Exploring "Shalom" with Teachers from The Shalom Center

Rabbis Berman & Waskow; National Organizer Lenchner, 8/25/2004

Rabbi Phyllis Berman and Rabbi Arthur Waskow have been leading prayer services and teaching in both mulltireligious gatherings (e.g. conferences called by Jobs with Justice, the Religious Working Group on the World Bank & IMF, and the World Council of Churches) and in specifically Jewish arenas like synagogues, Hillels, etc.

In a multireligious context, they draw on the teachings, symbols, practices, and metaphors of Jewish wisdom that speak to all humanity.

In a Jewish context, they often lead a full-scale weekend Shabbaton. Here's a fairly typical program for such an event:

Friday evening:

One or both of them do story-telling from their own new midrashic stories (mostly for grown-ups) , plus perhaps adding a few kavvanot (focusing exercises) into the Friday evening service.

OR:

Phyllis & Arthur read together, in dialogue, the Song of Songs (traditionally read on Friday evenings) and lead/ weave a discussion of its meaning. Chants/ songs from the Song of Songs are included.

Sat a.m.:

Arthur "weaves" a highly participatory and interactive Torah discussion focused on part of the weekly portion; Phyllis leads a morning service in Jewish-renewal style, with a great deal of chant and meditation. .The service follows the basic traditional structure, but is inclusive and open to people who are new to Jewish prayer. To those who are well-practiced, it offers a deep spiritual experience through intensity poured into a relatively small number of prayers.

Sat afternoon, several possibilities:

a. Phyllis and Arthur lead a discussion on "A Time for Every Purpose under Heaven" (the title of their recent book) on the Jewish life-cycle as a spiritual journey, and how to make it our own.

OR

b. Arthur speaks on "Shabbos for Us, Shabbos for America: Freeing Time for a Free People"

OR

c. Phylllis speaks and invites responses on "Sh'ma! — Deep Listening to Others as a Spiritual Practice"

Sunday a.m.:

Arthur speaks on "Down-to-Earth Judaism: Ecology from the Torah till Today, "

OR

"In Every Generation, Pharaoh; In Every Generation, Freedom: Transforming Top-Down Power into Grass-roots Empowerrment Today,"

OR:

"The Oiloholic Society: The Addiction and the Drug-Pushers that are Endangering Our Country and Our Earth."

with discussion afterwards.

OR

Phyllis & Arthur speak briefly on issues like the emergence of a new Jewish sexual ethic, of Jewish meditation, etc., to initiate a discussion on "Judaism for the 59th Century"

OR

they speak on "Healing the Agony of Abraham: Can Jews, Muslims, and Christians Work Together for Peace and Justice?"

Other subjects and configurations are possible. It is sometimes possible for Rabbi Waskow and/or Rabbi Berman to come for a shorter time — a week-night, or a Sunday.

Call Rabbi Arthur Waskow at 215/844-8494 or write him at Awaskow@aol.com to explore the possibilities.

Charles Lenchner, who is National Organizer for The Shalom Center, is also available to speak — especially on our new campaign to deal with the Oiiloholic addiction that now afflicts America, and with the main "drug-pushers" — Big Oil. Write him at Clenchner@shalomctr.org