Rabbi Alyjah's Blog

Rabbi Blog for Hanukkah, 2011

2011-12-24T00:24:00.000-08:00

In my Rabbi Blog for Hanukkah, 2011, I offer reflective insights about Gratitude and Purpose in Life.

Hanukkah is about Dedication. Each of us is a gift of the Infinite: what We do with the present that the Divine has made to the world of each of Us tells the Infinite about our Understanding of Gratitude. Dedication is a subtle combination of passion, commitment and Kavvanah (Intent). During this Hanukkah Festival of Lights we have the opportunity to honor the One who gave us life by meditating on our purpose in this creation, in our society, among our friends and family. After we have reflected on the Light Within, We can in Return offer a Gift to the Infinite by bringing forth the Inner Light to shine out brightly in our world through 3 Holy Acts: studying Torah, engaging in prayer on behalf of others, and fulfilling Tikkun Olam (restoration and transformation of the universe) with deeds of loving kindness. By so doing we Dedicate and Re-dedicate ourselves to gratitude for our maker and we humbly acknowledge the preciousness of the gift of our creation.

We all learn from each other, so by answering the following questions we provide each other with a wellspring of life experience that we can draw support from during the process of making our own responsible choices and carrying out our own responsible actions. Help encourage and enlighten others by sharing a story, an anecdote or any bissel of Wisdom, Understanding and Knowledge from your own life journey…..

Questions for Delving: Can you name some tools, qualities, resources, techniques to help friends and community members to renew their faith and share spiritual inspiration in challenging circumstances that you/they face or situations that you/they encounter? What do you have Gratitude for? What is your Purpose in Life?

For Rabbinic Wisdom offerings online:

http://www.facebook.com/Kabbalah.Rabbi

http://www.kabbalahcommunity.org/Rabbi

באור אין סוף .... אליה

In the Light of the Infinite,

Rabbi Alyjah Navy

Rabbi Blog.... Winter .... 2012

2011-11-04T18:43:00.000-07:00

In my Rabbi Blog for Winter, 2012, I offer reflective insights about Marriage.

Marriage, of course, has the potential to be a loving, sacred union, depending on the Kavanah (Spiritual Intent) and Minhag (Customary Practice) of the partners. In Hebrew, the word for marriage is Kiddushin, denoting the holiness involved in this binding of souls.

What makes marriage a crime? Should the gender of the partners make it a crime or invalidate the use of the legal term? Are the age, actions and number of partners considered in criminal judgement? Polygamy and adultery have each been considered crimes: which would you say is the worse of the two? Many folks would not be nearly as shocked about hearing that someone they know has committed adultery as they would be to find that an acquaintance is a polygamist.... And why is it somehow more kosher to cheat on your spouse than to openly claim marriage with several spouses? What makes having multiple affairs less threatening than having multiple wives or husbands?

Understandably, legal, fiduciary, contractual relationships begin and end with regularity in our society; however, it is clearly troubling when half of all marriages end in divorce. Perhaps the moral and spiritual commitments that constitute marriage should be considered more carefully before partners may receive a "Marriage License." Perhaps such a license should only be granted after many anniversaries of a faithful covenant between partners.... I believe that the institution of marriage in the United States, and perhaps beyond, is undergoing a significant reevaluation by many seeking union and partnership. I hope that the evolution of marriage will be a blessing for all those looking to sanctify their love.

We all learn from each other, so by answering the following question we provide each other with a wellspring of life experience that we can draw support from during the process of making our own responsible choices and carrying out our own responsible actions. Help encourage and enlighten others by sharing a story, an anecdote or any bissel of Wisdom, Understanding and Knowledge from your own life journey…..

Question for Delving: Can you name some tools, qualities, resources, techniques to help friends and community members to renew their faith and share spiritual inspiration in challenging circumstances that you/they face or situations that you/they encounter?

For Rabbinic Wisdom offerings online:

http://www.facebook.com/Kabbalah.Rabbi

http://www.kabbalahcommunity.org/Rabbi

באור אין סוף .... אליה

In the Light of the Infinite,

Rabbi Alyjah Navy

Rabbi Blog .... Summer .... 2011

2011-08-25T18:25:00.000-07:00

In my Rabbi Blog for Summer, 2011, I offer reflective insights about being an IsraELight and Keeping the Faith.

Each generation of Yisrael is a Living Temple of Ayn Sof .... the Infinite Light of the Universe. Each soul that wrestles with the Divine and renews the Covenant for the greater good is an IsraELight.... How did you Shine today?

After reflection upon and rememberance of the sadness of the destruction... of the Jewish Temples in Jerusalem on the 9th of Av, we can receive hope and encouragement by remembering that the Jewish people (Kinesset Yisrael) constitute a living Temple that is reborn anew in every generation. From each generation to the next (Dor L'Dor) we keep the Eternal Light of Faith in the Infinite glowing brightly -- for inspiration from -- and rededication to -- the covenant that is Yisrael.

We all learn from each other, so by answering the following question we provide each other with a wellspring of life experience that we can draw support from during the process of making our own responsible choices and carrying out our own responsible actions. Help encourage and enlighten others by sharing a story, an anecdote or any bissel of Wisdom, Understanding and Knowledge from your own life journey…..

Question for Delving: Can you name some tools, qualities, resources, techniques to help friends and community members to renew their faith and share spiritual inspiration in challenging circumstances that you/they face or situations that you/they encounter?

For Free Kabbalah Wisdom offerings online:

http://www.facebook.com/Kabbalah.Rabbi

For Individual Kabbalah Study:

http://www.kabbalahcommunity.org/Rabbi

באור אין סוף .... אליה

In the Light of the Infinite,

Rabbi Alyjah Navy
Ayn Sof Kabbalah Community

Rabbi Blog .... Spring .... 2011

2011-05-23T23:18:00.000-07:00

In my Rabbi Blog for Spring, 2011, I offer lighthearted insights about the Creator, the Created and the Sefirah of כתר (Keter ~*~ Humility).

During our brief acquaintance, Seattle's Elliot Bay trail has graciously offered me a menagerie of spectacular visions; however, today was unique indeed. Whilst on my daily constitutional, I happened to gaze heavenward – as is my predilection – when at that very instant, a flock of Canadian Geese were soaring by, directly overhead in the exact shape of the letter A! With a smile on my punim, I pondered what message those majestic birds were trying to send? Surely, I was tempted to surmise that they were greeting me by the first letter of my name: Alyjah….

However, after doffing my cap of self importance and donning the Crown of Keter, I humbly Knew that these Kabbalists of the Air were attempting to spell out the name of our Creator – Ayn Sof – out of grateful Humility for having created them and for having given them the wondrous power of flight. Filled with great Joy, I went on my jolly way .... unable to resist the thought that if they had been Israeli Geese, they would have flown in the formation of an Aleph א J

We all learn from each other, so by answering the following question we provide each other with a wellspring of life experience that we can draw support from during the process of making our own responsible choices and carrying out our own responsible actions. Help encourage and enlighten others by sharing a story, an anecdote or any bissel of Wisdom, Understanding and Knowledge from your own life journey…..

Question for Delving: Can you name some tools, qualities, resources, techniques for achieving Humility in circumstances that you face or situations that you encounter in your life?

For Free Kabbalah Wisdom offerings online:

http://www.facebook.com/Kabbalah.Community

For Individual Kabbalah Study:

http://www.kabbalahcommunity.org/Contact

באור אין סוף .... אליה

In the Light of the Infinite,

Rabbi Alyjah Navy

Ayn Sof Kabbalah Community

Rabbi Blog .... Winter .... 2011

2011-01-12T00:59:00.000-08:00

In my Rabbi Blog for Winter, 2011, I offer insights about the harmonizing and balancing Sefirah of תפארת (Tiferet ~*~ Beauty)
that is at the heart of the mystical Tree of Life.

In a literal sense, Tiferet is about Divine Beauty within the celestial and terrestrial realms. What is Divine Beauty? Tiferet Beauty is a deep inner, spiritual balancing of powerful forces within our Soul and also within the Cosmos. Studying the Kabbalist Tree of Life, we learn that HaKadosh Baruchu (The Blessed Holy One) is an aspect of Divinity that shines forth through the sefirah of Tiferet to help us engage in centering and internal, spiritual balance. HaKadosh Baruchu is at the nexus of all things: under the auspices of HaKadosh Baruchu, we are enlightened with respect to the vital reconciliation and harmonizing of many forces such as Love and Power, Giving and Receiving, Spirituality and Materiality.

On an individual level, each of us will wrestle and struggle with the balancing of existential opposites, echoing the God~*~Wrestling of the Biblical Jacob/Israel. Although, we may be wounded and emerge from our struggles with a limp, we will hopefully achieve an enlightened harmony, sense of peace and equanimity with the Divine at the end of the Day.

Collectively, we have the responsibility to transform the broken, shattered, polluted and destructive aspects of our world through Tikkun Olam.

One of the essential objectives in the work of rectification (Tikkun Olam) is to practice heartfelt, Tiferet centered approaches toward conflict and disagreement by seeking the middle ground wherein opposites are equitably harmonized and helped to coexist peacefully. Reconciliation of opposing forces is a major goal and core principle of ascending the mystical Tree of Life on the way to Devekut (mystical Union with the Divine). When we are successful at achieving the goal of reconciliation in our earthly realm, we help reunite Shekhinah (Immanent Divinity) with HaKadosh Baruchu (Transcendent Divinity) and heal the rift between the material and spiritual Realms.

We all learn from each other, so by answering the following question we provide each other with a wellspring of life experience that we can draw support from during the process of making our own responsible choices and carrying out our own responsible actions. Help encourage and enlighten others by sharing a story, an anecdote or any bissel of Wisdom, Understanding and Knowledge from your own life journey…..

Question for Delving: Can you name some tools, qualities, resources, techniques for achieving Harmony in the face of adversity, confrontation and conflicts that you face or have encountered in your life?

For Free Kabbalah Wisdom offerings online:

http://www.facebook.com/Kabbalah.Community

For Individual Kabbalah Study:

http://www.kabbalahcommunity.org/Contact

באור אין סוף .... אליה

In the Light of the Infinite,
Rabbi Alyjah Navy
Ayn Sof Kabbalah Community

Rabbi Blog .... December .... 2010

2010-11-26T19:01:00.000-08:00

In my Rabbi Blog for December 2010, I offer recipients Chanukah insights from the Prophet Zechariah's Vision and the Kabbalah about the Festival of Lights and the Chanukah dedication of our Holy Sparks:

At the Dawn and at the Dusk of the 8 Days of Chanukah stands the Hebrew Letter Chet ( The 8th Letter of the Hebrew Alphabet). Chet speaks to us of a Dream ( Chalom). And so... My Holy Brother Zechariah Dreamed... and then The Angel awakened him Thus: "What do you See?" And My Holy Brother Zechariah answered Thus: "I See a Lamp Stand All Of Gold, with a Bowl above it. The Lamps on it are Seven in Number, and the Lamps above it have Seven Pipes; and by it are Two Olive Trees, one on the Right of the Bowl and one on its Left." Then My Holy Brother inquired of The Angel as to the Understanding of this most Holy Vision. "What do These Things mean, my lord?" And then The Angel revealed: "This is the Word of the Lord: Not By Might, Nor by Power, but by My Spirit...." Thus Saith the Lord of Hosts Then, And so Saith the Lord of Hosts Now. So, My Friends.... Let us Vanquish, the Tyrant of Hatred that spares no Faith, no Color, no Gender. Let us Liberate ourselves from the Delusion of the Sitra Achra that would deny us from Knowing Thus: The Light that rests within each of us, is the Light that rests within our Neighbor as Well, so Let us try to Love our Neighbor as Ourself. Jew or Gentile, Believer, or Non-Believer, Man or Woman, All Colors and Creeds. After the Carving and the Hewing of the Sword, must come Wisdom: This is the Beginning and the End of the Letter Chet: Wisdom (Chochmah). What is the Chet in Wisdom? Chai Olamim.... Life Of All Worlds: Ayn Sof ! My Friends, when we Gaze into the Light, Let us Vision, the Seven Great Halls of Heaven and Stand firmly on this Earth. Let us Remember, that each of Us is One Holy Reflection of the Infinite. Let us Remember, the Sacred Preciousness of All Life. Let us Remove the Veil and See that All are One. On the 1st Night of Chanukah, in Honor of the Blessed 36 Lights that shine for Us All, Let us My Friends .... Understand the Secret of Chanukah: We are the Lights in the Menorah of Ayn Sof ! Let us ReDedicate ourselves, at this Holy Chanukah Celebration of Light, TO SPARKLING THE DIVINE PRESENCE THAT WE ARE, SO THAT LIGHT MAY SHINE UPON LIGHT AND FULFILLMENT BE INFINITELY BRIGHT!

Chag Sameach,

Rabbi Alyjah Navy

Ayn Sof Kabbalah Community

Rabbi Blog .... November .... 2010

2010-11-07T18:41:00.000-08:00

November Sefirah of the Month:

Hod (Majesty)

In a literal sense, Hod is about the Glory of Divine Majesty. Studying the Kabbalist Tree of Life, we are reminded of the nobility of submission to the rule of the Infinite: that which is greater than us …. that which Transcends us. Hodic Influence reminds us that as holy, sparkling reflections of the Inifinite, each of us needs to develop the awareness of when, where and how to submit our will to the Will of Another. Sometimes submission is about accepting the Desire of the Infinite as we come to Understand it in the Big Cosmic Picture. Other times learning to bend our will to the earthly will of a lover, friend, colleague, relative or someone we are not familiar with may be required of us …. to achieve the common good and the Divine Desire.

We are helped in developing our capacity for intuiting when to submit by our Hodic senses of sight, hearing, touch, taste, smell, and by our capacity for organized, logical reasoning. Out of respect for …. and abidance with …. the Will of the Holy Source, we work at developing our sense of Gratitude for the opportunity to serve. Hodic Influence reminds us that it is not all about me. Hod helps us to Discern when the time is right to let go of resisting or rebelling, when to assent to ascend: we recall that we have a greater purpose …. honoring the Will of Another, so that we may heal, transform, renew and reflect the Blessing of our Being for the fulfillment of our Creator.

Question for Delving: When have you chosen to submit / serve and why?

To Learn More about Hod and how this Sefirah relates to you personally, I encourage you to register for Kabbalah 101 and/or Private Study with me: (http://www.kabbalahcommunity.org/contact).

Rabbi Blog .... October .... 2010

2010-10-04T18:51:00.000-07:00

October Sefirah of the month:

Yesod (Foundational Creativity)

My Rabbi Blog this month will highlight the mystical sefirah (energy emanation) of Yesod. In a literal sense, Yesod is about the foundation of productive as well as reproductive Creativity within this earthly Realm and Beyond. Studying the Kabbalist Tree of Life, we are reminded that the Yesodic energy of HaKadosh Baruchu (The Blessed Holy One) is continually being drawn down into our world ~ engaged by the welcoming waters of prayer, spiritual study and transformative actions....

HaKadosh Baruchu reminds us that as holy, sparkling reflections of the Infinite, each of us is imbued with unique, dynamically evolving talents, gifts and potentials that were designed to be creatively shared. Collectively, we have the bubbling, birthing juices of the Universe flowing through our Human Wellspring. Sometimes, we may feel blocked, silenced or unmotivated. We search for inspiration, enthusiam, intimacy in dealing with matters relating to Love, work and accomplishment....

We all learn from each other. By answering the following question we provide each other with a wellspring of life experience that we can draw support from during the unfolding, creative process that each of us contributes to by fulfilling our own purpose in life. Help encourage and enlighten others by sharing a story, an anecdote or any bissel of Wisdom, Understanding and Knowledge from your own life journey....

Question for Delving: What circumstances, relationships, resources help to promote creativity, productivity, renewal and rejuvenation in your life?

To Learn More about Yesod and how this Sefirah relates to you personally, I encourage you to register for Kabbalah 101 and/or Private Study with me
@ www.kabbalahcommunity.org

Rabbi Blog .... September .... 2010

2010-09-25T01:56:00.000-07:00

Rabbi Blog September Sefirah of the Month:
Malkhut (The Realm)

In a literal sense, Malkhut is about sovereignty within this earthly Realm: Studying the Kabbalist Tree of Life, we are reminded that the Shekhinah (Divine Indwelling Presence) presides over all that is in Malkhut. Shekhinah reminds us that as holy, sparkling reflections of the Inifinite, each of us has the responsibility to manage and preside over the affairs of our lives. Collectively, we have the responsibility to tend this earthly Garden of Eden.

Sometimes, our world can seem chaotic ….
We search for order, meaning, and purpose in dealing with matters relating to fulfillment, abundance and security…. Help encourage and enlighten others by sharing a story, an anecdote or any bissel of Wisdom, Understanding and Knowledge from your own life journey…..

Question for Delving : What helps you stay grounded in the face of life's challenges?

To Learn More about Malkhut and how this Sefirah relates to you personally:

Register for Private Kabbalah Study with me @
www.kabbalahcommunity.org

Rabbi Blog

2008-11-04T23:03:00.000-08:00

Honoring President Barack Obama:

From his vantage point Further On Up The Road -where we as a nation need to travel- Bruce Springsteen, 21st Century Bard of our American Promised Land, recently offered us these poetic and poignant revelations:

"I continue to find out that wherever I go, America remains a repository for people's hopes, their desires. It remains a house of dreams." Springsteen, echoing past calls of Prophets to Power, enjoined the Man of the Hour thusly: "Sen. Obama, help us rebuild our house, big enough for the dreams for all our citizens." And then the Bard of the Land declared for U.S. all: "I want my country back. I want my dream back. I want my America back."

And so.... I say unto you O' Bard and to you O' Noble and Beloved People of our American Land upon this Day of Days, this Night of Nights:

Let U.S. Rise Up from the Blood of Memphis and pay homage to our revered M.L. King. Let U.S. rejoice together: Red, White, Black, Blue and colors of every hue.... This Day of Days, this Holy Night of Nights, We have dreamed his Dream alive. Together, United We Stand, United We Strive, United We Shall Survive. Yes We Can and Yes We Shall!

We Shall have Our America Back!

Mazel Tov President Obama!
May God bless you and may you go from Strength to Strength in the service of our American Promised Land.

There has been a Rising Tonight: Glory, Glory Hallelu YAH!

With Light and Blessing,
Rabbi Alyjah Navy

And Bruce: I Know We'll see you Further On Up The Road ; )

Rabbi Blog

2008-01-03T21:21:00.000-08:00

Our Hope for a Resurrected Democracy:

Infinite are the possibilities for renewal, for rejuvenation, for a resurgence of the bright beacon that we are. Barack, the Man of Blessing, said: "On this January night, at this defining moment in history, we are one nation, we are one people, and our time for change has come, to build a coaliton for change that will help us meet the challenges we face as a nation." On this January night, in the year 2008 (5768), I say to you, Let US right the wrongs, let US heal the injustices and Let Freedom Ring once again throughout the Land, and throughout the grand Garden that we are enjoined to tend. In the year 2008, it is my holy prayer that we will Return and Heal what was lost to US at the dawning of the Millenium. We must remain forever vigilant about safeguarding our personal rights: we must devote ourselves to insuring the survival of a tolerant and open Democracy in these great United States. We achieve the highest standards of Democracy by having the courage to thwart threats from without by strengthening Liberty from within.

With Light and Hope for the future,
Rabbi Alyjah

Rabbi Blog

2007-12-18T10:25:00.001-08:00

Enlightening Insights for Spiritual Living:

Yesirah is the Realm of the Angels, a world of Ideals, and of fluid Forms. Are you fullfilling your potential? Are you realizing your dreams? What would your Ideal world look like: your ideal self, ideal friends/family, job, community, creative endeavor, Tikun (healing)? Have you encountered any Angels/Messengers, or a rabbi perhaps, to help you along your Path?