WE ARE THE ANGELS WE SEEK

Mystical Awareness in Everyday Life

There’s more to mysticism than visiting kabbalah web sites and welcoming the Shabbat bride at temple on Friday evenings. One day you wake up and realize that simple events are more significant than they appear – that there is more beneath the surface of everyday inter-actions than what we see.

Responding to this astounding discovery and living accordingly changes the way we feel and act as Jews and forms the basis of all mysticism. Lo and behold, it has nothing to do with living in a cave or meditating eight hours a day.

Jewish mysticism shares much with Hindu, Taoist and Sufi traditions, but we Jews have our own take on things, based on our unique covenant and tradition of study. Using Chassidic stories and nigunim, we will explore the hidden, inter-connection between events and discover how we all hold missing pieces to one another's puzzles.

Friday evening introduction/d’var (10 min.) can be followed by an in-depth discussion or Shabbaton Saturday afternoon (60-90 min.)

A KABBALISTIC TU BISH’VAT SEDER

Tu Besh’vat, the New Year of the Cosmic Tree, is the only holiday created by the Kabbalists. Sephardic Jews call this day Frutas, the Feast of Fruits or Rosasana dos Arbores, Rosh Hashana of the Trees.  On Tu Besh’vat we make a tikkun and repair the sin of Adam and Eve by eating – this time – fruit from the Tree of Life. Tu Besh’vat is completely inclusive; it anticipates the return of all humanity to the Garden of Eden. Its theme is one God, one humanity, one planet. It seeks above all ecumenism and environmentalism. Like a Passover Seder, the Tu Besh’vat Seder includes eating of symbolic foods, mystic recitations for individuals and for the group, music, stories, and other assorted activities. This is a great experience for families and communities.

(Seder lasts approx 45 min; can be followed by potluck meal. We provide seder books for all participants.)

LET THERE BE PEACE

Shalom -- the Hebrew word for peace --

is derived from Shaleim, the Hebrew word for wholeness or completeness. We’re commanded to “seek peace and pursue it” –– this is more than just working for the elimination of war and injustice. This also implies healing the broken-ness of the world -- making it whole again. It also involves our arriving at a place of personal completeness, of inner peace.

We will explore how we utilize shalom –– in all its linguistic and philosphical permutations -- to make ourselves better people, to serve as angels to one another, to make the world a fuller, more complete plane of existence. Along the way, we’ll explore Jacob’s history-changing vision of a ladder to heaven, Jewish meditation and a bit of Lurianic kabbalah.

All of this is examined and expressed through a vast, rich tradition of stories, teachings and songs dealing with the emanation of shalom into our world.

Friday evening introduction/d’var (10 min.) can be followed by an in-depth discussion or Shabbaton Saturday afternoon (60 min.)

Weaving stories and songs throughout each presentation or service, Steve takes you on a journey that is engaging and contemporary – and yet reminiscent of an old, sacred place that feels somehow familiar.

Weekends visits are tailored specifically to your needs. Please contact us.