Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83 based; site hou2a.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!ihnp4!houxm!hou2a!gto From: gto@hou2a.UUCP (G.ORROK) Newsgroups: net.religion.jewish Subject: New Age Judaism Message-ID: <654@hou2a.UUCP> Date: Tue, 1-Oct-85 22:37:46 EDT Article-I.D.: hou2a.654 Posted: Tue Oct 1 22:37:46 1985 Date-Received: Thu, 3-Oct-85 04:23:14 EDT Organization: AT&T Bell Labs, Holmdel NJ Lines: 64 New Age Judaism: In response to Bill Peter's request for some basic orientation re New Age Judaism, and to cornell who asked the difference between NAJ and orthodox approach, I will quote briefly from Rabbi Zalman Schacter-Shalomi's book "The First Step" and then describe briefly our Yom Kippur experience this year. "Tradition is Organic "In moments of grace, I'm aware that G'd is available to me, in consciousness, love, and energy. He's there for all of us; all we have to do is find Him and take hold. The problem is that many of us are confused and disappointed. We have tried, but we haven't gotten far enough. We wander in one direction for a while, then another. But it is disheartening: the maps are old and the roads have changed. In addressing this problem, we have tried to sketch a contemporary road map for living in the Jewish universe and to provide a practical guide for using that map. "The coordinates for our map are derived from the tradition of Jewish mysticism. The principles which inform this tradition are: 1) that an act be appropriate to the place, time, and people present, and 2) that it be in organic harmony with life. In this way, one who lives the tradition increases awareness and grows spiritually. This tradition has power. Like everything else in the universe, it is evolving, and in some measure, it is available to you now." Our B'nai Or Yom Kippur began at sundown with congregation chanting of the Kol Nidre. We use United Synagogue of America Siddur. Most prayers are chanted, rather than spoken, in Hebrew, or English, or both, going from one to the other. The focus is on Kavanah, (intention) rather than form. Men and women sit together and prayers such as the Amidah include the names of our matriarchs as well as our patriarchs. G'd is referred to in both male and female forms. Members of the congregation say the form of the name with which they are most comfortable. We handle the al hhayt (for the sin--) as follows: Each member of the congregation has filled out four cards; sins against self, against others, against the world, and against G'd. At each of the four readings of the al hhayt, the appropriate cards are passed at random, we stand tightly in circles and read aloud the sin we hold. This is a deeply moving experience as we struggle as a community to forgive ourselves and each other. The Aliyahs are handled in various ways. For Yom Kippur, for the first Aliyah for Kohen, all those who were leaders, or in charge were invited up. For the second, those who follow (Levis), for the third, all those wrestling with G'd. The fourth and fifth were related to the theme of the reading. Late in the afternoon, when energy is low, the Jonah story is handled like a psychodrama with people examining the sub-conscious, conscious, and super-conscious aspects of Jonah's struggle. A prayer would be sung to a popular tune. This really makes the prayer alive at 5:00p.m. We observe the deepening shadows and drive toward the final blowing of the shofar, by the Rabbi, the Bar Mitzvah boy, and other members of the congregation. We then adjourn for our breaking of the fast together. I hope this gives you some flavor of how we do it. The focus is on intention rather than the specifics of the form. It is rather the struggle of the community to derive forms which meet the requirements of tradition and fulfills the intention of the act. B'nai Or has many affiliate groups throughout the country. In your area you could contact Rabbi Lynn Gottlieb 295 La Plata N.W. Albuquerque, N M. 87101. I am also interested in names of people interested in forming a Havurah in the Holmdel NJ area. Please post through Tim Orrok (hou2a!gto). Shalom Fran Silbiger