Uniting the Transcendent and Immanent: A Jewish Way of Saying “Amen” in an Uncomfortable and Challenging Prayer Space
A couple of months ago, I was recording a video for my community when I heard a sudden knock on my office window. Startled, I quickly finished the recording and went to the nearby door to see who had knocked. As I opened the door, I encountered an energetic and fast talking woman who apologized [...]
What On Earth Is Lag b’Omer?
Today is Lag b’Omer, a relatively obscure Jewish holiday, yet one which is deeply meaningful for many, particularly those with a Kabbalistic or more mystical orientation. Lag b’Omer, which literally translates to the thirty-third day of the Omer (Hebrew letters each have numerical equivalents–thus, lamed is equal to thirty and gimmel is equal to three) is [...]
Musar, Mindfulness and Counting the Omer
On the Jewish calendar, we are currently in the period known as Sefira or Sefirat HaOmer—the Counting of the Omer, a forty-nine day period between Passover and Shavuot. Each evening, beginning on the second night of Passover, Jews count the Omer by first making a blessing and then counting that day, being sure to count [...]
Contributing Scholars
Diane JohnsonI am currently a student at Pacific School of Religion where I am pursuing a M.Div with a focus on spirituality and social change. I am founder and President of Mmapeu Management Consulting, a national management consulting firm focused on individual and organizational capacity building, leadership development and strategic visioning with social sector organizations. I am most interested in the nexus of sacred activism, social change, and movement building.
Ben DeVanBenjamin B. DeVan has taught religion, philosophy, and African American literature at North Carolina Central University, Peace College, and a January term mini-course at MIT titled, "Religion: Bringing the World Together, or Tearing the World Apart?" He completed his MA in Counseling at Asbury Theological Seminary, his MDiv at Duke University, a ThM at Harvard in World Religions with a thesis on evangelical Christians and Muslims, and is now a doctoral candidate at a historic British university writing a dissertation on the New Atheism.
Charlotte DandoCharlotte is an interfaith activist and self-confessed Religious Studies geek currently undertaking a Masters at SOAS, University of London. Charlotte’s interests include religious diversity, pluralism, multiculturalism, Quakerism, equality and blogging: all fueled by oolong tea. @CharlotteDando