I want to thank -you for your teachings while on your book tour. I was fortunate enough to have seen you in Mpls and your discussion about our addiction to the phone really inspired me.
For the past six weeks, I have attempted to not use my phone during Shabbat. While I have had a couple of stumbles, I have primarily stayed off of it.
The effect has been huge. I look at Shabbat in a different way. I am finding it restful and am making it into a holy experience.
Thank you, Barry. Everything I teach about Shabbat is from my own experience, but it isn’t worth nearly as much to you as your own experience — tasting is believing. You have to take yourself out from under the tyranny of the cell phone to realize what being constantly online does to the soul. Keep working at it, small step at a time. You will be rewarded, as you can already see.
Dear Alan I don’t know how I missed that you have a new book about Shabbat! I’ll pick it right up! So happy to see the incredible life changing work you are doing in the world. Thank you.
Hi Jill. Thanks! I hope you enjoy and benefit from the new book, a very Mussar take on Shabbat. Or, as I have introduced many of the book talks I’ve done this year, the book is about Shabbat and also not about Shabbat. That latter phrase refers to the larger theme of the intersection of religion and spirituality in Judaism. All good wishes!!
That certainly would have been an eye opener. At least if you're going to a Hooters, you expect that sort of thing. Our Peacekeepers worked at a Pride Festival yesterday, and I was astounded at the number of people whose choice of clothing was disturbing because of the amount of (what I consider) "private" skin space open to the public. For instance, a woman in knee-high boots, electric green thong and halter top, many other people with breasts mostly exposed. After my initial shock, I told myself I probably would not have questioned the clothing choices if they were at the beach. And yet, I often wonder if the body positivity movement has gone too far or if I'm too modest. I've even overheard the street preachers say about me, "At least Alanna dresses modestly." Though not sure that's a compliment, considering the source. ;)
What we are seeing is that we live in a culture that encourages self-exposure. Here we are talking about bodily exposure but think about social media and how much personal information gets thrown to the world about everything and anything. It’s pornographic, or at least voyeuristic. It reflects the hyper-materialism of our times in which everything is either a commodity or nothing. I can only participate in that culture by shutting down or turning my back on the subtle, internal, intuitive connection to the divine that is a living presence for me, when I tune in.
I hadn't thought of it as pornographic, but I think you might be right. And social media doesn't help, it only encourages people to be their worst selves. I don't have many friends on Facebook, one of two platforms where I engage because of my non-profit, but I've carefully curated my list of friends so I don't see much there. However, I also use Snapchat with three of my friends, and that app tends to throw random stuff in your face that has absolutely shocked me. I want to trust the divine that is a living presence for me can help me find ways to provide approval for these folks that doesn't encourage them to demean themselves in this way.
A previous text study of the Degel Machaneh Ephraim at Institute for Jewish Spirituality kept bringing the analysis back to "mindfulness" but a better term for what was going on may be self-knowledge
I like the word "awareness" or even more literally from the Hebrew word "zehirut" is "bright-mindedness." It seems to me that "mindfulness" is a codeword for Buddhist meditation that has found its way into the Jewish world because a vacuum in authentic Jewish spirituality was allowed to open up in the second half of the 20th century. There IS an emphasis on awareness in Jewish tradition, but it is not fostered by closing your eyes and watching your breath but by observing mitzvot and by being exquisitely sensitive to the feelings of other people. For years I had a chevruta with Dr. Seymour Boorstein, z"l, whose wife, Sylvia, is an influential teaching of Buddhist meditation. Seymour used to say, "What do you get when you teach mindfulness to an SOB?" And he would answer, "A mindful SOB." Something that is taught by Jews in a Jewish context is not necessarily Jewish.
Ethical and cultural standards in public life are not good. Most of the participants in public life are motivated by negative partisanship and can always believe that the other side is worse.
Ladybug coffee- First if all- kinda hilarious. Secondly - kinda icky. I wonder what prompted this woman(women?) to work this way. Was this the only job she could get because she has a record? Did she have to take this job because she has a disabled child - sibling- parent she cares for and only this job allowed the right hours to work? Lots of questions no judgement. But more accurate advertising appreciated.
Mussar would help many people who have no knowledge of the spiritual adventure we all share. I wish I was younger so I could commit more fully to sharing the amazing teachings that I was blessed to receive through you and TMI.
Lots of questions and no judgments is 100% the right way to go, Laure. In the absence of actually knowing her situation, anything we would say is just a story we would make up, and that would reflect us more than her. Still, your speculations have merit. There is a Mussar practice (which actually originates in Pirkei Avot) called “dan l’khaf zechut” which involves looking for or even creating a plausible story that explains someone else’s behaviour in a favourable way. You see a religious person walking out of McDonald’s, and you say, “That must have been the nearest public washroom.” Same for the woman at Ladybird. Assume people are rational. Assume people choose the best available option. That would mean that every other option was worse than the one chosen. Like that. All good wishes to you!!
Ed, I just starting reading a book titled “Faith and Trust: an introduction to Judeo-Arabic Thought” by Diana Lobel, and there in the introduction she thanks Rabbi Moshe Holcer: “a beacon of faith in all that is good.” No doubt a wonderful person to have known.
Thanks, Ed. My rebbe, Rabbi Perr, also had roots in Novardok through his wife, who is the great-granddaughter of the Alter of Novardok. Powerful school of Mussar, maybe too powerful for our coddled generation.
Dear Alan,
I want to thank -you for your teachings while on your book tour. I was fortunate enough to have seen you in Mpls and your discussion about our addiction to the phone really inspired me.
For the past six weeks, I have attempted to not use my phone during Shabbat. While I have had a couple of stumbles, I have primarily stayed off of it.
The effect has been huge. I look at Shabbat in a different way. I am finding it restful and am making it into a holy experience.
I greatly appreciate it.
Warmly,
Barry Epstein
Member of Living Mussar.
Thank you, Barry. Everything I teach about Shabbat is from my own experience, but it isn’t worth nearly as much to you as your own experience — tasting is believing. You have to take yourself out from under the tyranny of the cell phone to realize what being constantly online does to the soul. Keep working at it, small step at a time. You will be rewarded, as you can already see.
Dear Alan I don’t know how I missed that you have a new book about Shabbat! I’ll pick it right up! So happy to see the incredible life changing work you are doing in the world. Thank you.
Hi Jill. Thanks! I hope you enjoy and benefit from the new book, a very Mussar take on Shabbat. Or, as I have introduced many of the book talks I’ve done this year, the book is about Shabbat and also not about Shabbat. That latter phrase refers to the larger theme of the intersection of religion and spirituality in Judaism. All good wishes!!
That certainly would have been an eye opener. At least if you're going to a Hooters, you expect that sort of thing. Our Peacekeepers worked at a Pride Festival yesterday, and I was astounded at the number of people whose choice of clothing was disturbing because of the amount of (what I consider) "private" skin space open to the public. For instance, a woman in knee-high boots, electric green thong and halter top, many other people with breasts mostly exposed. After my initial shock, I told myself I probably would not have questioned the clothing choices if they were at the beach. And yet, I often wonder if the body positivity movement has gone too far or if I'm too modest. I've even overheard the street preachers say about me, "At least Alanna dresses modestly." Though not sure that's a compliment, considering the source. ;)
What we are seeing is that we live in a culture that encourages self-exposure. Here we are talking about bodily exposure but think about social media and how much personal information gets thrown to the world about everything and anything. It’s pornographic, or at least voyeuristic. It reflects the hyper-materialism of our times in which everything is either a commodity or nothing. I can only participate in that culture by shutting down or turning my back on the subtle, internal, intuitive connection to the divine that is a living presence for me, when I tune in.
I hadn't thought of it as pornographic, but I think you might be right. And social media doesn't help, it only encourages people to be their worst selves. I don't have many friends on Facebook, one of two platforms where I engage because of my non-profit, but I've carefully curated my list of friends so I don't see much there. However, I also use Snapchat with three of my friends, and that app tends to throw random stuff in your face that has absolutely shocked me. I want to trust the divine that is a living presence for me can help me find ways to provide approval for these folks that doesn't encourage them to demean themselves in this way.
If you’d like a ‘reader’ of your translation, I’d read it. Boruch
Firstbase613@yahoo.com
I’ll reply by email, Baruch. Thank you!
A previous text study of the Degel Machaneh Ephraim at Institute for Jewish Spirituality kept bringing the analysis back to "mindfulness" but a better term for what was going on may be self-knowledge
I like the word "awareness" or even more literally from the Hebrew word "zehirut" is "bright-mindedness." It seems to me that "mindfulness" is a codeword for Buddhist meditation that has found its way into the Jewish world because a vacuum in authentic Jewish spirituality was allowed to open up in the second half of the 20th century. There IS an emphasis on awareness in Jewish tradition, but it is not fostered by closing your eyes and watching your breath but by observing mitzvot and by being exquisitely sensitive to the feelings of other people. For years I had a chevruta with Dr. Seymour Boorstein, z"l, whose wife, Sylvia, is an influential teaching of Buddhist meditation. Seymour used to say, "What do you get when you teach mindfulness to an SOB?" And he would answer, "A mindful SOB." Something that is taught by Jews in a Jewish context is not necessarily Jewish.
Ethical and cultural standards in public life are not good. Most of the participants in public life are motivated by negative partisanship and can always believe that the other side is worse.
Ladybug coffee- First if all- kinda hilarious. Secondly - kinda icky. I wonder what prompted this woman(women?) to work this way. Was this the only job she could get because she has a record? Did she have to take this job because she has a disabled child - sibling- parent she cares for and only this job allowed the right hours to work? Lots of questions no judgement. But more accurate advertising appreciated.
Mussar would help many people who have no knowledge of the spiritual adventure we all share. I wish I was younger so I could commit more fully to sharing the amazing teachings that I was blessed to receive through you and TMI.
Lots of questions and no judgments is 100% the right way to go, Laure. In the absence of actually knowing her situation, anything we would say is just a story we would make up, and that would reflect us more than her. Still, your speculations have merit. There is a Mussar practice (which actually originates in Pirkei Avot) called “dan l’khaf zechut” which involves looking for or even creating a plausible story that explains someone else’s behaviour in a favourable way. You see a religious person walking out of McDonald’s, and you say, “That must have been the nearest public washroom.” Same for the woman at Ladybird. Assume people are rational. Assume people choose the best available option. That would mean that every other option was worse than the one chosen. Like that. All good wishes to you!!
I agree with you Alan. It’s enough to watch commercials on TV to get the idea.
Bonnie K
Sacramento CA
Sadly, yes.
Luddite Mussarite Cohen here
Reb Alan
Reb Moshe Holcer’s (Z’l) Yeshiva
Novodork Yeshivah in Koritz. (Spelling not accurate?)
Courtesy of Ted Kaptchuk
Ed, I just starting reading a book titled “Faith and Trust: an introduction to Judeo-Arabic Thought” by Diana Lobel, and there in the introduction she thanks Rabbi Moshe Holcer: “a beacon of faith in all that is good.” No doubt a wonderful person to have known.
Thanks, Ed. My rebbe, Rabbi Perr, also had roots in Novardok through his wife, who is the great-granddaughter of the Alter of Novardok. Powerful school of Mussar, maybe too powerful for our coddled generation.
Its been suggested Navardok mussar wont be accepted / grow roots in an affluent society