Happy Rosh Hodesh Elul; New Moon of Virgo

Every Month has distinct 4 letter permutation connected with it offered by R Joseph Ashkenazi ( ~1450)  of blessed memory. 

It can be found in his inspiring commentary on Sefer Yetzirah.

The 4 letter permutation for Elul is:

Heh Vav Heh Yud:

Focusing on this Name is meant to provide access to the Holy Blessed One; it is like the key for the month. It supports prayers being received on high and answered.  

Every year at this time, tradition invites us to intentionally revisit the journey inward
- to do the important spiritual work of T'shuvah; re-turning to Source. Elul; the month
preceding the High Holy Days is specifically designated for T'Shuvah. We are asked to
take measure of our lives and repair relationships that have been compromised by our
actions, by the actions of others or by the vicissitudes of time. We have this vital opportunity
to reassess intentions and embrace what is healing, nourishing or useful and to release
what no longer serves us.

On the Northern Hemisphere, this time of year marks the end of the growing
season. The farmer's markets are filled with ripe, sweet smelling fruit; the last of the
peaches and nectarines are making space for juicy figs and plump persimmons. Soon
pomegranates will abound. Farmers harvest the fruits of their labor and weigh in their
crops. 

Each growing season starts with intention. Farmers set out to grow produce of quality
and quantity. The end of the summer's growing season ushers in a new harvest
and initiates the weighing in of our lives journey. Harvest is the process of gathering
mature crops from the fields. This abundant time of year marks the focus of seasonal
celebrations of many religions and cultures around the world. 

Farmers hope that their produce will be enough to sustain them the winter; as now
growth has slowed down or stopped all together. Will the food grown be sufficient for
our needs? It is natural to reflect and assess how we can improve the growing and
harvest processes in future years. 

Jewish tradition teaches that the Earth's cycles manifest deeply in the human psyche
and are mirrored in our life experience. Just as the farmers weigh in produce and hope
that their crops exceed expectation, so too, we reap what we sow during this season.
Elul and the High Holy Days are the time of harvesting the fruits of our work. It is a
time to weigh in and measure what our life has yielded. We ask: Are our intentions
drawing us closer to what we truly value? Are we experiencing the depths of life and
love? Or is our current situation untenable? Do life and love appear blocked? Do we
need to modify our intentions to draw us closer into peace, joy, productivity?

Death and Rebirth also arise as themes during the harvest season and the period of the
High Holy Days. We will chant the awesome and familiar words 'Who will live and who
will die?' 

These powerful words call us to reflect on our own practices and habits;
to examine our lives and ask which habits are useful and nourishing in contrast to those habits which
have become a blockage to joy and love and are perhaps destructive. Let us extend
this question to consider, “what” aspects will live and “what” will we choose to let die.
Some habits are best to be allowed to die - to be released. 

The good news is that this release creates a vital space. For those of us with very full
lives, making space can provide a big relief. New dreams, habits and practices can then
take root. Now, during these High Holidays we have a potent opportunity to co-create
our world for the upcoming year.

Blessings for a nourishing Elul and a year of good health, abundance, clarity, healing, community, generosity,
compassion, understanding, wisdom and inspiration.


Infinite Blessings,

Rabbi T'mimah Ickovits

www.KabbalahTmimah.org

2011 Tammuz

Last Shabbat we greeted Rosh Hodesh; the New Moon of Tammuz.   Cancer – the crab.  

The movement is towards chaos and disarray.  The energy is subtly shifting already.

Last week’s Torah portion, Hukat, told of the death of Miriam, and the resulting lack of water.  The people got angry. The Holy Blessed One instructed Moshe to speak to the rock and draw water out of it.  Instead he hit the rock. Water came forth and the people drank.  Moshe was denied access to the land as a result of this action after leading the people for 40 years.  This seems harsh. This subjugation of nature was not tolerated. 

This Shabbes we will read Balak; the portion about a King who feels threatened and wishes to curse the Nation of Yisrael. He hires a Bilaam. a sorcerer to invoke a curse. The intention to cause damage is clear. 

When it comes time to the so Bilaam cannot invoke it.  In the end the words of “Mah Tovu” are uttered – “How good are your tents, Ya-akov; the Mishkan; Dwelling place of Shekhinah” .  The curse, is not uttered.  Rather, he blessed the people. 

These portions mirror the non linear and unpredictable nature of this time of year.

Tammuz, as noted in the “Empowerment in the Solar Year” (see prior blog) chart posted earlier resonates like “midlife crisis”.  The Cancer crab can pinch. It calls for a questioning of values, direction, and lifestyle chosen.  It is an opportunity to examine conscious and unconscious patterns, the basic assumptions from which we operate and their validity in our lives today.  Often patterns remain longer than they are useful.

Early Judaism was based in the Temple and sacrifices.  The Temple was where people went to worship, to meet The Holy Presence.  On the 17th of Tammuz, Jerusalem was surrounded and on 9th of Av the Temple was destroyed (twice according to tradition). With the Temple gone, the people’s spiritual practice was destroyed. The first Rabbi’s gathered soon after and developed the second phase of Jewish practice based on the sacred times and the holy days.  The end of Temple based Judaism was a major shift in Jewish practice. 

The Reshimu; residue of these events color this time period.  We, like the first rabbis, are invited to consider assumptions and patterns that are ongoing.  Do they serve?  What should they be altered and how?

On a personal level, I meet Tammuz with trepidation.   In Tammuz; July 1997, I was diagnosed with breast cancer.  I recall the feeling of fear and uncertainty that came with the diagnosis.  I was afraid my life would end.  

The diagnosis revealed to me that there was something foundational was amiss with the way I was leading my life.  I had previously thought my lifestyle was healthy and life sustaining.   A deep knowing manifested in my soul that transformation was necessary for survival.  It caused me to reflect on my life choices and make significant changes.  Like the first rabbis who developed Jewish practice without the Temple, I had no idea how it might unfold. However, I was indeed fortunate, that the calendar cycle was ripe to support this kind of process at that time of the year.   Or because it happened then because of the opening.  We can not say for certain.

For me, this time of year marks the death of the secular corporate lifestyle that was consuming my life force.  It marks the birth of my commitment to tune into holiness always and continually refine this practice. 

Today, thankfully, I can confirm the diagnosis was a blessing. In disguise.  I am healthy, thank God.   The experience empowered me to turn my life around. I am grateful.

Every death is followed by a birth.  Every end marks a new beginning.  2000 years ago Temple-based Judaism was destroyed. Rabbinic Judaism was born.  "Cancer" is powerful time in the calendar.  Finding the lump in my breast and the subsequent diagnosis certainly gave me pause to reflect.

So we too, like the first rabbis, we ask ourselves, what is essential ?  What serves and what can be released? 
What are the unconscious patterns in our life that no longer serve?   Which new ones need be integrated into life? 

May gentle guidance arrive with sweetness this Summer and always. 

Empowerment through the Solar year, Holy days and the seasons

The solar year holds within it an complete birth and rebirth cycle.  This offers a reference for meeting the holy days. It is important because it offers a reference to holy time rooter directly from Earth’s seasons. It provides insights into the totality of year and hints at skillful means to deepen holy day experiences.

Weaved from the Torah of the Holy Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi, May he live, share his wisdom and enjoy life for a very long time,

Month	Astrological Sign	Hebrew Name	Practice	Related Holy Days	Life Cycle Step/Comment
Kislev	The Archer; Sagittarius	Keshet	1rst days of Hanukah	Christmas Winter Solstice	Conception – First Light within darkness.
Tevet	Capricorn	G’di	Last days of Hanukah	New Year (as it relates in time to Christmas)
Sh’vat	Aquarius; Water Bearer	D’li	Tu B’Sh’vat		First signs of development and growth.
Adar	Pisces; Fish	Dag	Purim	Mardi Gras, St Patrick’s day	Adolescence; Mischief, Masks, Indulging
Nissan	Aries; Lamb	Taleh	Passover	Easter, Spring Equinox	Coming into young; adulthood.  Aries; Lamb as it relates to the Pesah lamb offering
Iyar	Taurus; Bull		Counting the Omer; a process for spiritual deepening		Jewish Month of healing
Sivan	Gemini; Twins	Teumim	Shavuot – Receiving Torah		Empowerment; like marriage, confirming a degree
Tammuz	Cancer; Crab	Sartan	-  3 weeks - 17th of Tammuz – the 9th of AV - Tu B’Av; Full moon holiday. End of crisis; move to Tikkun; reparations. T’shuvah; re-turning  process starts  on this full moon	Summer Solstice	Mid-life crisis in the heat of Summer
Av	Leo; Lion	Ari
Elul	Virgo; Maiden	Betoola	Elul Prep for the High Holy Days		Repairing past errors; Tsuhvah; Return to Source.  Preparing to meet The Maker and be judged
Tishray	Libra; Scales	Moznaim	-Rosh Hashanah -Yom Kippur - Sukkot – Sh’mini Atzeret	Autumnal Equinox	Judgment, refinement
					Happy Grandparents giving goodies to grandbabies.
Heshvan	Scorpio	Akrav	The holiness of everyday.	Halloween	Void of holy days, place holder for future birthing of Moshiah consciousness; ie enlightenment for all.  May it happen soon!

Aleph Kallah; Or Chadash 2011

Last week I was at the Aleph Kallah in Redlands, CA.

It was a rich week, filled with joy. I estimate 600 people gathered together to learn, sing, pray and commune.  It was a nourishing 6 days in sacred company.  Each person; students, staff and teachers sparkled with their individual holy light and contributed to the unique sacredness of this time together. The joy was effusive, intentionality directed, and good will permeated the event.

There is great power in gathering with a group of like minded individuals with holy intention for duration of time.  It felt like a taste of the pleasure of Olam HaBah; the world to come.  

Being there gives me great hope about building a better tomorrow.

The Aleph Kallah is held every other year just after the peak of Summer Solstice.

Shavuot - Receiving Revelation for the 21rst Century

The space time continuum is pregnant with potential.  The Month of Sivan was initiated last week as the new moon became visible. 
Historical events leave an imprint on the cycles of time. When we honor the holy days we open portals to the past.  The holy residue of Kabbalah Torah; receiving Torah at Sinai moving closer and will come into full focus after sunset June 7 for the entire day as Shavuot is embraced and the wedding between The Holy Blessed one and Yisrael is consummated. More of this later. 
Shavuot celebrates receiving Divine Revelation.  Shavuot is a holyday that is associated with G’vurah, discipline.  Shavuot is very different than Pesah.
On Pesah Divine Grace is celebrated.  The Exodus, freedom from the MiTZRaYiM - the narrow place - was a Divine gift. It is a spiritual gift offered on the first day of Pesah; the full moon close to the Spring Equinox.  This grace does not depend upon merit. 
Merit creates a container to contain the Grace. 
Grace is like water.  The container is like a cup.  Without a cup, or container, water will dissipate.  Similarly with out merit to contain the revelation this Pesah revelation can not sustain and nourish.
This is not a punishment, rather a basic operating principle.   
After Pesah, a new gift will be available. In 50 days a sustainable revelation will come and the privilege to receive it must be earned.  
On Day 2 of Pesah, preparation to receive Torah begins. The Omer is counted.
Jewish tradition offers 49 psycho-spiritual lenses for personal discernment and reflection to use over the 49 days of preparation. This is an opportunity to delve inward and prepare to receive Torah.
This is a 49 level process of personal refinement. 
The vessel is refined and ready to receive Torah.
 The 50th level integrates all the other 49. 
It is Shavuot - the great receiving.  Matan Torah.
Every year we gather the eve of Shavuot to hear the new revelation.
 I can't wait to learn what is received this year.

Iyar - Hebrew Month for Healing

This is Iyar – the Hebrew month designated for healing. 
It brings me great joy to meet this month each year.  

Why?  

In Iyar, the manna first fell from the heavens to Earth to feed the Children of Yisrael in the desert.  

Rebbe Elimelekh from Dinov points out that this month is designated for emptying the stomach from mold and compromised gall*.  He goes on to point out that most illness is a result of eating food not appropriate for the "human condition".

In Iyar, manna first descended from the heavens.  Manna was Divine Food - always fresh. Manna was absorbed into the body in its totality (Yomah 75).  It nourished completely.  Eating manna initiated a noticeable shift in the health of the Children of Yisrael, since it caused neither weakness nor disease like the foods they were eating before did. 

Iyar, the month following Pesah, is an opportunity to reflect on eating habits. Pesah demands paying attention to what is eaten.  Food is fuel for life.  From the perspective of the annual cycle,  Iyar also serves as a reminder to reflect on eating practices while moving from Winter to Summer.  

The food we eat, significantly impacts health and longevity.  We have a great deal of control of what we eat.  

Since past events serve to imprint the calendar with repeating potencies, the month of Iyar is an invitation to improve health by refining eating habits.  In this way we can bring the blessing of manna into our lives today.

* Bnay Yisaskhar Iyar Ma-amar 1 The Dinover Rebbe ~1850

Inspiration from Pesah 2011

Pesah practice offers fewer choices than the rest of the year. Leavened grains are not permitted, and this being true, the eating of all grains is looked at differently.

The Pesah diet offers a subtle twist towards Tzim Tzum contracting as the days are getting shorter and warmer, and fruit is starting to blossom into the abundance of summer.

It is interesting to feel the changes that result in the body, which come about as a natural consequence of this eating practice. Torah teaches, v'achalta, v'savata, u’varakhta; you shall eat, and be content, and then invoke blessing. (Deut 8:10).

The industrial revolution brought with it blessings and curses. Technology offers high volume production. Abundant inexpensive processed came about as a result. More is better. The challenge is that the the quality of nourishment can be diminished, unless great care is taken to maintain it.

For example, refined sugar is a significant source of dis-ease in our society. It is a poison, since it is depleted of any life force, vitamins and minerals*.

Essentially, sugar masks the body’s sense of contentment -- that is, the feeling of being full and nourished. I clearly remember the sense of confusion I would get when I ate sugar. I had just eaten, yet was definitely hungry only 30 minutes later. I am being guided to remove sugar from my diet.

As a result, I can now tell when my body needs fuel. It is key to maintaining the body’s sense of orientation to healthful nourishment. On the occasion that I eat sugar, I can feel my sense of contentment become altered. This masking takes away our freedom of choice – since the basis has been altered.

Have you ever seen a sugar refining plant?

I got a tour inside one by watching “Dirty Jobs" on the Discovery Channel. They showed an enormous factory, many stories high, with huge vats and mechanized conveyor belts that moved the sugar from process to process. Hard edges, many gears. It was hot in there. Steam emanated from the vats and furnaces. Temperatures upward of 120 degrees F. Sweat streaming down the masked faces of those who dared enter. It looked unforgiving – like it would crush anything that got in its way.

The job being considered was severe -- people wearing what looked like space suits were lowered via harness on a crane to clean the red-hot blades that moved the sugar past the heating element. The blades glowed red hot, like mechanical charcoal. If left untended, the sugar would stick to the moving blades, become layered, and clog up the heating element. It looked like the person was being dropped into the bowels of hell.

A toxic assembly line for a toxic substance: refined sugar. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, as it were.

Pesah is a time when we are invited to limit our food intake -- that is, to consciously limit our eating habits. It affords an opportunity to alter our personal eating habits as we re-integrate foods into our diets.

Of course, this is contrary to the way many people celebrate Pesah. Past culture has trained many that more is better. That “more” honors the holy day better. This overindulgence is a remnant, an anachronism, from a time when people did not have sufficient food to eat. It is hard, even counter-intuitive, for many to consider Pesah as a call for minimizing consumption.

The world is different today than when our parents grew up. We have learned that “less” can be “more”. A practice of consuming what is needed for nourishment supports health personally in the short term. Having said this, it is can be very challenging to shift into a mindset where "less is more". I feel differently after eating Pesah food for 8 days -- lighter, more spacious, as it were This feels good as the days continue to get shorter and we get ready for summertime. We need less food when the climate is warmer. I will try to use this to help modulate my weight this Summer.

This break from ordinary eating opens a door to the possibility of change. This is deep wisdom from our ancestors.

Consider this - if you kept Passover Kashrut, you have already done the “heavy lifting” of committing to a change.

If you did not, you can ride on the energy of the season and those who have.

After Pesah, we re-introduce foods into our diets. We can do this selectively.

What will you change this year?

Thanks to (very soon to be) Rabbi Jordan Gerson for his inspiring shiur at Mishkon Tephilo in Venice, CA on the eighth day of Pesah 2011. It inspired this post.

* Refined sugar has been called a poison because it has been depleted of its life forces, vitamins and minerals. http://www.globalhealingcenter.com/refined-sugar-the-sweetest-poison-of-all.html