few reasons. I just learned of those reasons the other day, after more than 50 years in my magical journey in this life. She liked the Italian spelling Giuila, which sounds like the Hebrew name Geula. I have always loved Italy, I am drawn to the intensity of the culture, everything from food and clothes to the language, Grazie Mille, said with such oomph! I love my roots, and enjoy the food I grew up with and speaking the Russian language. Yulia is a part of me, and unlike many people that choose just their Hebrew name, I feel the energy and connection to both.

Now back the the Torah class about YULI, I asked Rebbetzin Wisnefsky and what she told me blew my mind. I will give you a few definitions and a link to the Torah class by David Sacks of Happy Minyan in Los Angeles, Spiritual Tools for an Outrageous World – Podcast – Apple Podcasts. I cannot fully wrap my mind around it, so you will have to fend for your self. My soul understands it fully, and it all makes complete sense. In the class above David Sacks is talking about the Geula, remember that is the name my mother was thinking of when she called me the Russian version, Yulia. Some other gems from the Torah class: The creator made the universe so big, in order to give us free choice! When we look around, we think, the world is so big, is that all there is, we have free will whether we understand it deeper. Every single piece of it is necessary. Torah is the infinite, compressed into the finite. While we do everything, we know we are doing nothing.

The word YULI that my friend heard, is from the phrase “chomer hayuli.” Below are some more Kabbalistic terminology, that I thought were Hebrew, but it says here that the roots are Aramaic, which is many words in Hebrew. For instance the word for mother, אמא is aramaic, and so is the word Bar in Bar Mitzvah.

Where else do I feel free? Marriage. I am a big personality, unapologetic and empowered to fully express myself in every situation. So is my husband, and I love intensity and spice, and I realized that through him I have become more me. This story just blew my mind, I heard it from a class for women with Rabbi Zajac of SOLA Chabad in Los Angeles, California.

The final part of this story is the grandfather telling his wife that just like Moses went into the burning bush, and received the Torah through fire. All of us and his grandson also get Torah through fire, and I realized my husband is my fire.

There is a difference between confidence and conceit, and I have a very healthy sense of self love, thanks to my amazing parents. I do have to work hard to read the room, know my audience and since we are all stars, I am happy to enjoy everyone around me shining their light bright. We are all growing in our journey and personality, and one of my favorite phrases is, “what people think of you is none of your business.” So just be you, but it is also important to be sensitive to others, hold space and many times step back or completely away from a person or situation. Sometimes you make that decision to step back out of kindness to the other person, but it is as important is to make sure that your energy, time and effort is appreciated and there is an energy exchange. Then make a decision. I clearly know when things end, I am happy to move on from people, places and positions. From the beautiful example of my parents who are together 54 years, marriage and children are for life and unconditional. This gives me peace, clarity and a space to be fully myself. Not to attract attention, just to be 100% present with people, soul to soul. Marriage gives me this freedom, it balances me, and gives me a wholeness. My children are my light and I am so proud of the growth, strength and independence as they have stepped into this new chapter of our lives. Baruch Hashem.

Chag Purim Sameach! חג פורים שמח

Rak Smachot!  רק שמחות

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)