December 17, 06
Arrival of the Kabbalists?
Yakov,
Up early this morning.
The Light in the Garden was so Huge,
I knew there had to be a Rainbow.
I had left my camera in the Enchanted Garden Mobile
last night, so I put on some clothes and went out.
Sure enough there was a tremendous wide Rainbow
over the Garden.
I was thinking about "Kaballah at the Ground Level"
when I awoke.
Thanks for bring the Water and the Light to our City.
With all the Kabbalists in town, I imagine we
ought to be seeing some other interesting natural
phenomena.
Leslie Goldman
Your Enchanted Gardener
Smicha from Reb Zalman as Maggid
of the Enchanted Garden
from:
on 12/17/06 12:13 AM, Yakov Travis wrote:
UPDATE: Kislev 16, 5767 / Dec 6, 2006
http://WWW.TIFERET.ORG
Excellence in the Study of Kabbalah &Jewish Spirituality
GUIDELINES IN PREPARING FOR THE TIFERET FORUM
1. The goal of the Tiferet Forum is to begin a serious conversation on the contemporary phenomenon of "mainstreaming Jewish mysticism" by reflecting on the dramatic developments of the past decade and by beginning to collaboratively envision the next decade and consider the most critical issues.
As stated from the beginning: at the heart of this forum are three sets of questions that the keynotes and panelists have been asked to address: (1) What has been achieved in the past ten years of this phenomenon-generally speaking? What do you consider the greatest successes and disappointments? (2) What do you consider to be the most important work in the decade ahead? How might the Jewish community support this effort? What problems do you anticipate and what do you consider the possible solutions? (3) As more non-Jews embrace aspects of Jewish mysticism, what are the implications of this for the Jewish community, and for the globalization of spiritual culture?
2. Think of this forum as a seed being planted.
We intend to continue the conversation in both private and public forums, both in person and online. For those interested, there will be opportunities to participate in think-tanks on certain issues and for special yamei iyyun. We hope that this day of reflection will provide a basis for further discussions. Some points might be better addressed at another time or in another venue.
3.This forum is open to the public and your words will likely be heard far and wide. From the beginning, one explicit goal was to "to bring consideration of the promises and problems inherent in this phenomenon to the very center of the Jewish community's discourse." Presently there are already about 55 registered attendees and registrations are now streaming in briskly. The audience will include Jewish seekers and spiritual guides, non-Jewish students of Kabbalah, rabbis, professors, Kabbalah Centre members, Chabad Hasidim, Renewal enthusiasts, and the Press. Reporters from The Forward, LA Jewish Journal, San Diego Jewish Journal, Religion News Service, etc. will be present.
4. Be aware that Tiferet Institute has arranged for the recording and videotaping of forum presentations, that Tiferet will retain the copyright, and that these recordings will be for sale.
Check the website to see the bios of some recently added participants.
http://www.kabbalahsandiego.com/Speakers.html
Blessings,
Yakov
MONDAY EVENING, DEC 18
7:30-8:00 Welcome & Introduction
Rabbi Dr. Yakov Travis, Founder & Director, Tiferet Institute
8:00-9:50 Panel Discussion: Kabbalah for Non-Jews?
Moderator: Dr. Matt Goldish
Dr. Tamar Frankiel, Kabbalah: A Brief Introduction for Christians (2006)
15 MINUTES
Arthur Kurzweil, Author of Kabbalah For Dummies (2006) 15 MINUTES
Mark Elber, Author of The Everything Kabbalah Book (2006) 15 MINUTES
Respondents:
Rabbi Dr. Reuven Kimelman; 10 MINUTES
Rabbi Dr. Nehemia Polen 10 MINUTES
Responses & Open Discussion 45 MINUTES
10:00-10:30 Short Reading/Reflections: Popularizing Kabbalah Through Fiction
Rabbi Lawrence Kushner -from his just-published novel, Kabbalah: A Love Story (2006).
15 MINUTES
Open Discussion: 15 MINUTES
TUESDAY MORNING, DEC 19
8:30-9:20 Kabbalah & The Bnai Noach Movement
Rabbi Moshe Genuth. Editor, Kabbalah & Meditation for the Nations (2006)
25 MINUTES
Open Discussion: 25 MINUTES
9:30-10:30 Kabbalah on The Web: Real Transparency & Virtual Community
Rabbi Dr. Yakov Travis, Tiferet Institute
Open Discussion: 20 MINUTES
10:45-12:45 Disseminating Light: Zohar for the Masses?
Moderator: TBA
Rabbi Dr. Pinchas Giller, University of Judaism
Historical Roots of The Kabbalah Centre's Mission 25 MINUTES
Rabbi Michael Berg, The Kabbalah Centre
Respondents:
Dr. Hava Tirosh-Samuelson; 10 MINUTES
Rabbi Dr. Avram Davis 10 MINUTES
Responses & Open Discussion 45 MINUTES
TUESDAY AFTERNOON, DEC 19
12:45-1:45 Lunch / Mincha
1:45-3:45 Neo-Kabbalah: Non-Fundamentalist & Post-Denominational
Moderator: Rabbi Dr. David Seidenberg
Rabbi Zalman Schacter-Shalomi, Aleph: Alliance for Jewish Renewal
(via live streaming audio-video)
Rabbi Dr. Arthur Green, Hebrew College Rabbinical School
Respondents:
Dr. Chava Weissler 10 MINUTES
Reb Mimi Feigelson 10 MINUTES
Responses & Open Discussion 40 MINUTES
4:00-4:30 Breakout Small Group Discussion
4:30-6:00 Closing Roundtable Panel & Discussion
Moderator: Rabbi Dr. Yakov Travis
Rabbi Dr. Joel Hecker, Reconstructionist Rabbinical College
Rabbi Dr. Wayne Dosick, The Elijah Minyan, San Diego
Ira Rifkin, Journalist; Author, Spiritual Perspectives on Globalization
Reb Mimi Feigleson, University of Judaism 10 MINUTES
Responses & Open Discussion: 40 MINUTES
Closing Remarks: Rabbi Dr. Yakov Travis 10 MINUTES
6:00-6:20 Ma'ariv
6:30 Candle Lighting / Hanukkah Celebration