One of the reasons I walked away from Judaism, and organized religion in general, was because it felt impersonal and unspiritual. So, upon returning to Judaism, spirituality and individuality were to become the hallmarks of my rabbinate.
A Jewish lifecycle is the perfect opportunity for spirituality and individuality. From Bris to Death, and everything in between, we have the opportunity at these key moments for great heights of meaning, both in simkha (joy) and sadness. This, however, is rarely possible if our ceremonies are generic and impersonal and far too many rabbis, and clergy of all stripes, offer just that: “canned ceremonies.”
Taking a standard ceremony and simply changing the name to the “current customer” is not only uninspiring – it is atrocious. These moments are the pinnacle of our existence, offer so much potential and can truly transform our lives, or the lives of those in attendance, if done right.
My job, as a teacher of mine once said, is to “mediate meaning.” The meaning is already there – my job is to guide those participating in the lifecyle, as well as those in attendance, into the meaning – allowing them to fully experience these precious and rare moments. This is only ever accomplished if it is personal, certainly grounded in the tradition but crafted around the unique souls in modern, meaningful and relevant ways.
From beginning to end this is what I am committed to doing and providing. I am a spiritual guide, above all else, and as such I simply see my role as guiding these unique souls who seek me out, connecting them to a rooted and ancient tradition, catering to their individuality, always crafting personal and spiritual moments of ultimate meaning at these precious and divine events.
Finally, part of what makes a lifecycle event most meaningful is to understand what we are doing and saying. For too long we Jews have simply gone through the motions having our clergy officiate while we stand passively by. What this page of my website represents is an opportunity for those whom I’m guiding to have power, to understand what they are doing and why they are doing it and to have input along the way.
To that end, within these pages you will find resources to help you claim your power as you learn about Jewish lifecycles and participate fully in crafting a holy and timeless moment which can potentially transform your life and your destiny.
B’shalom – towards a meaningful Judaism which can begin with a personalized and transcendent lifecycle event.
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