 |
| The background image was included in the exhibit "Emunah v'Omanut" at Hebrew College in 2010 |
Sefer Vayikra describes, in precise detail, the way the ancient Temple’s sacrificial system and burnt offerings served to balance the Cosmos. For me, as for the ancient priests, incorporating fire into ritual acts represents is a profound act of prayer and offering.
Firedancing
Unchecked, fire can be frightening, unpredictable, and destructive. "Fire-dancing", whether literally or through metaphor, allows us to play with this powerful energy. "Dancing" with fire is also a kavannah (intention) in working with the "fiery" and potentially harmful pieces of our own and other’s personalities.
Isha and Eish
The Zohar teaches that in the ancient Temple, sacrifice was done for the sake of God’s unpronounceable four-letter name (yud, hey, vav, hey). In the letters of this name,
the final hey represents the Shechinah. This isha, or woman, is the feminine aspect of the Divine. The word isha has within it the word eish, or fire (Zohar 1:51b).
Balancing the Cosmos
In the Zohar’s understanding, humans must use fire to align the lower heh, the feminine aspect of Divinity with the rest of the Divine name, balancing the feminine and masculine Divine energies in the universe. While, on its own, fire can be out of balance, destructive. This teaching demands that we harness fire as part of a "dance", a ritual act that safely and powerfully elevates this element. This, to me, is the power of fire-dancing, offering this dance as an act of tefillah.
Adam Lavitt is entering his final year of rabbinical studies at Hebrew College, where he is also pursuing a Master's in Jewish Education and a certificate in Pastoral Counseling. His main interest lies in building community through experiential, embodied, Jewish education, and takes improvisational dance, farming and circus arts as some of his inspirations in designing meaningful Jewish experiences. His goal is to find a way to facilitate Jewish learning and practice that brings our minds back into our bodies, and into meaningful relationship with the earth.
the final hey represents the Shechinah. This isha, or woman, is the feminine aspect of the Divine. The word isha has within it the word eish, or fire (Zohar 1:51b).
Balancing the Cosmos
In the Zohar’s understanding, humans must use fire to align the lower heh, the feminine aspect of Divinity with the rest of the Divine name, balancing the feminine and masculine Divine energies in the universe. While, on its own, fire can be out of balance, destructive. This teaching demands that we harness fire as part of a "dance", a ritual act that safely and powerfully elevates this element. This, to me, is the power of fire-dancing, offering this dance as an act of tefillah.
Adam Lavitt is entering his final year of rabbinical studies at Hebrew College, where he is also pursuing a Master's in Jewish Education and a certificate in Pastoral Counseling. His main interest lies in building community through experiential, embodied, Jewish education, and takes improvisational dance, farming and circus arts as some of his inspirations in designing meaningful Jewish experiences. His goal is to find a way to facilitate Jewish learning and practice that brings our minds back into our bodies, and into meaningful relationship with the earth.
No comments:
Post a Comment