Congregation Ohave Shalom, Pawtucket, RI hosts the Jewish Spirituality Mailing List

Jewish Spirituality
Volume 24

By way of preface:

The "Jewish Spirituality" mailing list is an outgrowth of several conversations in which people told me that they felt "alone" in their quest to develop their relationship with Gd. I knew they weren't alone, just from my own interactions with other people, and so I extended an invitation to the Jewish community of Rhode Island to join in a weekly mailing list exploring issues within their relationship with HaShem.

Many of the messages posted on the list reflect people's personal struggles and sensitivities. As a result, some of the people who post remarks on this list opt to do so anonymously; they send me the e-mail, and I drop their names. The list is "blind cc'd," as well, so that no one knows who else is on the list. Our goal is that the members of this list should draw strength and inspiration from the words of their peers, and thereby continue to develop as Jews.

If you would like to join the list, please e-mail me at rijewish@juno.com.

Jewish Spirituality - Volume 24

A Discussion Group?

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Subject: A Discussion Group?
By: Mordechai Torczyner

We are taught that every soul is different in the way it deals with the world around it, and in the way it approaches HaShem. The appropriate Derech (life-path) for each person is therefore different from the appropriate Derech of every other person, as well.

This idea spurred my initial initiative to create a "Jewish Spirituality" discussion group. I felt that we could all contribute ideas which would help others, adding to each person's individual mix of ideas an approaches. As I mentioned in Volume 1, I found myself having numerous discussions about spirituality with individuals who felt they were alone in searching, and so I thought we could all stand to benefit from the input of others on this list, with each member helping to whatever extent possible.

Looking back over the past several mailings, though, it seems that most of our contributors have stopped contributing. It is clear that people are interested in the content of these mailings, as almost everyone emailed me to continue sending them mail when I switched from AOL to Juno. On the other hand, people have stopped sending in material, and I think that those contributions are crucial for this list.

A couple of people stopped posting because they would post questions and not receive responses. Perhaps it would be better for people to post observations and respond to others' observations, rather than present open-ended questions; I don't know.

The bottom line is that this list needs your thoughts. "Jewish Spirituality" shouldn't be about receiving an email translating a passage from a book every Friday morning. Jewish Spirituality is about each person developing a relationship with HaShem, and using his/her own experiences to edify others in their own relationships with HaShem.

Have a good Shabbos, and may we all receive a Kesivah vaChasimah Tovah,
Mordechai Torczyner

Our Weekly Jewish Spirituality E-mail

E-mails are generally sent out on Friday mornings, Eastern Daylight Saving Time. You need not live locally to be added to this mailing list. Please send e-mail to rijewish@juno.com to be added; there's always room for more people, and there is no fee!

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