On Masks, Masking, Control, and Lack Thereof
In Hebrew, the words for face, “panim,” and internal, “pnim,” comes from the same root and has the same exact letters פנים. This is precious poetry in one word, singing in our ear the ideal, aligned state of being the world: Our innermost state shining through our face, the extension of Truth itself. In that [...]
Staying in the Dark Just a Little Longer
As we are looking towards the festival of lights, I want to invite us to remain in the dark just a little longer. As the days shorten and nights lengthen we are, understandably looking for a way out. Who doesn’t enjoy lighting up the night with the Hanukah candles, or with colorful Christmas lights for [...]
A Prayer for the Opening of Gates (in the Middle East)
Awareness of insecurity and surrender to it can soften us to let Eternity in, can humble us enough to receive that which is beyond our false sense of control. This is what The Days of Awe, and the Jewish month of Elul coming right before them is all about.
Revolution of Consciousness in the Land of Israel of the Year 2011
A Proposal to Build the III Temple with Bricks of Justice and Senseless Loving Kindness It has been almost a month since the beginning of the awakening of the Israeli public. The Israeli and the international media is mostly busy labeling, categorizing, predicting, pointing to what or who is missing, all but being present to [...]
Ela Merom
Ela is an ordained rabbi, a seeker of truth, fascinated with the paths to the divine in the everyday and the extraordinary. She is now in the midst of birthing a new progressive prayer group in Tel Aviv, where she lives and works.
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Contributing Scholars
Daniel HallAs a staff member of the Soka Gakkai International-USA Buddhist Association, Daniel directs awareness raising initiatives centered on the U.N. Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace. In May 2012, he completed a Master of Public Diplomacy at the University of Southern California and has since conducted research in this area as an independent scholar. His research interests include faith diplomacy, media and religion, and the role of transnational non-state actors in global affairs. In 2013, Palgrave Macmillan will publish his article titled "Pope John Paul II, Radio Free Europe and Faith Diplomacy" as part of a new volume on religion and public diplomacy.
Simran Jeet SinghSimran Jeet Singh is a doctoral student in the Department of Religion at Columbia University. His research focuses on South Asian Religions, particularly the Sikh tradition and the life of its founder, Guru Nanak.
Rozemarijn VanwijnsbergheBorn in Antwerp (Belgium) and currently based in Brussels (Belgium), trained as a classical singer at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Antwerp, and obtained Master Degrees in Musicology and in Religious Studies, World Religions and Interfaith Dialogue of the Catholic University of Leuven. Has professional experience in performing arts, international cooperation and human rights, as well as in education to development and intercultural dialogue, and is an alumna of the Institute of Bossey (World Council of Churches, Geneva Switzerland).