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Embracing the Madness through Middot
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Madness is craziness, foolishness and sometimes frenzy. The B’nai Mitzvah journey can be exactly this! No matter how organized you are or how much you prepare. For example, I once knew a family who was extremely meticulous in their planning but on the day of the service, the dad forgot his speech at home. It was written on a piece of paper near his desk. As he dashed home with 20 minutes to the service start, the power was off because they realized that in all their preparations, they’d not paid the bill. It can simply be madness.
However, if you can rest in the chaos of studying, invites, Religious School consistent attendance and finding the right tutor; this can be a phenomenal experience for you and yours. Let’s take a quick look at important middot (values) to find some relief to B’nai Mitzvah madness.
Middah: Calmness
“The calm one is greater than a barrier, and the self-controlled is greater than a conquerer.” - Proverbs 16:32
Remaining calm and ultimately believing that everything will turn out for the better is essential. You are going to get there either way, being crazy in the moment or remaining calm, and remaining calm always achieves results more quickly.
Middah: Patience
“You can train yourself to be patient. You can train yourself to open the space between the match and the fuse.”
- Rabbi Yechiel Yitzchok Perr
Sometimes people do things in different ways and in their own timing. The thing to realize is that your timing might not be the same as your child’s or partner’s timing. Set reasonable goals together of what needs to get done and then work together to create a plan that everyone feels comfortable following. It might not be your time, but with teamwork and understanding, it will get done.
Middah: Joy
“Delight and joy must accompany your every spiritual endeavor. Only when you delight an rejoice in each fine and positive deed will you have the enthusiasm to act in the most ideal manner and add to your deeds every day. Only when the delight and joy in your heart are bound to your fine and positive actions will they be anchored in you.”
- Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook
This rite of passage is a very spiritual endeavor. It’s a celebration of your heritage and your child’s personal commitment to being part of that heritage. It would be very easy to approach this time stressed and overwhelmed. However, if you can find joy in every moment from studying to party planning, it will make a difference in the overall experience for both you and your child.
Tue, February 25 2020
30 Shevat 5780
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Tuesday ,
FebFebruary 25 , 2020The World of Dreams Series
Tuesday, Feb 25th 7:00p to 8:30p
The World of Dreams In Hebrew, we speak of “opening” a dream, which our sages likened to an unopened letter. In this series of classes, we will examine our dreams in the tradition of my teacher, Mme. Colette Aboulker-Muscat, who inherited this practice from her family and developed it in advanced study. She not only taught us ways to “open” our dreams, but also ways to “repair” dreams that require tikkun, by a practice called “waking dream”. In preparation for this class, I suggest the following: Put a new unlined notebook and pen or pencil by your bed. Before going to sleep, write the following day’s date at the top of the page. Reach for it the next morning as soon as you waken, and write or draw whatever you remember. Full sentences are not required. Eve Ilsen is a psychotherapist and rabbinic pastor. She has lived, worked and learned in New York, Philadelphia, California, Alaska and Israel. She learned to work with imagery and waking dream daily with Mme. Colette Aboulker-Muscat in Jerusalem for four years. Returning to the States, she spearheaded the Wisdom School with her late husband, Reb Zalman Schachter-Shalomi, and taught in tandem with him as well as her own classes. -
Thursday ,
FebFebruary 27 , 2020Psalms Brown Bag Series with Rabbi Diane Tiferet Lakein
Thursday, Feb 27th 12:00p to 1:00p
Ivdu et Hashem b’Simcha – Let us serve YHVH with joy! (Psalm 100: 2) Psalms Brown Bag Series with Rabbi Diane Tiferet Lakein: Nevei Kodesh, Thursdays 12 – 1pm February 13, 20, 27, March 5 $10 Nevei Kodesh members/$12 guests This lunchtime brown bag series will explore four different psalms as a way into both a richer understanding of the Jewish traditional texts and a deeper appreciation of our own souls’ yearnings.* Over the centuries, the redactors of our prayer books (siddurim) have chosen particular psalms as part of the standardized liturgy, and contemporary communities have highlighted and elevated others through chants and songs. And yet there is so much more to uncover! My hope is that we will come to build a sense of community through our sustained exploration of different psalms together over time. I also pray that our engagement with a variety of psalms will offer a window into the tremendous richness to be found in these traditional texts of prayer. *No Hebrew is required. The texts will be provided both in Hebrew and in traditional and alternative English translations, including those of Rebbe Zalman himself. Drop-ins are welcome. -
Tuesday ,
MarMarch 3 , 2020The World of Dreams Series
Tuesday, Mar 3rd 7:00p to 8:30p
The World of Dreams In Hebrew, we speak of “opening” a dream, which our sages likened to an unopened letter. In this series of classes, we will examine our dreams in the tradition of my teacher, Mme. Colette Aboulker-Muscat, who inherited this practice from her family and developed it in advanced study. She not only taught us ways to “open” our dreams, but also ways to “repair” dreams that require tikkun, by a practice called “waking dream”. In preparation for this class, I suggest the following: Put a new unlined notebook and pen or pencil by your bed. Before going to sleep, write the following day’s date at the top of the page. Reach for it the next morning as soon as you waken, and write or draw whatever you remember. Full sentences are not required. Eve Ilsen is a psychotherapist and rabbinic pastor. She has lived, worked and learned in New York, Philadelphia, California, Alaska and Israel. She learned to work with imagery and waking dream daily with Mme. Colette Aboulker-Muscat in Jerusalem for four years. Returning to the States, she spearheaded the Wisdom School with her late husband, Reb Zalman Schachter-Shalomi, and taught in tandem with him as well as her own classes. -
Thursday ,
MarMarch 5 , 2020Psalms Brown Bag Series with Rabbi Diane Tiferet Lakein
Thursday, Mar 5th 12:00p to 1:00p
Ivdu et Hashem b’Simcha – Let us serve YHVH with joy! (Psalm 100: 2) Psalms Brown Bag Series with Rabbi Diane Tiferet Lakein: Nevei Kodesh, Thursdays 12 – 1pm February 13, 20, 27, March 5 $10 Nevei Kodesh members/$12 guests This lunchtime brown bag series will explore four different psalms as a way into both a richer understanding of the Jewish traditional texts and a deeper appreciation of our own souls’ yearnings.* Over the centuries, the redactors of our prayer books (siddurim) have chosen particular psalms as part of the standardized liturgy, and contemporary communities have highlighted and elevated others through chants and songs. And yet there is so much more to uncover! My hope is that we will come to build a sense of community through our sustained exploration of different psalms together over time. I also pray that our engagement with a variety of psalms will offer a window into the tremendous richness to be found in these traditional texts of prayer. *No Hebrew is required. The texts will be provided both in Hebrew and in traditional and alternative English translations, including those of Rebbe Zalman himself. Drop-ins are welcome. -
Friday ,
MarMarch 6 , 2020'Nava Tehila' Style Services, led by Rav Bracha and Yoel Sykes
Friday, Mar 6th 7:00p to 9:00p
Led by Yoelle Sykes and Rav Bracha: Come as you are and join a musical Kabbalat Shabbat journey that will invite us to travel into the landscape of holiness and joy. Through chanting Psalms and Shabbat prayers with original melodies and guided intentions, we will connect to the spirit and allow it to fill our hearts, uplift our souls and welcome the Shabbat. This Shabbat we are joined by amazing levitical musicians such as Kendall Perry, Sandra Wong, and Sheldon Sands, among others. Families are welcome* - with childcare also available in the building - and we conclude by 8:45 with light oneg refreshments and home-baked challah. **childcare for the duration of the service is provided free of charge. -
Monday ,
MarMarch 9 , 2020A Mad (Hatter) Purim Celebration
Monday, Mar 9th 7:00p to 11:00p
Maariv (evening service) Followed by a theatrical and full Megilla reading (there may or may not be puppets) followed by break fast nosh and drink and a DJ-spinning ALICE IN WONDERLAND THEMED dance party! Elaborate costumes encouraged. This event is open to people of all ages. BYOB -
Tuesday ,
MarMarch 10 , 2020The World of Dreams Series
Tuesday, Mar 10th 7:00p to 8:30p
The World of Dreams In Hebrew, we speak of “opening” a dream, which our sages likened to an unopened letter. In this series of classes, we will examine our dreams in the tradition of my teacher, Mme. Colette Aboulker-Muscat, who inherited this practice from her family and developed it in advanced study. She not only taught us ways to “open” our dreams, but also ways to “repair” dreams that require tikkun, by a practice called “waking dream”. In preparation for this class, I suggest the following: Put a new unlined notebook and pen or pencil by your bed. Before going to sleep, write the following day’s date at the top of the page. Reach for it the next morning as soon as you waken, and write or draw whatever you remember. Full sentences are not required. Eve Ilsen is a psychotherapist and rabbinic pastor. She has lived, worked and learned in New York, Philadelphia, California, Alaska and Israel. She learned to work with imagery and waking dream daily with Mme. Colette Aboulker-Muscat in Jerusalem for four years. Returning to the States, she spearheaded the Wisdom School with her late husband, Reb Zalman Schachter-Shalomi, and taught in tandem with him as well as her own classes. -
Saturday ,
MarMarch 14 , 2020CTR 2 Shabbaton
Shabbat, Mar 14th 10:00a to 5:30p
10am - attend services 12pm - lunch 1pm - 4pm - electives 4pm - attend Torah study with parents -
Tuesday ,
MarMarch 17 , 2020Hebrew and a Taste of the World to Come: An Interactive Journey Through Gender, Music and Mysticism with Eyal Rivlin
Tuesday, Mar 17th 7:30p to 9:00p
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Tuesday ,
MarMarch 24 , 2020The World of Dreams Series
Tuesday, Mar 24th 7:00p to 8:30p
The World of Dreams In Hebrew, we speak of “opening” a dream, which our sages likened to an unopened letter. In this series of classes, we will examine our dreams in the tradition of my teacher, Mme. Colette Aboulker-Muscat, who inherited this practice from her family and developed it in advanced study. She not only taught us ways to “open” our dreams, but also ways to “repair” dreams that require tikkun, by a practice called “waking dream”. In preparation for this class, I suggest the following: Put a new unlined notebook and pen or pencil by your bed. Before going to sleep, write the following day’s date at the top of the page. Reach for it the next morning as soon as you waken, and write or draw whatever you remember. Full sentences are not required. Eve Ilsen is a psychotherapist and rabbinic pastor. She has lived, worked and learned in New York, Philadelphia, California, Alaska and Israel. She learned to work with imagery and waking dream daily with Mme. Colette Aboulker-Muscat in Jerusalem for four years. Returning to the States, she spearheaded the Wisdom School with her late husband, Reb Zalman Schachter-Shalomi, and taught in tandem with him as well as her own classes.