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Renewal
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In July 2001, Aleph sponsored its biennial weekend called Kallah (Hebrew for “gathering”). A shared interest and enthusiasm for starting a Jewish Renewal community in Atlanta brought together several Atlanta Kallah attendees. After returning to Atlanta, a steering committee was formed to expand the Atlanta Center for Experiential Judaism and develop Jewish Renewal events and education. Rabbi
Michael Lerner, in his book, Jewish
Renewal - A Path to Healing and
Transformation, describes
the movement. “Whenever you
find a community of people who are
actually witnessing the existence
of God and who are challenging the
world of oppression in the name
of this God, there you find renewal
energy. Whenever you have people
who understand themselves as part
of the people whose task it is to
be partners with God in the transformation
of the world, who simultaneously
approach that task with awe, wonder,
and radical amazement at the grandeur
of the universe, and rejoice in
God's presence that fills the
entire universe, there you have
renewal energy... Renewal becomes
Jewish renewal when it is brought
into the framework of the historical
experience of the Jewish people,
commits itself to Jewish rituals
and traditions, seeks to rediscover
God's voice through the medium
of the Torah tradition, and shares
love for, compassion toward, and
attachment to the Jewish people.”
The
goal of the Atlanta Center for Experiential
Judaism, according to Kabb and Rachelson,
is to create a community, open to
all, focusing on experiencing a
deeper connection to Jewish spirituality
and mysticism. Connecting with God
in a personal and deeply meaningful
way and sharing the joy of being
Jewish with like-minded people is
what the Center is all about. Sharing
his vision of the Center, Kabb says,
“Jewish Renewal provides a
mystical connection in line with
traditional Judaism. In the past,
Jewish Renewal wasn't as accessible
as it is now, and we are working
toward providing as many resources
as possible to help people learn
about Jewish Renewal and Jewish
spirituality.”
The
Atlanta community began with a few
people and has since grown and expanded.
Monthly events include Chanting
with Drumming and a Kabbalat Shabbat
(Sabbath service with a mystical
approach). Other events are being
planned.
Debbie
Ellison is a freelance writer and
contact for the Jewish Renewal Center.
She can be reached at
write-on@mindspring.com
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