This class will take us on a journey down off the ‘mountain’ (post-Shavuot/6th of Sivan) – our renewedTorah/revelation ‘in hand’ – and invite us to explore how Jewish texts and ‘action-oriented’ practices (mitzvot) of all kinds can inform and light up our lives, and vice versa. How might we language, integrate and ground experiences of Oneness (moments of deep ‘knowing’) in bite-sized, do-able everyday practices? Are there ‘mitzvot,’ observance of which is largely a matter of personal temperament and inclination for us as Renewal Jews, that we might choose to lean into, perhaps for the very first time – or with renewed conviction and/or curiosity – that might bring more depth and beauty into our lives? Rebbe Zalman, z”l, noted that, if we “allow ourselves to be influenced by the accumulated experience of the Jewish past, we begin to tap a great source of energy.” Are there ways that we can allow this ‘accumulated experience’ to re-energize and nourish our Jewishness as we head into the summer months, in the days and weeks after the ‘high’ of Shavuot? In this 5-week class we will weave our individual stories and experiences into sacred stories, as well as integrate these into the rich tapestry of our ever-emerging, collective, Jewish (textual and ritual) experience.

Rabbi Diane Tiferet Lakein is an Educator and Rabbi (ordained through Aleph, the Jewish Renewal ordination program) with a Masters in Jewish Education (from Hebrew College) who delights in co-creating safe/brave, sacred spaces in which to explore our souls’ truths. She most recently served as the Rabbi of Gescher(Freiburg, Germany) and Migwan (Basel, Switzerland), before moving full-time to Boulder in 2020. She is currently a member of both the CNK Spiritual Leadership Team https://www.neveikodesh.org/meet-our-rabbi.html and the CNK Religious School team https://www.neveikodesh.org/religious-school-staff.html
She also supports individuals and families spiritually, pastorally and through Life Cycle events, freelancing through www.rabbiwithin.org