ALEPH Newsletter, January 2005

1. Seventh Jewish Renewal Rabbinic Conference draws 130 Rabbis, Cantors and Rabbinic Pastors: Thirty-three rabbis, cantors and rabbinic pastors -- students of the students of the founder of the Jewish Renewal movement, Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi -- led joyous prayer, gave remarkable teachings and offered profound spiritual experiences.
2. Pardes Hannah Hosts ALEPH Caravan in Ann Arbor on Sunday, March 6: Pardes Hannah will host "Revealing Judaism's Spiritual Depths" featuring Rabbis Tirzah Firestone, Elliot Ginsburg, Chava Bahle, and Arnie Sleutelberg.
3. ALEPH Caravan comes to Houston for second time: In the wake of a profoundly successful event in December of 2003, the second annual ALEPH Caravan will visit Houston, Texas on Sunday, March 13 featuring Rabbis Marcia Prager, Miles Krassen, and David Zaslow.
4. Arizona ALEPH affiliate Ruach Hamidbar begins $100,000 education project: Ruach Hamidbar-Spirit of the Desert- is about to embark on an impressive 18-month transdenominational educational program, delivering innovative teachings to congregations from all streams of Judaism in the greater Phoenix area.
5. ALEPH Program Graduates 8 Rabbis and 2 Rabbinic Pastors: ALEPH: Alliance for Jewish Renewal ordained its largest graduating class this month from its remarkable seminary without walls on January 9th, at the opening of the seventh annual conference of OHALAH.

For further information on ALEPH or the enclosed articles please contact me at DebraRuth@mac.com or 301-565-0719.

ALEPH is a core institution in the Jewish renewal movement, dedicated to the Jewish people's sacred purpose of partnership with the Divine in the inseparable tasks of healing the world and healing our hearts. ALEPH supports and grows the worldwide movement for Jewish renewal by organizing and nurturing communities, developing leadership, creating liturgical and scholarly resources, and working for social and environmental justice. ALEPH has attracted and energized thousands of seekers returning to Judaism, including many whose journey has led them through other spiritual traditions. ALEPH's affiliated projects include the ALEPH Kallah, a biennial convocation; OHALAH: The Association of Rabbis for Jewish Renewal; ALEPH's Rabbinic Studies Program; ALEPH Affiliated Communities; ALEPH's Kesher program for twenty and early thiry somethings, Ruach Ha Aretz, ALEPH's Sage-ing Program; C-DEEP (The Center for Devotional, Energy, and Ecstatic Practice); and The Shalom Center.

Seventh Jewish Renewal Rabbinic Conference draws 130 Rabbis, Cantors and Rabbinic Pastors

At the Boulder Colorado YOCA 7 Conference in January thirty-three rabbis, cantors and rabbinic pastors -- students of the students of the founder of the Jewish Renewal movement, Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi -- led joyous prayer, gave remarkable teachings and offered profound spiritual experiences on the conference theme, "Reb Zalman's Tool Kit: Applications and Innovations."

The annual YOCA Conference is co-sponsored by the Yesod Foundation, ALEPH: Alliance for Jewish Renewal, and OHALAH: Association of Rabbis for Jewish Renewal (which also includes cantors.)

The conference program committee was chaired by Rabbi Goldie Milgram who said, "Our goal was maximum uncloaking of talent within the burgeoning OHALAH membership. We enhanced our experiential learning model and deepened the integration of texts, principles and innovations."

Most conference attendees felt that this goal was achieved and more. As one participant said: "This was the "fix" I needed. May it sustain me. The learning was like manna in the desert — nourishing and heavenly. The variety of davennen (prayer) leaders was wonderful. The talent among this chevra (community) is outstanding. Being here with Reb Zalman has been an exceptional experience. I feel I am a witness to history." Rabbi Yocheved Mintz

The presenters at this year's YOCA Conference focused on the deepening of Jewish practice within renewal, sharing cutting edge analysis on a wide range of topics. Starting with, "Toward a Philosophy of Psychohalachah," Rabbi Laura Duhan- Kaplan revealed the power of this new category of renewing Judaism. She related a time when Reb Zalman was asked by a divorced Shabbos-observant mother what to do about the restriction on travel, when her children live at a distance that required driving to see them. His answer: "Let your children be your eruv(the boundary demarking the area within which one can travel and carry on Shabbos)" reveals psychohalachah's potential for the creation of a meaningful contemporary Jewish life that honors the power of Jewish tradition. Other talks included, "Same Sex Kiddushin: Innovations for performing marriage rituals in the context of text and tradition," given by Rabbi Ruth Gan Kagan of Jerusalem and ALEPH rabbinic student Eyal Levinson. The teaching described considerations and opportunities for the creation of halachically valid documents and ceremonies for formalizing same sex relationships. Rabbi Natan Margalit offered an organic philosophical model for the practice of keeping kosher that is grounded in an historical and psychological understanding of the roots of the traditional practice of kashrut. Rabbi Sara Leya Schley, MD taught on "Will Jewish Renewal Go with the Flow? Taharat HaMishpakhah", exploring the psychological and spiritual implications the Jewish practice of taking time off from sexual contact around the time of menstruation.

Other extraordinary talks included: Rabbi Raachel Jurovics on "Integrating Reb Zalman's Model of Spiritual Ecumenism", Rabbi Fern Feldman on "Endarkenment as a Spiritual Practice" and Rabbi Mitch Chefitz on "Descent Rather than Ascent, Maaseh Merkavah: Precautions before Diving (into our professional lives)."

In addition to the rigorous text teaching, conference participants joined one of thirteen spiritual guidance break-out groups to explore their personal relationships with God.

Closing the conference was "Redwood Rabbi" Naomi Steinberg who facilitated an open mike session called, "Challenges and Opportunities for Clergy in Social Activism." Dozens of renewal clergy revealed their depth of engagement in a wide array of tikkun olam (social justice/earth healing) initiatives and activities. Additional related sessions included Rabbi David Steinberg on "Ecological Models for Political Transformation," and Rabbi Naomi Oren's presentation which helped participants to explore how a conscious relationship with Israel informs social action choices.

Beyond the remarkable content of the conference itself, two groundbreaking events took place. First, Rabbi Dennis Beck-Berman, an OHALAH mashgiach guided a group of rabbis, rabbinic pastors and students in weeks of study of traditional kashrut and ecokashrut, culminating in the koshering of the kitchen of the Boulderado Hotel. The training detailed how to kasher and supervise institutional kitchens in compliance with traditional standards as well as ethical, health and environmental best practices, using eco-friendly materials and methods.

In addition, an association of Rabbinic Pastors was created for the graduates of ALEPH's Rabbinic Pastor Program and for others who graduate from qualifying programs in practical rabbinics, pastoral care and chaplaincy.

Pardes Hannah Hosts ALEPH Caravan in Ann Arbor on Sunday, March 6

Pardes Hannah, the Jewish Renewal community in Ann Arbor, will host a Jewish Renewal Festival on Sunday, March 6 from 8:30 am until 4 pm called "Revealing Judaism's Spiritual Depths." Featured teachers for the day of dynamic learning, wonderful music, food and fellowship are Rabbis:

• Tirzah Firestone, world-renowned author, psychotherapist, and spiritual leader of Congregation Nevei Kodesh in Boulder, Colorado,
• Elliot Ginsburg, Associate Professor of Jewish Thought and Mysticism at the University of Michigan, rabbi of Pardes Hannah, author and acclaimed teacher in the US, Israel, Australia and New Zealand,
• Chava Bahle, Director of the Or Tzafon Retreat Center for the study of Jewish mysticism, spiritual practice and contemporary worship in northern Michigan, and rabbi of Congregation Ahavat Shalom in Traverse City, and
• Arnie Sleutelberg, 17 year spiritual leader of Congregation Shir Tikva in Troy, Michigan, one of the only dually affiliated-Reform and Renewal congregations in the world.

• "The Other Half of Holiness: Jewish Women Mystics, Their Lives and Lessons" and "Kavannah: The Power of Sacred Intention through Jewish Meditative Practices," Rabbi Firestone
• "Seeing the Aleph: The Holiness of the Interpersonal in Jewish Mystical Teachings" and "Shiviti: Jewish Mindfulness Practices," Rabbi Ginsburg
• "Joyous Practices for Deep Healing in the Four Worlds," Rabbi Bahle and
• "The Emotion on Liturgy," Rabbi Sleutelberg

Two organizations that foster an approach to spiritual practice that draws deeply on Jewish tradition, mysticism, sacred texts, movement, chanting and psychology join Pardes Hannah in producing this event. ALEPH: Alliance for Jewish Renewal ordains and supports Jewish renewal rabbis, produces a biennial Kallah for 700-900 people, runs Caravans like this one around the country, serves over 40 Jewish renewal communities worldwide and produces and distributes writings, cds and teleconference classes to support Jewish renewal. Or Tzafon, the Retreat Center in Traverse City holds semi annual events that draw from throughout the Mid-west, and provides ongoing opportunity for community and connection of the kind participants will experience during the festival.

Local sponsors of this Caravan are Beth Israel Congregation, Temple Beth Emeth, the Reconstuctionist Havurah, Jewish Community Center, Jewish Federation of Washtenaw County, and Jewbilation.

The cost of this exciting event is $50 and includes lunch. Join us for this day of exploration and community. The deadline for registration is March 2. To register, send a check for $50 to 350 Rock Creek Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48104 made payable to Pardes Hannah or register on our web site: www.pardeshannah.org. For more information call: 734-213-8374.

ALEPH Caravan comes to Houston for second time

In the wake of a profoundly successful event in December of 2003, the second annual ALEPH Caravan will visit Houston, Texas on Sunday, March 13. The day-long event will feature Rabbis Marcia Prager, Miles Krassen, and David Zaslow. exploring Jewish text, prayer and meditation in new and creative ways.

Hosted this year by the Jewish Community Center, and co-sponsored by ALEPH: The Alliance for Jewish Renewal, the day will begin with a joyful prayer service followed by two opportunities to study, a kosher dairy lunch and a powerful closing session of blessings and support for taking the teachings home.

Participants can attend two of the following classes:

• Introduction to Neo-Hasidic contemplation - Rabbi Miles Krassen Identify three essential kabbalistic concepts from the Zohar and learn how to contemplate them in a meditative practice that combines, breathing, chanting, visualization, and silence.
• The Path of Blessing - Rabbi Marcia Prager Experience a bracha as a short meditation, a spiritual exercise of deepening and expansion that invites Divine Presence to fill us and flow through us.
• Introduction to the Four Worlds - Rabbi David Zaslow Learn how four realms of existence are reflected in the Jewish prayer book, in the system for Biblical analysis known as "pardes" and in nature through the four elements.
• The spiritual meaning of Purim according to the Hasidic masters - Rabbi Miles Krassen Explore the symbolism and inner meaning of Purim, through selected texts from the teachings of Rebbe Nachman of Breslov and other classic Hasidic sources.
• Names of God - Rabbi Marcia Prager Explore the mystical tradition that shows us the teachings of different "gates," or pathways to God, through God's Holy Names.
• Lurianic Mediation; Meditations on the Sefirot - Rabbi David Zaslow Learn Rabbi Isaac Luria's system for experiencing the ten energy centers within our bodies through chant and color.

Join us for what promises to be another outstanding event in the Jewish renewal tradition, where values of egalitarianism and wide welcome blend with a deep commitment to tradition as well as creative and contemporary models of Jewish expression.

Space is limited, so early registration is encouraged. Register by sending your name, address, and e-mail address or phone number with a check for $50 made out to the Jewish Community Center, to; Jewish Community Center, 5601 South Braeswood - Houston, TX 77096 Attn: Rabbi Eve Ben-Ora

For more information about ALEPH visit www.aleph.org. For more information about the event, visit www.jcchouston.org or call 713-729-3200 ext. 3257

Arizona ALEPH affiliate Ruach Hamidbar begins $100,000 education project

Scottsdale Arizona Jewish Renewal congregation Ruach Hamidbar-Spirit of the Desert- is about to embark on an impressive 18-month transdenominational educational program, delivering innovative teachings to congregations from all streams of Judaism in the greater Phoenix area.

Funded in part by a $50,000 matching grant from the Avi Chai Foundation, the project was envisioned and designed by Ruach's spiritual leader, Rabbi Ayla Grafstein and her congregant Eliyahu Eckelberg. Mr. Eckelberg, as trustee of the Brauer Family Trust generously gave $50,000 from the trust to seed this project, allowing the grant application to Avi Chai to proceed.

With a proven track record for delivering relevant and creative programming, Rabbi Grafstein won the support of the Board of Rabbis of Greater Phoenix and the JCC for the innovative grant proposal.

Inspired by the success of his collaboration with Rabbi Grafstein and Rhonda Mason on a November Jewish renewal education conference, Eliyahu said, "I'm very excited about what we will bring to the community. We have been amazingly blessed with these funds, and will do our best to show people how joyous and wonderful Jewish life can be. We have a great potential audience, as it has been estimated that about 70 percent of Jews in the Phoenix area are unaffiliated. Imagine what a difference to both the individuals and to the community if even a small percentage of Jews become interested and active! If not for ourselves, we have to do this for our children and grandchildren."

ALEPH; Alliance for Jewish Renewal Executive Director said, "The work that Rabbi Grafstein does in the coming months will provide a template for trans-denominational learning and collaboration throughout the Jewish world. ALEPH will support her efforts in any way we can. We look forward to transporting her success to other ALEPH affiliated communities around the country. Nothing makes our work to infuse spirit throughout all of klal Yisrael more obvious than designing programming that transcends the traditional dividing lines of our movements."

Rabbi Grafstein explains, "Although Ruach Hamidbar is one of the smallest congregations in the Phoenix/Scottsdale area, we have had one of the greatest impacts on Jewish creativity in our city. For over 15 years we have made sure that some of the best Jewish renewal teachers, musicians and artists reach all segments of our Jewish population; those affiliated with each denomination, as well as those who are non-affiliated, cultural, intermarried, inter-racial, multi-ethnic, gays, lesbians, crypto-Jews and Hispanic. We owe our success to our ability to collaborate well with all denominations and congregations as well as the JCC, where we have featured many of our guests. This grant feels like a big brakhah (blessing) from Above -- as if our past efforts are being rewarded with the ability to increase our work tenfold!"

In addition to providing programming locally, a percentage of the grant funds will send local rabbis and educators to Jewish Renewal rabbinical gatherings and conferences. Specific plans will be made in the next month, when Rabbi Grafstein gathers community leaders to discuss how best to use the funds. Those interested in attending future meetings or to find out more about this initiative contact Ruach Hamidbar at 602-991-6791.

To find out about the congregation's trip to Israel, from June 28 through July 10,contact Craig Maron at 602-770-0414 or craig@fastfoodprofits.com.

ALEPH Program Graduates 8 Rabbis and 2 Rabbinic Pastors

ALEPH: Alliance for Jewish Renewal ordained its largest graduating class this month from its remarkable seminary without walls. On January 9th, at the opening of the seventh annual conference of OHALAH, the Association of Rabbis for Jewish Renewal, eight new rabbis and two rabbinic pastors joined 90 spiritual professionals ordained over the past 40 years by ALEPH's formal Rabbinic Program or the program of private ordination with Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi that preceded it.

Over 100 OHALAH members, fellow students, family, friends and ALEPH board members honored Rabbi Eli Cohen, JD, (Santa Cruz, CA) Rabbi David Jonathan Cooper (Berkeley, CA), Rabbi Dr. Andrew Vogel Ettin, MSJS, PhD (North Carolina), Rabbi Dr. Laura Duhan Kaplan, PhD, (Vancouver, BC.), Rabbi Dr. Robert Saunders, DDM (Pueblo, CO), Rabbi Dr. SaraLeya Schley, MD (Berkeley, CA), Rabbi Dr. Jonathan Seidel, PhD (Eugene, OR), Rabbi Dr. Louis Sutker, PhD (Victoria, BC), Rabbinic Pastor Ellen Weaver, LCSW, (Woodstock, NY) and Rabbinic Pastor Pinchas Zohav (Bellevue, WA.)

Each of the impressive spiritual leaders gave a moving dvar Torah and received ordination from the teachers, mentors and academic advisors who guided their studies.

The ALEPH Rabbinic Program is a non-denominational, decentralized program of learning offering structured guidance and mentorship for rigorous studies and practica culminating in rabbinic ordination. Approximately 80 rabbis and scholars from across the denominational spectrum are now participating in diverse aspects of the training of over 40 students.

ALEPH's Rabbinic Pastor Program prepares leaders to provide spiritual direction, support, and counseling in chaplaincy and congregational settings. Students in this program are called upon to master Jewish text and traditional modalities of learning and prayer, and engage their creativity in the exploration of new ritual, art, music and prayer.