Ketzirah

Planting, Seders and Psalms: Practices for Shevat

‍‍28 Teves 5772 - January 23, 2012 By Ketzirah Leave a Comment

Tree of Life Concept by Ketzirah

When most people think of Shevat, they think of Tu b’Shevat, the “new year” of the trees. Tu b’Shevat is one of the four new years in the Jewish religion. What began thousands of years ago as a tax day on fruit trees, has grown into the Jewish arbor day and/or a spiritual opportunity to explore new growth and our connection to the environment. Like so many of our holidays there are so many layers, so Tu b’Shevat can offer an amazing array of in-roads to exploring Jewish practice.

Tree Planting
It’s no wonder that Jews love Tu b’Shevat, after all we call the Torah the “tree of life.” In ancient Israel we even planted trees when children were born to commemorate their birth and then these trees were used as the chuppah poles at their weddings. That’s just one of many amazing tree-based traditions in Judaism! If you want to plant a tree for Tu b’Shevat, there are lots of organizations that you can donate to that will help you with that, since it’s a lousy time of year to actually plant trees in most parts of the world. If this is what you are looking for, then check out Casey Trees and Jewish National Fund. I’m sure there are tons of other great organizations, and I hope you’ll share your favorite in the comments.

Seders
By now most people have heard of a Tu b’Shevat seder, even if they’ve never been to one. So where do you start? Thankfully, there are many free, and really good, Tu b’Shevat seders available online. Here are few of my favorites to explore:

If you are a more DIY kind of person, check out this Tu B’Shevat Seder Outline, from Kolel. It gives you a bit of a mix and match set up that allows you to easily create your own Tu B’Shevat seder.

Editors Note: we will also be having a Tu B’Shevat class on Monday, February 6th at 7PM EST at OneShul.org as well as an online Tu B’Shevat seder on Tuesday at 7PM EST.

Psalms
I learned about the tradition of reciting the fifteen “Psalms of Ascent” (120-134) during the first fifteen days of Shevat from my teacher, RK’Jill Hammer. She has taken this practice further by associating a specific type of tree with each psalm. Since the psalms have become a big part of my daily spiritual practices right now, I’m very excited to explore this concept this year.

You could even create prayer trees by writing or printing out pieces of the psalms of ascent and tying them to trees in your yard. Imagine if you write the psalms on pieces of ribbon or fabric, how pretty the tree would look! You could leave the fabric up just during Shevat, or if you use unbleached cotton or muslin, you could even just leave it to disintegrate naturally over time.

Final thought…

Whatever you do, take some time to appreciate Judaism’s long and complicated history with trees. You might even want to take time to reflect on your own relationship with trees and nature. No matter where you live, take some time to appreciate these amazing partners in life. Without trees, we couldn’t breath, have paper, firewood, and a million other things!

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Ketzirah is a Kohenet, Celebrant, and Artist. She works with individuals and groups to explore, discover, and create meaningful rituals and ritual artwork to mark moments in life.

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Filed Under: Featured, Holidays, Jewish Practice, Ketzirah, Tu B'Shevat Tagged With: calendar, family, haggadah, jewish practice, nature, prayer, psalms, rosh chodesh, seasons, Seder, shevat, trees, tu b'shevat, winter

Bibliomancy: Seeing Clearly in Tevet?

‍‍6 Teves 5772 - January 1, 2012 By Ketzirah Leave a Comment

Here’s a little bit of deep spiritual practice, disguised as light fun, for Tevet. This month of Tevet, which began at sundown on December 26th, 2011 and ends at sundown on January 24, 2012, is associated with the concept of seeing. The letter associated with the month, according to Inner.org, is the Ayin (ע) — the eye. Over at PeelaPom.com I used this concept to explore the lighting of candles as a practice for the month. Then I had a flash of inspiration or insanity right before Rosh Chodesh services at OneShul.org — a little divination for the month of seeing!

Now, before you panic, yes — many kinds of divination are … frowned upon in Jewish tradition. Of course, if it’s the BESHT doing it — it doesn’t count. But I’m not the BESHT. Several sources, including the Encyclopedia of Jewish Myth, Magic, and Supersitiion, call the Jewish tradition of bibliomancy “Sheilat Sefer” (שאלת ספר). Sheilat Sefer simply means, “Question a Book.” This makes sense since dream interpretation is often called Sheilat Halom – Question a Dream (שאלת חלום).

Techniques like Sheilat Sefer allow us to tap into our deep intuition, and open ourselves to the wisdom of the Divine. They allow us to move beyond our rational minds to finds ideas, answers, or inspiration. Technically you could use any book for this practice, but traditionally it’s done with either a Chumash (The Five Books of Moses) or The Book of Psalms. But there’s a host of other amazing Jewish (and not Jewish) texts that can provide a powerful experience. Personally, as the folks at OneShul found out, I like to use the Encyclopedia of Jewish Symbols by Ellen Frankel. I think the Perek Shirah, the Song of Nature, is another fabulous Jewish text to use for this practice

Curious? Want to give Sheilat Sefer a try? It’s pretty easy. Just grab a book, and flip randomly to a page. Then either without looking put your finger on something and read, or use whatever your eyes first fall upon. Don’t cheat — that’s really not the way to go. Just read and see what thoughts, feelings, or images the words bring up for you. This all works a bit better if you clear your mind, maybe state your Kavanah (intention) or question, and even give a little prayer to center yourself. Be sure to also give a prayer of thanks for the wisdom received — even if you don’t feel like you got much!

Want to learn more? Check out these articles

Jewish Encyclopedia article on Bibliomancy
ZEEK: Priestesses, Bibliomancy, and The Anointing of Miriam by R’Jill Hammer
Peeling a Pomegrante Bookstore – lots of books on and for bibliomancy

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Ketzirah is a Kohenet, Celebrant, and Artist. She works with individuals and groups to explore, discover, and create meaningful rituals and ritual artwork to mark moments in life.

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Filed Under: Featured, Insights, Jewish Practice, Ketzirah, Rosh Chodesh Guide Tagged With: Bibliomancy, divination, Folk Religion, Jewish, Judaism, ketzirah, kohenet, magic, mysticism, peelapom, Sheilat Sefer, Spiritual Practices, tevet, zeek

Hanukkah: Festival of Lights

‍‍17 Kislev 5772 - December 13, 2011 By Ketzirah 1 Comment

Ketzirah in the Fairy Lights (c 2000)

So I’m sitting here listening to Matisyahu rock it on the Miracle remix EP and thinking about Hanukkah. I’ve been having this nearly heretical thought lately. I know, not shocking for me — but go with it.

Hanukkah is the festival of lights – right?

The solstice aspect and the reviving of the light is even older than the Maccabee aspect, if you think about it. There’s certainly ancient midrash about Adam at the solstice and such. The central ritual activity is lighting the 9-branch menorah called a Hanukkiah. Just about everything else we added on over the centuries, which is just fine.

But let’s go back to that light thing again. It’s the festival of lights….

Okay, so here’s what I’m thinking about. All those super pretty lights, preferably the white ones – not the tacky color ones, that our Christian neighbors put up this time of year. Yeah…we have the festival of lights, but they put up the lights? I know it could be seen as the height of assimilation, but what if we adopted white lights on our homes too. It seems like the urge to put all those lights and candles up all springs from a deep mythic place where we are all afraid of the dark. Where we’re all afraid that the sun really won’t come back and it will just keep getting darker and darker.

I know when I walk home during the winter I’m so grateful for all those lights. They push back the darkness. The remind me, even the tacky ones, that I have neighbors and I’m not alone in the world. Someone must be there to make those lights happen right?

Trust me, I’m not for the Christmas-ization of Hanukkah. I had a “Hanukkah Bush” when I was a kid. It makes me a bit ill in retrospect. There’s just no way that tacky white plastic tree had anything to do with the Jewish wheel of the year. But lights I think we have a pretty valid claim on. I know traditional Judaism likes to put as many walls between us and breaking mitzvot as they can, but would some pretty white lights be so wrong during these dark days?

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Carly Lesser (a.k.a. Ketzirah – קצירה) is Kohenet, Celebrant and artist whose passion is helping Jews who are unaffiliated, earth-based or in interfaith / inter-denominational relationships connect more deeply with Judaism and make it relevant in their every day lives. She is an active blogger and prayer leader on OneShul.org andPeelaPom.com.

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Filed Under: Chanukah, Featured, Holidays, Jewish Practice, Ketzirah, Reject Assimilation! Tagged With: assimilation, chanukkah, hanukkah, Holidays, ketzirah, lights, traditions

Hanukkiah: Symbol of Kislev

‍‍6 Kislev 5772 - December 2, 2011 By punktorah Leave a Comment

In thinking about Kislev, I went right to the dreidel and the Hanukkiah. I decided that if I had to pick one, it’s the Hanukkiah (but I may explore the other dreidels later in the month!) The Hanukkiah is the nine-branched menorah that we light on Hanukkah. Even though we generally just call it a menorah, not all menorahs are for Hanukkah! The menorah, which is an ancient symbol of the Jewish people is actually seven branched.

If the menorah is considered “the most central role of all the sacred vessels, for it is the symbol of light,” and a symbol of spiritual illumination — then it’s safe to assume that this is also the role the Hanukkiah plays. Hanukkah is a strange holiday because it’s not only post-biblical, but also two holidays smooshed together. I guess we have a lot of holidays that are two smooshed together, though. Most commonly Hanukkah is the holiday that celebrates the victory of the Maccabbees over the Greeks, and the “miracle of the oil.” It’s also a Winter Solstice (Tekufat Tevet) holiday, that acknowledges the darkness of the year and returning of the light. That’s actually found in ancient midrash, it’s not just some modern “new agey” thing. It’s even one of the stories I included in the Hanukkah Haggadah!

The lighting of the Hanukkah menorah offers wonderful opportunities for spiritual refreshment and renewal. This year, toss away the annual debates over whether or not Hanukkah is important or just a reaction to Christmas. Don’t worry about the ethics of celebrating the victory in a war (and that the Maccabees were total zealots, who probably would have killed many of us too…). Embrace our own holiday of lights at its root level — light.

What do you want to light up? What areas of your life, your heart, your soul need light? Dedicate your entire Hanukkiah to bringing light into an area in your life. Let each candle represent a step along the way, and watch the light grow over the eight days! Take this time to rededicate yourself — to whatever you need to rededicate yourself. Bring back the light in your own life, and rejoice in our very special holiday of lights!

Ketzirah is a Kohenet, Celebrant, and Artist. Her mission is to help others experience the best life possible by connecting with the Divine presence, physical resources, creative expression, and communal ritual experience.

Originally posted here: Hanukkiah: Symbol of Kislev | Peeling a Pomegranate http://www.peelapom.com/wheel-of-the-year/chanukah/hanukkiah-symbol-of-kislev/#ixzz1fPdj3kkP

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Filed Under: Chanukah, Featured, Featured Blogs, Ketzirah, Rosh Chodesh Guide Tagged With: hanukkah, ketzirah, kislev, kohenet, rosh chodesh

Cheshvan: A month to explore something new

‍‍2 Cheshvan 5772 - October 30, 2011 By Ketzirah 1 Comment

Photo: Calm Sea by Hans Kylberg, used by CC-A permission

Cheshvan is a month with no holidays, which makes it “Mar Cheshvan,” or bitter Cheshvan to some (there’s also the reading of the Flood — but we’ll save that for another time). For me, I think it’s a great time to breath and take stock after the whirlwind of high holiday season. In Cheshvan we’ve finished with Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Simchat Torah and all the days in between!

In thinking about how to best use the “time off” in Cheshvan, I thought it seemed like the perfect month to explore one of the myriad of Jewish practices that we haven’t adopted into our lives. If you’re Orthodox, there’s even room for you to explore some of the more modern adaptations of traditional practices. For the rest of us, I’m guessing there’s plenty of practices we’ve heard about, thought about, and maybe even studied — but really haven’t tried out for ourselves.

To act as a guide to these practices and where to even begin, I highly recommend The Rituals & Practices of a Jewish Life: A Handbook for Personal Spiritual Renewal. I first read this book a couple of years back and decided to read it again a few weeks ago. I find it to be a very good guide to Jewish practice, and especially for how to even get started with many of these practices that can seem like a life commitment or nothing.

If even this seems overwhelming, then pick one of these two:

Weekly Shabbat
Daily Prayer

Both of those are really a cornerstone to Jewish spiritual life. I also put them in this order for a reason. I really believe that a weekly Shabbat practice is the true gateway to enhancing Jewish spiritual life. Don’t make it complicated. Don’t put barriers in your way. Just make it happen. Find a bakery to buy your challah — that’s the biggest challenge. Then every week get to that bakery and buy your challah. Then when you get home — whenever that is. Set up your candles, kiddush cup, and challah — and say the prayers. If you already do that, then consider adding additional blessings or Torah study. If you can do it for a month consistently, you’ll be amazed at how it can change your worldview.

Daily prayer is a second place to start. Thanks to Jewish prayer being three times a day, you have several choices. You can start by waking up with a single prayer from the Shacarit, or morning prayers. Pick just one to start, and consider the prayer for gratitude — Modah Ani/Modeh Ani. If you’re comfy in Hebrew, rock it! If you aren’t, then pray in English. What matters is committing to the act and seeing it through. I’d also recommend adding the Sh’ma in, because it’s the cornerstone of Jewish prayer.

If mornings aren’t your thing, then try Mincha (afternoon) or Maariv (evening) prayers. For Mincha, pick out a prayer from the prayerbook — or just take a moment and say the Sh’ma. For Maariv, again — you can just say the Sh’ma, but there’s also a host of other great bedtime prayers to choose from, or you could go crazy and do the whole thing! Needless to say, Ahava Rabbah: The OneShul Community Siddur 5772 has plenty of great options to help you along.

Whatever you do, use this break we find in Cheshvan to explore a new practice, and then tell us about your experience!

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Links to Amazon.com are affiliate links and purchases provide a few pennies to Ketzirah. For any purchases made directly from links on PunkTorah posts, Ketzirah will make a $1 donation back to PunkTorah.

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Carly Lesser (a.k.a. Ketzirah – קצירה) is Kohenet, Celebrant and Artist whose passion is helping Jews who are unaffiliated, earth-based or in interfaith / inter-denominational relationships connect more deeply with Judaism and make it relevant in their every day lives. She is an active blogger and prayer leader on OneShul.org andPeelaPom.com.

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Filed Under: Featured, Jewish Practice, Judaism, Ketzirah Tagged With: Cheshvan, daily prayer, jewish calendar, jewish practice, Judaism, kohenet, shabbat, wheel of the year

The Shofar: Symbol of Tishrei, Symbol of Judaism

‍‍19 Elul 5771 - September 18, 2011 By Ketzirah Leave a Comment

Tishrei 5772 begins at Sundown on Wednesday, September 28, 2011

The shofar is not only a symbol we all associate with Tishrei, but it’s also a symbol of Judaism. Many of us only think about the shofar at the High Holy days, but in ancient times it was used regularly in religious rites.

Blow the shofar at the new moon, at the full moon for our feast-day. (Psalm 81:3)

In Psalms, we see the order to blow the shofar at both the new moon, Rosh Chodesh, and the full moon feast days. Historically the shofar would have been used to call us to prayer and attention for a myriad of reasons and events. The shofar was also the sound of G-d/dess’ voice we hear at Sinai. Is it any wonder that this ancient relic is one we still treasure today? When considering the shofar, also remember that it is a sign of our history as a nation of shepherds. I’m exploring purchasing my first shofar, and finding that I not only want one that is beautiful and playable — but also that I know comes from an animal that is not just kosher, but was also raised with respect and given a good life. I also want it to be local. Why should I import a shofar from a foreign country, when there are so many sheep right here? I would like to learn to play the shofar, but I also want to incorporate it into my fall altar, or spiritual focal point if you prefer. If you are unfamiliar with the idea of having a Jewish personal altar, here’s a post about the practice.

This Tishrei, consider the Shofar as more than something you just hear at synagogue. Explore the history, symbolism, elemental aspects, and potential spiritual uses. Like Torah, the shofar can be understood on four (and probably more levels). Consider the shofar at it’s literal level, the alluded to meanings, the “drash” or hidden story, and the mystical meaning.Here are some great resources for exploring the Shofar:

Hearing Shofar - Michael Chusid’s compendium of the Shofar, which is his core spiritual practice.
PeelaPom: Explore the shofar in relation to the elements
Telshemesh: The Ram, The Goat, and the Shofar

Share your shofar story!

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(x-posted from www.peelapom.com)

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Filed Under: Holidays, Jewish Practice, Ketzirah, Rosh Chodesh Guide Tagged With: judaica, Judaism, material world, objects, rosh hashanah, shofar, tishrei

Psalm 27: A Daily Practice in Elul

‍‍14 Elul 5771 - September 13, 2011 By Ketzirah 1 Comment

It’s a traditional practice to read Psalm 27 each day during the month of Elul. Once that may have meant reading the same words the same way as every other Jew. Now, we have a plethora of translations and interpretations to choose from along with the original Hebrew. To really bring this practice to life, try using four different translations/interpretations and speak the words aloud each day. Each week use a different one, and record your thoughts and feelings each day to see how your response changes to each daily, and over the course of the month. Even if Shacharit (morning prayers) aren’t currently part of your spiritual practice, give this a try for the month.

Questions to think about:

Mouth: How does it feel to say the words differently? What phrases, if any, did you trip over? What phrases did you relish more? Which did you enjoy speaking and which didn’t you?
Mind: What thoughts does the translation trigger? Did any points cause your inner censor to try and stop you? Did any points cause your inner voice to cry out with joy?
Spirit / Heart: How did the translation make you feel? Did you experience any unexpected emotions while reading it?
Body: Did you notice any physical physical responses? Did you feel heavier or lighter in your heart? Did your shoulders or neck tense or release? Did you find a desire to move with the words? If so, what movements were you inspired to do?

For a listing of different versions of Psalm 27, see the posting on Ketzirah’s website, www.peelapom.com.

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Carly Lesser (a.k.a. Ketzirah – קצירה

) is Kohenet, Celebrant and Artist whose passion is helping Jews who are unaffiliated, earth-based or in interfaith / inter-denominational relationships connect more deeply with Judaism and make it relevant in their every day lives. She is an active blogger and prayer leader on OneShul.org and PeelaPom.com.

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Filed Under: Holidays, Ketzirah, Rosh Chodesh Guide Tagged With: daily practice, elul, jewish practice, Judaism, psalm 27, psalms

Elul: Lesson of Gad

‍‍22 Av 5771 - August 22, 2011 By Ketzirah 1 Comment

Elul begins at sundown August 30th, 2011 and ends sundown on September 29th, 2011.
Be sure to join us online at OneShul.org for Rosh Chodesh Services, at 7:30pm on August 30th, 2011.

Gad (גָּד), the patriarch and tribe associated with the month of Elul (אֱלוּל), is the seventh son of Jacob. Seven is a lucky number in many cultures, Judaism included, and not only is he the seventh son, but he also fathers seven sons. He is of the line of Leah, through Zilpah. Gad’s name means “good fortune,” and in Genesis 30:11 it says that “Leah said: ‘Fortune is come!’ And she called his name Gad.”

[Read more...]

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Filed Under: Featured, Featured Blogs, Judaism, Ketzirah, Rosh Chodesh Guide Tagged With: Judaism, ketzirah, rosh chodesh, tribes, twelve tribes, wheel of the year

Tammuz: Lesson of Reuben

‍‍10 Tamuz 5771 - July 12, 2011 By punktorah Leave a Comment

Tammuz began at sundown on July 2, 2011 and ends sundown on July 31, 2011.

Reuben (רְאוּבֵן) is the first born of Jacob and Leah is the tribe associated with the month of Tammuz (תָּמוּז). His name, Reuben is directly related to the sense of sight, which is considered to be the sense of the month of Tammuz. When Reuben was born, Leah exclaimed, “Because the LORD hath looked (רָאָה) upon my affliction; for now my husband will love me.” (Gen 29:32)

Reuben has three very stand-out memorable moments in the Torah. Possibly more, but three that jump right to mind for me. First, is the the scene with mandrakes in Gen 30 where Rachel begs Leah to give her the mandrakes (דוּדָאִים) Reuben has harvested, with this Leah “buys” another night with Jacob and conceives Issachar. The second is Reuben’s role in the story of Joseph, where in Genesis 37 he suggests the brothers shouldn’t kill Joseph — just throw him into a pit and say he died. Finally, Rebuen seems to have had an affair with Bilhah, one of his father’s wives. Needless to say this doesn’t go over so well with Jacob.

The question of Reuben is “what do you see.” When you look, do you see? I think Reuben, who was the oldest, but is not then or historically the leader of the tribes had a failure of vision. It got me thinking about the concept of “perceptual blindness.” I had just heard a story about a police officer who ran right past someone being beaten and claimed he didn’t see it.

When you look, do you truly see? Do you understand what biases you have that filter your perceptions? Do you know what’s distracting you and causing you to miss things you don’t realize? So many of our relationships are based on what we perceive, so when we miss subtle — or unsubtle — clues to what is really happening our relationships can change and it seems shocking. I think this is really the story of Reuben returning to the pit and finding Joseph gone (Gen 37:20-30). He only saw what he wanted to when he suggested, “let’s throw him in the pit.”

As the summer heats up, be sure you don’t let the heat cloud your vision.

The Rosh Chodesh calendar is a project of Ketzirah at PeelAPom.

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Sivan: Lesson of Zevulon

‍‍20 Iyar 5771 - May 24, 2011 By punktorah Leave a Comment

Zevulon (זְבוּלֻן), also pronounced Zebulon, is the sixth son of Jacob and Leah. His name comes from the word “zeved” (זֵבֶד), which means dowry or gift. Leah saw him as G!d(dess) endowing her with a good dowry with her six sons (Gen 30:20). His standard, based on the blessing Jacob bestowed upon him in Genesis 49:13, generally contains a ship as Zebulon was considered a sea-faring tribe.

As we know from the lesson in the month of Iyyar, Zevulon is cosmically intertwined with his brother-tribe of Issachar. Zevulon is the merchant that supports the scholarship of Issachar. Zevulon is a tribe of movement and travel, which explains the “sense” of the month being, “walking.” According to Inner.org, this refers “not only to physical walking but to the spiritual sense of progress or development.” It’s also clear how both the mazal, or astrological sign, and tarot card relate to Zevulon. The mazal is Gemini, also known as the twins, and the tarot card is “The Lovers.” Both of these relay the idea of partnership, interdependence, and important relationships.

Humans are not, generally, solitary creatures — and Judaism is not a solitary spiritual path. It’s a tribal religion. We rely on each other, we pray together, we rejoice together, and we care for each other’s dead. Zevulon is the merchant who sails the world and brings back experiences to share with Issachar and the rest of the tribe. But, while Zevulon’s core role is a merchant — it doesn’t release him (or us) from the responsibility of learning Torah engaging with Judaism.

The lessons I find in Zevulon are that no matter where you go, or what you do in life, Judaism and Jewish spiritual practice should be at your center. We all engage with this in different ways. We all find different aspects that move our souls. At Sinai, at Shavuot, the Torah tells us that G!d(dess) spoke to each of us separately and we all heard different words — but together. The job for us all is to find those things that do connect us to the tribe, and remember that there are others to whom we can turn to help us find our way.

Originally posted on PeelaPom by Ketzirah.

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Filed Under: Featured, Ketzirah, News, Rosh Chodesh Guide Tagged With: ketzirah, peelapom, sivan, zevulon

Planting, Seders and Psalms: Practices for Shevat

Bibliomancy: Seeing Clearly in Tevet?

Hanukkah: Festival of Lights

Hanukkiah: Symbol of Kislev

Cheshvan: A month to explore something new

The Shofar: Symbol of Tishrei, Symbol of Judaism

Psalm 27: A Daily Practice in Elul

Elul: Lesson of Gad

Tammuz: Lesson of Reuben

Sivan: Lesson of Zevulon

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