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Category: Zefat Personalities

  • As The Spirit Moves

    Aliza Bashkovitz is a woman whose enthusiasm for the city of Safed comes through in every word she speaks. Born

    As The Spirit Movesin the coastal city of Rehovot, Aliza left that town for her university studies in Jerusalem. Today, Aliza teaches English in a local Safed school and her American-born husband, Shalom, is a Torah scholar.

    As a young couple, Shalom and Aliza enrolled in a program called Meretz in the Jerusalem suburb of Mevasseret Zion.

    At the end of the program, couples were to move to a development town where the teaching skills they learned could benefit the resident

    s. Shalom and Aliza chose Safed.

    One of the key reasons the Bashkowitzes chose the town was due to the fact that a group of Meretz graduates were already living in Safed, and as Aliza put it, “It’s always easier to have a group when you’re going to a new town.”

    Perfect Climate

    Another reason Aliza really liked the idea of Safed was the climate. After just one year at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Aliza found visits home to steamy Rehovot unbearable. The cool, dry climate of Jerusalem, and later, the couple’s six years in a suburb with similar weather, meant that Safed was an ideal choice. Safed has weather perhaps just a bit more extreme than that of the Jer

    usalem area and is colder, windier, and drier. Aliza says that the cold “settles in your bones,” but that this is preferable to the humidity of Israel’s coastal region.

    When asked to compare life in Jerusalem to life in Safed, Aliza refers to what the Torah says about the special qualities of these two cities, both holy to Jews. “Jerusalem is ‘Esh,’ fire, but Safed is ‘Ruach,’ spirit or wind.”

    Above Reality

    Aliza explains that in Safed there is a feeling of being, “above reality,” and comments that the Hebrew name of the tow

    n, “Tzfat,” shares the same root as the word, “LaTzoof,” to float. Being in Safed, says Aliza, is to float above it all, above reality. Jerusalem felt holy to Aliza, but Safed, she says, has the same holiness, without the pressure. Safed is, “spiritual, beautiful, and relaxed.”

    Aliza also compares the quality of life of the two towns in very down-to-earth, financial terms. In Mevasseret Zion, the Bashkowitzes paid $500 a month for a 2nd floor apartment with 4 bedrooms. In Safed, the family is paying the same amount for a 2 story duplex with a garden. After living in Safed for decades, the family can state with certainty that they are getting much more for their money than they had ever dreamed. For the Bashkowitzes, Safed is home.

    *Names have been changed for this story.

     

  • Intimate Discussion With A Kabbalah Scholar

    Today, the study of Kabbalah is all the rage with both Jews and non-Jews devoting time and energy to mystical study.

    Intimate Discussion With A Kabbalah Scholar

     Kabbalah study is divided between the classic works of ancient Jewish sages such as Isaac Luria, and the popular Kabbalah studied by celebri

    ties like Madonna. Baruch Emanuel Erdstein is a local figure on the Safed scene who has been delving into the classical Kabbalistic works for more than a decade.

    Baruch hails from suburban Detroit, but he called Safed home for many years. In addition to his Kabbalah studies, Baruch was a Safed tour guide, and the leader of a band called Ingathering. All of his endeavors are flavored with a little bit of Motown and not a little of the mystic.

    Kabbalistic Background

    Q: What is your background in Kabbalah study?

    A: I originally became interested in Jewish mysticism via the teachings of Chassidut as transmitted by the Baal Shem Tov

     and his students, the works of Rabbi Tzvi Elimelech of Dinov known as the Benei Yisaschar,  Rabbi Nachman of Breslov, and others. About ten years ago I began to seriously delve into the core texts of the Kabbalah, namely the writings of the Ari, and for the last two years I’ve been passionately inspired by the path of the Komarno Rebbe.

    Much more than just being vastly complex systems of seeing the world(s!), the path of the Kabbalist demands and inspires real changes in our behavior and interpersonal relationships, sensitizing us to the significance of all our actions, speech and thoughts. By not only learning the written materials, but also by being committed to the way of living as taught by the mystical masters, I hope I can honestly convey what the Kabbalah, known to be the essence of Jewish wisdom, is all about.

    Q: What do you think about popular Kabbalah?

    A: The study of authentic Kabbalah, based on the teachings of the Jewish holy sages, the tzadikim, even on the most elementary level is only good. When the terms and images are used, however, outside of their context and without the appropriate references, well, I cringe. I know that it is only because people really do want truth and meaning and are having a hard time finding it. I’m sure that if they had access to the authentic teachings, shared by people with whom they can relate, there would be no need for anything else.

    Everyday Life

    Q: How do you bring your studies into your everyday life?

    A: The studies are life. The metaphors used in the Kabbalah mirror the most basic aspects of daily life. Without living a

    normal healthy life, with all its tests, a person can’t grasp Kabbalah. And, on the flipside, the study of Kabbalah brings out some of the most profound things about life, as well as inspiring peace, acceptance, faith, selflessness, and, of course, a connection to the Divine.

    Baruch Emanuel Erdstein can be reached at: baruch@safedexperience.com or by phone: (0)52-251-5134

     

  • Tzfat Legends

    One of the pleasures of visiting a new place is the opportunity to learn the stories and legends that are

    Legends of Tzfata part of the history and the culture of the place. In addition to reading the historical facts about a location, one can research the tales and folklore to add depth, and a bit of fun, to the understanding of the site.

     

    Tzfat is one such spot where hearing the many legends and tales helps to create a b

    etter understanding of the history and culture of the place. There are many legends and myths surrounding Tzfat’s personalities and these give a more rounded picture of the town’s character and varied past.  Touring Tzfat without hearing at least of few of these legends wouldn’t be a true visit to this unique and mystical town.

    Yossi Della Reina

    One such story is that of Yossi Della Reina. Della Reina was a Kabbalistic Rabbi in the 16th century who, with the best of intentions, wanted to use the power of Kabbalah to try to defeat Satan. Della Reina and five of his students attempted to trap Satan and neutralize him, but Satan outwitted the Kabbalists and was able to escape, becoming more powerful than ever. Della Reina descended to a sinful life, and he was buried outside the cemetery by the Tzfat citizens of the time. His burial spot, then in a deserted field, is today next to the central square of the Old Jewish Quarter and it is custom for people to spit when they walk by his gravesite.

    Safta Yocheved

    Stories about the influence of Tzfat’s women also abound. Safta (Grandmother) Yocheved was a figure that many Tzfat residents still remember, as she died only in the 1970s. Safta Yocheved believed strongly in the teaching of the Zohar, the basic Kabbalistic book.  She believed that the Messiah would set forth from Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai’s tomb at Mt. Meron and would pass through Tzfat on a white donkey on his way to Jerusalem. Safta Yocheved worried that the Messiah would need sustenance on his journey, and every day, she would set out a plate of cookies and a pot of tea for the Messiah to nourish himself on his travels. The little narrow lane where Safta Yocheved would sit with her tea and cookies is today called “Messiah Lane” and is a testament to her incredible faith that, as tradition teaches, the Messiah could arrive at any minute.

    Safta Ita

    Finally, Safta Ita’s story is one which gave a tremendous amount of strength and support to the Jewish soldiers during the War of Independence in 1948. During the British Mandate, between 1918 and 1948, when the British ruled Palestine, the British refused to allow the Jews to arm themselves, even for self-defense. Yet the Jews of Tzfat refused to remain unarmed after the devastation of the 1929 Arab riots, and were forced to find hiding places for their smuggled guns and ammunition.

    They hid the arms in “slicks”, hiding places, often in basements of people’s homes. Safta Ita, an elderly “zaftig” (heavy) lady, had a slick in her house, and the Jewish underground often used her slick when cleaning and assembling their weapons.

    One afternoon, Safta Ita was sitting outside her house while a half-dozen Jewish underground members were inside with their weapons, when a group of British soldiers walked by. Safta Ita’s code to the men inside her house was unnoticed, and she was worried that the loud noises that they were making might attract the attention of the patrol. So Safta Ita began to make the sounds associated with a woman going into labor. The British never noticed that Safta Ita was well past child-bearing age….being the polite British men that they were, they moved away quickly, and the slick was saved.

    Tzfat abounds with legends, traditions, and tales. Visitors who wish to truly understand this special town will enjoy exploring these stories as much as they will enjoy the lanes and stone buildings of Tzfat.

  • The “Mashiach”

    Jewish Belief in the Messiah

    Waiting For The Messiah In Tzfat

     

    A core belief in Jewish theology is the conviction that the “Mashiach”, the Messiah, will come to redeem the Jewish pe

    ople. Exactly who and what the Jewish messiah is has been a matter of much controversy and disagreement among Jews for as long as norma
    tive Judaism has existed. Yet the belief that a figure will arise and bring peace to the world and will bring all Jews to the Land of Israel to live with the rebuilt Third Temple is universally accepted among religious Jews.

    Hassidic Jews have, traditionally, studied the teachings about the Messianic Era closely, and developed their own beliefs – one Hassidic belief states that in every generation a potential Messiah exists, and whether he is able to come forth is dependent on the deeds and actions of the Jews of his generation – if enough prayer and good deeds take place, the revelation of the Messiah will take place. This is a compelling and attractive concept, and has, in recent years, been accepted outside the Hassidic world as well.

    Chabad in Tzfat

    The last Rebbe, leader, of the Chabad Hassidic community, Rebbe Menachem Schneerson, pushed his followers in this direction. He directed his followers to devote their energies towards outreach. Today, Chabad emissaries are in the forefront of the Jewish outreach movement.

    Towards the end of Rebbe Schneerson’s life, many of his followers began to believe that perhaps Rebbe Schneerson WAS the Messiah about which he spoke constantly.  The Rebbe-is-the-Mashiach movement grew in strength, with the highest percentage of followers (not all Chabad Hassidim concurred) being the Israeli Chabad community. The pinnacle of this movement is in Tzfat, and in recent years, the movement has actually gathered strength.

    Since the Chabad community is one of Tzfat’s largest, Tzfat has developed a reputation as being the “headquarters” of the “Messiastics”. Public events always feature Chabad activists urging Jews, especially non-religious Jews, towards greater religious observance. They sing and dance in the streets, engage people in street discussions, and generally create a climate that may bring the “Mass

    iach.”

    Breslev Hassidim

    Another noticeable Hassidic group which believes that they can bring the Messiah is the Breslev Hassidim. Breslev is also an outreach-oriented Hassidic group. The Breslev Hassidim teach that the Messiah will come when the Jewish people are infused with joy and will worship God with their whole beings. In recent years, the Breslev community has expanded noticeably in Tzfat. Also noticeable is their street theatre – they are prone to setting up a table, booth, or simply opening the back doors of their vans and turning on loudspeakers which play their signature tune……”Na Nach Nachman M’Uman” (a salute to their founder and leader, the 19th century

    Rebbe Nachman from the Ukrainian town of Uman). They then begin to dance and jig, believing that this will bring joy to the people watching them. The locals barely give them a glance, but the tourists are entranced.

    The Kabbalistic Book of Zohar teaches that the Messiah will come from the tomb of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochi, the 1st century A.D. Kabbalistic teacher, at Mt. Meron. According to the Zohar, the Messiah will travel from Mt. Meron through Tzfat on his way to Jerusalem, where he will inaugurate the Messianic Era. The activities in Tzfat, whether accurate or not, will certainly make the Messiah feel quite comfortable on his travels.

  • Politics in Tzfat

    Politically Marching To the Beat of a Different Drummer

    Politics in Tzfat

     

    Tzfat has, even before the creation of the State of Israel, been known as a right-wing town. The pre-state paramilitary organization Haganah, which was connected to the Labor party, dominated the struggle for Israel’s independence in most areas of the country,

    but it was matched in Tzfat by the more right-wing paramilitary, the Irgun. Menachem Begin, who was to go on to lead the Likud party (Labor’s nemesis and its right-wing counterpart) once the State was declared, had hid in Tzfat while he was being hunted by the British army for his anti-British underground activities. He chose Tzfat because the town was full of his supporters who successfully kept the British at b

    ay for years.

    Through the early years of the State’s existence, the Labor party dominated Israeli politics, but the right-wing Likud could always count on Tzfat to keep a respectable presence in the Knesset.

    Local politics in Tzfat is not only a point of intense interest to local residents – it is an all-encompassing passion which allows the town of 30,000 to field more mayoral candidates every election year than cities ten times its size.

    For many years, the city was run by “Tzfassers” – old-time Tzfat families who could trace their linage in Tzfat back hundreds of years. It was accepted by all, and no one else would dare run – the Tzfassers believed that they were entitled to the mayoral seat, and no one else thought to object.

    New Times, New Politics

    By the late 1980s, a new political force arose; families of immigrants who had come from North Africa in the 1950s, and now felt that they were entitled to take power. A succession of mayors and city councils were made up of these residents, many of whom would not speak to each other because they came from areas in the “Old Country” where their grandparents didn’t speak to each other.

    As time has passed, there has also been a movement towards a more religious representation on the council, as well as i

    n the mayor’s office. As the ultra-Orthodox population of the city grows, the presence of religious city council members increases, to the point that today, eighty percent of the city council is connected with a religious stream, and even the mayor, the first one in 20 years who does not wear a kippa (skullcap) in public, is known to be quite traditional (and made sure to ask for the blessings of the town’s important Rabbis before the election).

    As for political ideology, one can simply note that the last time a left-wing party fielded a candidate in Tzfat, the number of votes that they received was so low that the party, successful in other parts of Israel, has never even bothered to have a candidate run in Tzfat again.

  • Breslev Hassidim in Tzfat

    Beginnings

    Everyone recognizes traditional Hassidim – they stand out in their traditional garb and adherence to the ways of their

    Breslev Hassidim

     

    forefathers in Eastern Europe. The wide-brimmed hats and long black coats of the men and the modest dress and wigs of the women invite curio

    sity, for Hassidim seem like a novelty.

    The Hassidic community derives from adherents of an 18th century leader, the Ba’al Shem Tov, who taught that the best way to do God’s will was to pray with concentration and devotion, and live one’s life with joy and religious sincerity. This ideology ran counter to the prevalent view of the time that the ultimate goal of a Jew should be scholarship.

    The Ba’al Shem Tov, had followers who ignited the Hassidic movement in Eastern Europe. Each town had its own leader, it’s “Rebbe” and the names of each Hassidic community were derived from the name of the town where their Rebbe was located.

    Upon each Rebbe’s death, the leadership was taken on by a descendent….a son, son-in-law, nephew, grandson, etc.

    The Hassidim of the town of Breslev in the Ukraine revered their Rebbe, Rebbe Nachman, as an exceptional holy man. He was a mystic and wanderer who loved nature, and encouraged his followers to pray and meditate in the fields and forests as a way of drawing closer to God, a process that he called “hitboddidut” (seclusion). He wrote songs and poetry which expressed his connections with God and the land, and is remembered for inspiring his followers to always be joyful and never give in to despair.

    Upon Rebbe Nachman’s death, his Hassidim did not name a successor, and until today, when Breslev Hassidim speak of their Rebbe, they are speaking of Rebbe Nachman.

    Breslev Hassidism of Tzfat

    Aside from this anomaly, until recently, the Breslev Hassidim were a Hassidic group much like any other. They d

    ressed in distinctive Hassidic garb and followed the tenets of Hassidic philosophy. Tzfat is a major of center of Breslev Hassidism in Israel, both the “old” Breslevers and the “new ones”.

    This distinction between “old” and “new” Breslevers has developed in recent decades when Breslev Hassidim started to become outreach oriented and to bring young secular Jews towards religious observance. These young newcomers latched onto a wing of Breslev philosophy that has encouraged them to publicly dance and sing the songs and tunes of Rebbe Nachman as a way of drawing people towards traditional Judaism. In addition, they believe that increasing joy through song and exuberant expressions of happiness is what Rebbe Nachman taught, and that this will hasten the coming of the Messiah. These public displays are seen frequently on the streets of Tzfat, especially during the peak tourist season, when groups of Breslevers, wearing their distinctive white skullcaps with tassels and singing their mantra, “Na Nach Nachman M’Uman” (“Nachman of Uman”) sing, chant and dancing exuberantly.

    Guides have been known to time their visits to Tzfat to coincide with these “celebrations”. If anything can give a visitor to Tzfat an understanding of Tzfat’s unique character, these Breslev performances will do the trick.

  • Lorri Silver

    They’re  All Special

    Coming from Melbourne Australia in 1980 with two young daughters, Lorri Silver was immediately attracted to Tzfat. A s

    Lorri Silver: The Cat Ladyingle mother whose goal was to find a place to raise her girls, Lorri found a small house in an outlying neighborhood of Tzfat, and settl

    ed in. Several years later, she started to think about finding a more central location in the town, and the three moved to the Artists Quarter, next to

     

    the Old Jewish Quarter of Tzfat.

    Lorri wasn’t exactly alone with her daughters. A cat, Matilda, had accompanied them from Australia, and was soon enthroned in their new house. Lorri had always felt an affinity for cats, and was pleased that she could raise her daughters with a loving feline.

    Soon, however, Lorri began to notice the unending stray cat population of Tzfat, many of whom seemed to congregate near her house. Friendliness turned to caretaking, and Lorri and her daughters soon found themselves caring for an endless stream of strays. Black and white, calico and grey, it made no difference – a pitiful “meew” could pretty well insure the cat a warm bed, medical care, and lots of nutritious food for as long as it wanted. “They’re all special” Lori has said, and evidently, over the years, dozens upon dozens of cats took advantage of her sympathy for their plight.

    A Friend

    Lorri’s first concern, when a new cat arrives, is its medical care. This is obvious, seeing that an untreated medical condition could quickly cause an epidemic of CATastrophic proportions. A veterinary-friend comes to Lorri’s house periodically to treat the

    cats, neutering and spaying all newcomers as soon as they’re old enough. But through the years, Lorri herself has had so much experience that she is able to treat conditions that usually only veterinarians see – ear and eye infections, skin problems and many other conditions.

    “If they’ll let me touch them, then I can usually treat them” Lorri says. “But sometimes, a cat will arrive that won’t let me touch it, and it can take months for the trust to build up enough that will allow me to touch it, much less treat it.” Lorri points to Bianca, a new arrival whose early life gave her a deep distrust of humans. “Slowly” Lorri said “I’m gaining her trust, but it will take a long time until I can get her into a cat cage so that we can spay her.” Bianca started out on Lorri’s roof, where Lorri found her and began to feed her.

    Now, many months later, she will come into the house, but is still skittish and uneasy. Lorri, however, is unperturbed. “All that’s needed is patience” she says “and we have plenty of that”.

    At her height, Lorri had close to 30 cats living in and around her house. As her daughters grew to adolescence, their infatuation with the cats diminished, but they are now young adults, living on their own, and Lorri lives happily with her furry felin

    es. She will no longer take in an endless number, but still enjoys having a few around. “Now I have five, maybe six, if you count an outside cat” she says. When asked if she’d like another one, a young female calico seen wandering aimlessly through the Old City streets, Lori’s ears perk up. “Maybe” she said. “She may be doing perfectly well where she is…..but….well, maybe.”

     

  • Batya Avraham: A Return To Roots

    An Ancient Heritage

    Growing up in an unaffiliated Catholic home in the mid-1950s, Batya Avraham never game much thought to her roots. She

    Batya Avraham: A Return To Roots

     

    knew that her mother’s family had come from Cuba, and before that, Spain, but she had very little else to go on to connect with her family’s religious and spiritual background. “The family name was a Jewish name” Batya says “but there’s no proof, no way to show definitely t

    hat they were Jewish”.

    Proof or not, as Batya began to raise her family, she felt herself pulled more and more in the direction of the Old Testament. Although they lived in the South, in areas of Louisiana, Texas and Tennessee where no Jews were to be found, she and her husband decided, on their own, to try and follow the precepts of the Torah.

    “We didn’t know that there was an Oral Law” Batya says. “All we knew about was the Written Law. So that’s what we followed.”

    Jews believe that the Torah was given to Moses at Mt. Sinai. There are, in the Torah, six hundred and thirteen commandments which religious Jews believe G-d expects them to follow. This is the Written Law.

    Throughout the ages, as Jews began to be exiled and dispersed throughout the world, the rabbis began to codify these laws, writing explanations and commentaries which enable Jews to understand how to best follow the laws. Beginning with the Talmud in the 1st century A.D., each generation of Rabbis has added to our understanding of the Written Law- a religious Jewish home today can have thousands of books which are the commentaries on the commentaries on the commentaries – thousands – on the Written Law. This is the Oral Law.

    Jewish history has seen groups who refuse to accept the Oral Law, and who hold only by the written law — Kararites and Samaritians. They, however, have broken off from normative Judaism. For instance, when the Torah says that it is forbidden to light a fire on the Sabbath, Jews will follow the rabbis’ rulings which allow them to light a fire BEFORE the Sabbath and warm up their food on that alrea

    dy-lit fire. Samaritians and Kararites will eat cold food throughout the Sabbath day.

    Searching Her Roots

    For many years, Batya and her husband followed the Written Torah as well as she could, without a community or teacher. But after her divorce, Batya began to feel that something was missing from her spiritual life, and started to explore Judaism. She moved to Tzfat, sight-unseen, with almost no savings or job opportunities, yet something told her that this was the place where she woul

    d find her spiritual home.

    Today, Batya studies with local teachers, and is preparing for a formal conversion to Judaism. Her community supports her, and she is slowly learning the intricacies of modern Jewish life. Her days of trying to figure out Kashruth (the Jewish dietary laws) on the Bayou are over….there are plenty of neighbors and friends to help her in her entrance to the Jewish World.

    Batya now lives in Tzfat. Her oil paintings reflect her journey. She can be contacted at artbybatya@gmail.com

  • Moshe Chaim Gress — Candle Sculpting

    Arrival in Tzfat

    Moshe Chaim Gress Candle Sculptures

     

    Moshe Chaim Gress knew he was going to live in Tzfat from before he even visited the Holy city. He arrived in Tzfat for the first time in 1991, on the day the First Gulf War ended, to participate in the three-month program Livnot U’Lehibanot. When he left his home and career as a D.J. in Tucson, Arizona to come to Israel, he already had a vague idea that Tzfat might be his ultimate destination.

    Moshe Chaim studied fine art at the University of Arizona after having taken 2 years of commercial art courses in a B.O

    .C.E.S. school in Middletown, NY. He freelanced in art periodically, mostly illustrating comic books, and making films and a commercial in stop-motion “clay-mation”, but his favorite job of the 1980’s was the 8 years he spent as a club and mobile music D.J. in Tucson. That is, until he moved to Tzfat. His unconventional way of seeing the world hasn’t changed since 1990.

    Moshe Chaim’s creative and imaginative personality is expressed in his artwork. He is Tzfat’s best-known graphic artist, producing English-language posters and promotional materials for a variety of educational institutions in both Tzfat and Jerusalem. Each one of his posters brings images that catch one’s eye with its vibrant colors and imaginative graphics, yet clearly express the intended message.

    Tzfat’s Unique Candles

    But Moshe Chaim is best known as the main candle-sculptor of the world-famous, Safed Candle Factory. It is here that most people have the opportunity to see Moshe Chaim’s imagination run wild in this unique artform that he invented and developed over the past 16 years. Each sculpture is individually hand-made from pure beeswax and is, in fact, a burnable candle. The subjects of these candle sculptures vary widely from Biblical scenes (such as David & Goliath or Noah’s Ark) and Chassids vs. Litvachs chess sets to adorable zoo animals and colorful Tzfat sunsets on hamsahs. Daily life is represented by these sculptures, often with a Jewish or Israeli theme. Fiddlers on the (Tzfati) Roof, Hassids and soldiers standing together at the Western Wall and even a bride and groom standing under the wedding cano

    py are represented at the gallery. Moshe Chaim has even begun a line of Jewish Super-heroes.

    Moshe Chaim also brings a strong sense of faith to his work. His artwork is an expression of his deep connection to Judaism and to the Land of Israel. Moshe Chaim explains: “I feel art, like music, can be a lower level of prophecy or ruach hakodesh. An artist, any artist, is a vessel through which creativity flows – sometimes more than other times. I’m often amazed at what comes alive out of a 5 hour flow of focused, creative energy, where I would’ve thought only an hour had gone by!”

    For the many people who have had the pleasure of enjoying Moshe Chaim’s creativity through his posters, his wax sculptures, and, as of late, the children’s book and time-travel story, Journeys, that he co-wrote and illustrated through Mahrwood Press, it is an amazing experience.

    Today’s Work

    Moshe Chaim now works out of his studio in the Artists Quarter of Tzfat, where he lives with his wife, NatanYah and three children, Michael, David and Ma’ayan. His sculptures are exhibited in his studio and at the Safed Candles Gallery, in the Old City of Tzfat, right near the Ari Askenazi Synagogue.

  • Otiyot Hayyot — Living Letters

    Inspiration

    Otiyot Hayyot -- Living Letters

     

    When Yehudit Goldfarb began teaching Tai Chi more than 30 years ago, she never thought that it would bring her closer to understanding Judaism.

    Yehudit had been involved in movement all her life, and as a Tai Chi instructor felt the power in the body’s movements. One of the forms of Tai Chi that Yehudit practiced involved 20 separate movements, and at some point, Yehudit began to explore the possibility of 22 distinct movements based on the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet.

    It was only during a 1979 Shavuot retreat, when Yehudit was meditating in the forest, that the thought of working with the Hebrew letters began to feel right to her. Several years later at another retreat, she found herself doing repetitive movements that she began to recognize as the letters, and slowly, the correct movement for each letter developed. Her Tai Chi class worked with her on these letters

    , and as the concept progressed, the class began to use these movements to create words and phrases to express themselves spiritually.

    Maor HaLev

    Today, Yehudit runs the Maor HaLev Center in Tzfat where she teaches beginners and advanced students alike to use the movements of the letters to express themselves in a manner that connects them with the sacred. According to the Jewish Mystical tradition, G-d used the Hebrew letters to create the world. The movement patterns of Otiyot Hayyot (Living Letters) are a physical yet meditative exercise that gives the individual a tool for spiritual growth using the Hebrew letters. The flowing, integrative movements are calming and at the same time enable the individual to tap into a vital energy that allows the conveyance of some of one’s deepest and innermost feelings in a physical way.

    “I do these exercises every evening to close the day,” Yehudit says, “and I try to do them every morning as well, af

    ter prayer.” She often “letters” different names, prayers, or sometimes a single word from the prayerbook. “The movements for the vowels correspond to the Sefirot on the Kabbalistic Tree of Life,” she adds. “You can see how the movements reflect the concept that each level on the Sefirotic Tree tries to teach us.” Watching these movements, one can easily visualize the teachings of the Kabbalah as they relate to understanding our inner essence and our ability to use these physical manifestations of the Holy Letters to communicate with the Divine.

    Yehudit’s workshops are held in her studio on an on-going basis, and she can be contacted personally to schedule workshops and teach private sessions. She can be contacted at: yehudit@otiyot.com