Shalom Aleichem, the Shema and V’ahavta, and the Mourner’s Kaddish – How Our Souls Ascend through Kabbalat Shabbat Prayer
Let us explore the balance between the structure of prayer service and the experience of surrender in our community practice. Over the course of 3 sessions, we will focus on 3 distinct elements of our Kabbalat Shabbat: transitioning to sacred space with Shalom Aleichem, affirming infinite Oneness through the Shema and V’ahavta, and acknowledging the finiteness of our mortal existence in the Mourner’s Kaddish.
The kabbalists of the sixteenth-century used the image of Jacob’s ladder to describe the order of prayers in the siddur as rungs in the ascent of the soul, They taught that each of the four letters of God’s ineffable Name represent the four rungs of life: body, emotion, intellect, and spirit. The structure of service can provide each of us a ladder from earth to heaven. How might these prayers guide you on this journey?
Facilitator: Lisa Strongin
Open to all — no prior experience needed.
Wednesdays 7-8:30pm, bi-weekly — Sessions will be in the sanctuary on:
- April 30
- May 14
- May 28
Cost and Commitment:
- Free – Members
- $18/session – Non-members **Sign up for the whole series and receive a 10% discount!**
- DROP- INS WELCOME! Pay at the door!
ABOUT THE FACILITATOR:
Lisa Strongin loves exploring Jewish ritual practice, liturgy and Torah. For over 10 years, she served a small congregation in Visalia, Ca as an educator, shlichat tzibur (congregational prayer leader) and director of adult and children’s education. Since moving back to the Bay Area, she has served on our High Holy Day Committee and tutors our b’mitzvah students.
