Article about Wilderness Torah at jWeekly.com
To celebrate Shavuot, up all night on Mount Tam
Thursday, June 4, 2009 | by stacey palevsky
The sound of the shofar pierced the early morning air at 5:30 a.m. It was time to pray.
A group of tired but inspired people stood on Mount Tamalpias and sang morning prayers accompanied by an acoustic guitar. They had arrived in a small clearing just as the morning fog settled over the redwoods and surrounding hills.
Those 18 people had not yet slept. They had stayed up all night studying, singing and meditating as part of Shavuot on the Mountain, an all-night study session May 28 organized by Wilderness Torah, a new group based in the East Bay that seeks to connect Jewish ritual to nature.
About 75 people attended: Jews, converts, seekers, toddlers, children, young adults, seniors. Only one-fourth managed to stay up all night, as a majority went to sleep in their tents at various points of the night and woke up at 8 a.m. for a communal breakfast.
“We are building community through reinvigorating the earth-based traditions that have by and large been hidden from us,” said Zelig Golden, one of the three founders of Wilderness Torah.
Shavuot commemorates the day God gave Moses and the Israelites the Torah, and it is a Shavuot tradition to stay up studying all night. People often gather in homes or synagogues to do so.
But because the Israelites experienced the Torah revelation in the desert at the base of Mount Sinai, Wilderness Torah wanted its all-night study session to also be outside in the elements.
“Being outside brings an authenticity to Judaism,” said Joti Levy, a participant from Oakland.
The event began at about 8 p.m. at Alice Eastwood Group Campground with an evening service as the sun set. When the sky turned an inky black, the learning sessions began.
Classes, or offerings as they were known on Mount Tam, were diverse and ranged from the cerebral to the physical. Offerings included a discussion about counting the omer; a lesson in drumming to accompany songs and prayers; a session on Chassidic folk tales; silent meditation walks; and even 4 a.m. yoga because, well, “Have you ever done yoga at 4 a.m.?” joked Julie Wolk, another co-founder of Wilderness Torah.
Each offering aimed to promote growth, be it spiritual, communal or creative.
At midnight and after two workshop sessions, most of the participants got back together, now bundled in parkas and wool blankets. The air was cold and it was quiet, save for the crackle of the fire in the center of their circle.
Shulamit Wise Fairman, the music director at Kehilla Community Synagogue in Piedmont, chanted the Sinai story in Hebrew and English. Her sweet voice danced in the night air.
After that, Golden led a guided meditation while playing a hand drum and Aharon Wheels-Bolsta played a bansuri, an Indian bamboo flute with a soothing sound. When they finished, the group fell silent for a while, sitting and standing around the campfire. Then someone began to play a guitar, strumming so tenderly and softly that people closed their eyes, hugged their neighbor, swayed gently.
“The conditions were perfect for me to have a deep, reflective inner journey,” Fairman said. “I prefer to learn and pray and build community and do my own spiritual work in nature.”
In keeping with a natural approach, organizers of Shavuot on the Mountain didn’t set in stone a lineup of workshops. Instead, they asked participants for suggestions, and the night’s schedule emerged in the days leading up to the event.
“There is so much brilliance in the Bay Area, we trusted that people would volunteer great teachings,” Wolk said.
Rabbi Sydney Mintz of Congregation Emanu-El was one of many participants that volunteered to teach a class. At 9 p.m., about 25 people gathered around wooden picnic tables to hear her talk about the Israelites at Sinai and how similar (or not) they are to the Jews of today.
She passed out excerpts from the Torah, but before digging into the text (legible only by the glow of a votive candle or by the headlamps people wore) she asked, “What kind of Jew are you?”
The various answers: Connecting, determined, frustrated, yearning, thoughtful, singing, dancing, happy, earthy, alive, seeking, wandering, dynamic, evolving.
After everyone had answered the question, Mintz pointed out that no one described himself or herself as a “certain” Jew, that is, one who is certain about their religious beliefs and how to live a Jewish life.
“We must ask: Who is God? How do we define Judaism? If we didn’t ask these questions all of the time, we wouldn’t be an enduring community,” she said. “With a questioning heart and spirit, we’re able to still stand at Sinai.”
Spirituality even was inserted into breakfast preparation, when chef and participant Avishai Perlman led a meditation session before orchestrating the cracking of dozens of eggs and the sautéing of fresh chard, potatoes and carrots.
“It was an amazing experience to prepare food as the birds were waking up,” Perlman said.
Soon the scent of garlic and butter wafted into the dewy morning air. People emerged from their tents to gather for motzi and a final meal on the mountain. They sat around the campfire nibbling on fresh scrambled eggs and organic produce from local farmers.
“I hope this was not just a sleepless night,” Golden said during the closing ceremony, “but one that will bring a deeper wakefulness as well.”
For more information, contact Wilderness Torah at wildernesstorah@gmail.com.
More images for this story are available here: http://jweekly.com/gallery/jewish-life/
Exactly where is it, i’d like to read much more about this article, thanks.
In relevant reports, Gatorade not too long ago cut off its sponsorship agreement with Tiger Woods together with dropping the slogan, “Is it in you?” Nike will preserve Mr. Woods as a spokesman and keep using the saying, “Just do it.”
What is the only difference in between Santa and Tiger Woods? Santa quits following 3 Ho’s.
I am very new to the internet and needed to research this subject. Thought it was a great blog very well written and informative. I will surely be coming back to your website to read more articles as i adored this one..
we’ll see, he also stated he’d near detention services at gitmo in just a twelve months..
.
I learn something new on different blogs everyday. It is always refreshing to read posts of other bloggers and learn something from them. Thanks for sharing.
ygsdardcpprwacjixbrn buy phentermine without prescription ldzofjy
Why didn’t I find this post earlier? Keep up the good work!
Hey have you seen Avatar already?It is AMAZING! Check out Avatar PDF ebooks download here!
Excellent post.When talking about Free Palm Reading,it’s always interesting and mysterious.
Great Info! But I’m having some trouble trying to load your blog. I have read it many times before and never gotten something like this, but now when I try to load something it just takes a little while (5-10 minutes ) and then just stops. I hope i don’t have spyware or something. Does anyone know what the problem could be?
Hey, Good evening I was looking for crucial information on this subject. The information was important as I am about to launch my own portal. Thanks for providing a missing link in my business. Greetings from Oklahoma
Which Golf Clubs Are Better – Steel or Graphite ?
Excellent read, I just passed this onto a colleague who was doing a little research on that. And he actually bought me lunch because I found it for him smile So let me rephrase that: Thanks for lunch!
Scraps are so fun…are you into quilting?
Cool. Your blog looks great, and I’m glad i’ve found something here worth adding to my favorites.
good post, added you to my RSS reader.
I love all the comments here. I am thinking about starting my own blog. I am wondering if it is tough to run your own blog. I certainly love commenting. Thanks Bloggers
I couldn’t resist commenting.
This is very intresting, You are a very skilled blogger. I have joined your feed and look forward to seeking more of your great post.
The Best Family Vacation Ideas – For Family Vocations…
Possible to recommend guitar suppliers on TradeTang? I want to start my business….
ihwlcsejqwjfaseppkdk cheap phentermine no prescription fpdqyft
Hello, Would it be possible to use this impressive post on my webpage? I would naturally link back to you. Let me know what you determine to perform.
Wow, this was a really quality post. In theory I’d like to write like this too – taking time and real effort to make a good article… but what can I say… I procrastinate a lot and never seem to get something done.
I usually have got a little something to express on these issues, but i’d better not on this occasion.
Is this a custom word press theme? I would like to have a similar one for my blog…
Very nice sharing. Thank you… Good information and good way your blog post. Good luck blogger man
good post, added you to my RSS reader.
After reading this I thought it was very informative. I appreciate you taking the time and effort to put this post together. Once again I find myself spending way to much time both reading and commenting. But so what, it was still worth it!
epxjjmlmwekkutfnjyyw phentermine online no prescription htdswtk
any update on this?
Very informative post. Thanks for taking the time to share your view with us.
rtzcnlardjstuxmpsnxl phentermine pills ajrjgathewi
Wonderful learn, I simply passed this onto a colleague who was in search of this info. I’ve you bookmarked on Digg.
Buy Soft Toys & Childrens Toy online now!…
Fine article, fine blog, I bear twittered your blog, it is worthy liability this. Thank you….
Best mortgage rate today…
Good topics, it open my eye , thanks…
Best loan rate calculator and refinance…
THX for sharing….
Healthy diet plan…
Thank you all for your information and comments Regards …….
Rapid weight loss plan and diets…
Very handy in a row and i give rise to found it on behalf of a sustained era,credit so much….
…
wonderful guidance and sharing,I will get this wonderful for me .thank you!…
…
Cheers for the data. Significantly appreciated….
…
RQS Hello there, I must say it truly is a clever post. I’ll definitely be seeking in on this website once again soon. -CC….
…
FCB Wonderful publish! I’ll subscribe appropriate now wth my feedreader software program! -QB….
…
RFS Great brief and this write-up helped me alot. Say thank you I looking for your facts. -UA….
…
thanks for sharing the details…..
…
Funny, I used to be discussing this thing with my older sister the other day, now I’ll have a single much more argument in my hand when it’ll arrive to confrontation the moment once again….
…
Beneficial brief and this write-up helped me alot. Say thank you I searching for your data….
…
Hi, thank you so very much for these tips!…
…
Yes! I agree what you say!…
Financial & Investment Management Advisors…
Presently what did you say? I considered necessary! Maybe to facilitate bidding transpire my inspiration on behalf of the week, keep it emergence!…