The Face Behind the Mask:
Uncovering the Divine in Nature
with Rabbi Niles Goldstein
and Jay Michaelson
Part
of Elat Chayyim’s
Fall
Foliage Shabbat Retreat
October
22-24, 2004
Accord,
New York
Click
here to register
Part
of Elat Chayyim’s
Fall
Foliage Shabbat Retreat
October
22-24, 2004
Accord,
New York
Click
here to register
| In Hasidic wisdom, Hateva, nature,
is equivalent to Elohim, the aspect of God that both conceals and reveals
the Divine. On this weekend retreat, you will learn, and practice,
some of the ways in which our ancestors sought God’s Face in nature.
We will practice hitbodedut, Rabbi Nachman’s method of soul-searing meditation,
aided by the songs of the grass. Surrounded by beautiful fall leaves,
we will practice mindful walking and learn the Jewish attention-blessings
to be recited in places of natural beauty. Through meditation, study,
and experience, we will together learn a Jewish path for appreciating nature’s
beauty, and the Divine life within.
Some weekend highlights: Friday: Spiritual davening at Elat Chayyim, introduction to Jewish nature poetry, the role of brachot in nature appreciation, text study and discussion on the concealment (and revelation) of the Divine in Nature. Shabbat: Different ways of seeing God in the world: R. Nachman of Bratzlav, Jonathan Edwards, Native American traditions, the Baal Shem Tov and more. Experience hitbodedut in pristine forests and meadows, surrounded by fall leaves. Sunday: Short hike, nature walk, and easy climb to Bonticou Rock crag. Jewish nature blessings and what they reveal about our souls. Solo meditation on the rock cliffs, surrounded by birds. Elat Chayyim is a full-service retreat center with a variety of winterized accommodations, tennis courts, and hot tub. It is located two hours north of New York City in the Catskill mountains. All meals are kosher, and most are vegetarian. Niles Elliot Goldstein is the founding rabbi of The New Shul in New York City's Greenwich Village and the author of six books, including the best-selling “God at the Edge.” He lectures widely on Jewish mysticism and spirituality and has served on the faculty of New York University and the Hebrew Union College -- Jewish Institute of Religion. Goldstein was the voice behind "Ask the Rabbi" on the Microsoft Network. Jay Michaelsonhas taught Jewish mysticism and Jewish environmental education for over ten years. He writes the “Fringes” column on Jewish spirituality for the Forward, and is the editor of Zeek: A Jewish Journal of Thought and Culture. A recent graduate of Elat Chayyim’s Jewish Meditation Advanced Training program, Jay is the co-creator of Embodied Judaism, a practice of experiencing God in the body and Nature. The weekend begins Friday afternoon, and ends Sunday at 2pm. The cost is $175 for basic accommodations, with
premium accommodations available for an additional fee. This includes all room, board, and
expenses, as well as the teaching fee. To register, click here.
If you have any questions, please contact Jay Michaelson via email.
|
related
pages:
Embodied Judaism experiencing the Divine in the body and nature
What the World is and What to Do About It an experiential account of the nature of Being, and how to perceive it
Hasidism and Nature: Between Negation and Affirmation
metatronics
| teaching | the face behind the mask |