Kabbalah

The Pinch: A Tale of Jewish Self-Determination Steve Stern weaves a mystical-historical tale of “The Pinch”, a small area in the north of downtown Memphis populated by Jews. Stories within the story, a theme begins to rise: although life may appear as preordained or on a certain trajectory, one can chart another course. It is the theme of self-determination. Subsequently, as a reader of Steve Stern’s book, one is taken back and forth in time and given detailed background stories about…

How Will We Live Impressions and judgement of people we don’t even know are fairly common. We might hear a rumor about someone, or just hear of someone’s actions. Judgement is very common, and it prevents many relationships. Whether it’s someone race, religion, hobbies or interest we form our opinions about that person, but we do not truly know that person. Throughout first year seminar judgement was found in a lot of the texts we read. Judgement was found early in the course when we discussed…

The Chosen: Hasidism, A Way of Life “Everyone should carefully observe which way his heart draws him, and then choose that way with all his strength” (Hasidic Proverb). People need to accept and support other people 's’ choices in life. Each person has several choices in their lives, some people need a great deal of help others do not. Some people receive help from their family, others have some pressure. As portrayed in numerous Hasidic families, the rebbe and his son have conflict…

How did you derive your worldview? Was your worldview inherited and/or adopted or was it deliberately chosen through reflection and analysis? Or was it a combination of both adoption and volition? What were the strongest forces in shaping your worldview? Rabbi Mark Goldfarb grew up in a Jewish home and went to temple services, participating in the various activities, youth groups, and holidays that they celebrated. After going through a difficult time in his life, his beliefs solidified and…

The Bible begins with the book of Genesis, also known as the book of beginnings. Genesis is the first of five books collectively referred to as the Pentateuch. The name is derived from the first word of the LXX, which is translated to mean beginning. Most scholars agree that the book consist of two parts, chapters 1-11 and 12-50. The first section is referred to as the primeval history, beginning with creation, and concluding with the genealogy of Shem. There are some who offer other suggested…

The author accomplished laying out his points to the reader. However, this book sounds like it is written for a very specific reason and audience. This is not a text that anyone could read and immediately understand. Rather the book fits someone seeking a more philosophical view on how mankind is created in the image of God and how mankind reflects the image of god (idols). If the book’s overarching purpose is to inform readers about these ideas, then he does succeed. However, I believe if the…

The Tale of the Magic Drumstick Once there was a Chippewa Elder named Francis and he loved music. Music was everything to him. He even made traditional Native American musical instruments. The sound of a drumstick hitting against a hand drum would remind him of his own heart beating. Not to mention how music brings people together. So one night while Francis was sleeping. The creator sent Francis a dream of choke cherry bushes swaying in the wind and elks running through the forest. In the…

The Life of Pi and cabalism appear juxtaposed until provided with the proper background information. In The Life of Pi, religion is mentioned quite early in the book. Pi starts off by telling us that he majored in religious studies, and later explains how he practiced three religions at once. But where else does religion come into play? Why is it important? It’s important because, buried at the bottom of the ocean, hidden inside the name of the Tsimtsum, is a religious metaphor for Pi’s…

Exercising helps the body become stronger and improve one’s physicality. Like exercising, meditation is ways to train the mind to go far beyond what was not previously perceived. Jewish Meditation is a practice in which the mind attempts to access the four levels of consciousness. These four levels of consciousness epitomizes our existence and accessing the divine world helps manifest a connection between each world. Mediation is a process, which allows healing of the body, spirit, and most…

How does Genesis 1-11 inform our Christian worldview? The first eleven chapters of Genesis begin with the Creation account, from then we go to the Garden of Eden and the first sin, which leads to the fall of man. From there we go from Adam to Noah, the wrath of God over the wickedness of man, the flood, which leads to the covenant of the rainbow, the Tower of Babel and the genealogy of Abram’s family. These first chapters are the basis of the rest of the Christian worldview, in…