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MINDFULNESS IN LIVING: THE PATH OF BRACHOT
Our Own Holy Words: Jewish Journaling as Spiritual Practice
Rabbi Chava Bahle
6 Weeks 1.5 hr $125 March 2005
In this course we will explore the possibilities for using daily journaling practice as a tool for spiritual insight and mediation. We will develop a consistent routine and create a community in which to share our spiritual process. During meetings, participants will have a chance to share challenges to thier practice, samples of thier writing and to practice deep listening.
Reading: The Jewish Journaling Book: How to Use Jewish Tradition to Write Your Life & Explore Your Soul by Janey Ruth Falon
ACTS OF LOVINGKINDNESS/INTERPERSONAL MITZVOT
Art of Being in Four Worlds 6 weeks 1.5hrs $125 May 2005
** "ALEPH is a trans-denominational outreach organization serving a diverse Jewish community with a wide range of practice and observance. We offer our Shabbat teleclasses as a service to those who are comfortable with telephone use on Shabbat for this purpose. It is not to be construed as a blanket policy on Shabbat observance."
SPIRITUAL PRACTICE IN TIME: LIVING IN THE RHYTHMS OF THE YEAR/POSITIVE, TIME-BOUND MITZVOT
The word nusach is usually associated with the sound of the service. It also means the form of the prayers themselves, the words which make them up, and the underlying theology which they represent.
In this course, which is a continuation of the introductory course offered in the Fall of 2003, we will continue our exploration off the similarities and differences among several classical nuscha’ot, including nusach Ashkenaz which forms the base for most orthodox as well as liberal siddurim, the nusach of North African and Spanish Jews, that of Italy, and the nusach of Chassidic communities.
We will also pay particular attention to the three siddurim which ALEPH distributes: Ivdu et Hashem B’simcha of Rabbi David Zaslow, Siddurim for Shabbat by Rabbi Marcia Prager, and Kol Koreh edited by Daniel Siegel.
This course should be of special interest to all those for whom the meaning of the words recited is important. A reading knowledge of Hebrew is required, but not necessarily participation in the previous course.
The class will be focussed on aligning saintly women to the Jewish holidays,
based on the connection to their lives or their teachings. We will work with
biographies, poetry, and historical material suitable for adaptation and use
in classroom teaching, sermons and workshops.
The winter series will include the following curriculum:
Tu B Shvat - Dona Gracia Nasi 16th century visionary who purchased
Tiberias-Sfat from the Sultan of Turkey for Jewish tree growing
Purim - Rebbetzin Malka of Belz the miracle working healer and herbalist.
Pesach - Malkele die Triskerin - joyous mid nineteenth century Rebbe from
the Chernoblyl lineage, who drank Elijah's cup herself! Rachel Luzzatto Morpurgo Italian mystic poet, born eighth day Pesach
Shavuoth- Bat ha Levi of Baghdad 12th century torah teacher Bertha Pappenheim (died on Shavuoth) founder Yiddishe Freunbunde (early 20th century German Jewish social action organization)
Shiva Assar B'Tammuz Hannah Rochel Werbemacher, the Rebbe of Ludomir 19th century Kabbalist and saint,yahrzeit 22nd Tammuz
Tisha B'Av Eydel of Brody 19th century Rebbe and wise woman second generation in the Belz lineage
This series is appropriate for men and women; good for rabbis, cantors and
educators and exciting for anyone who wants to learn more about our post
The concepts and experiences of GOD, humanity’s essence as a reflection of the Divine Image, and our search and longing for Ultimate Meaning is one of the greatest contributions the Jewish people have made to the world.
Unable to accept traditional notions presented to them as authoritative, many Jews avoid speaking of GOD. Unaware of the variety of concepts of the Divine within Judaism, many feel their personal longings cannot be satisfied within the spiritual heritage of the Jewish people past and present.
This journey of this course is an exploration of the profound theologians, spiritual leaders and schools of thought over 4,000 years that comprise the still unfolding Jewish paths to GOD.
Over the next few weeks we will explore texts from the Bible, the Talmud, Jewish Mysticism, up to present day feminist and neo-Chasidic theologians. We will examine our own views on GOD, Judaism and contemporary life.
We will explore the texts and theological perspectives as they respond to questions such as:
What is God’s nature?
What do the names of GOD represent?
How can we or can we “know” GOD?
What is GOD’s relationship to the world?
To the People Israel?
What does God ask of us?
What is the relationship between God and the Individual?
How have we understood the place of evil and suffering?
How did our ancestors and predecessors understand and find meaning in
life in their concepts of God?
What can we learn from this exploration that can impact our lives today?
Students are requested to purchase the following texts:
“Finding God: Ten Jewish responses” by Rifat Sonsino and Daniel B. Syme, UAHC Press, 2002
Rabbi Shafir Lobb's Art of Being in Four Worlds 
