**************
Title of Project *
The Virtual Jewish Ashram (Phase One of The Jewish Ashram)
Project Description
We believe that Judaism has an image problem. Yes, it's true. There are too many unfavorable beliefs about the Jewish people, Jewish study and Jewish history -- even among Jews about being Jewish. Like the famous joke about the meaning of Jewish holidays: "they tried to kill us, we survived, let's eat." Although entertaining, we would like to challenge these assumptions and ideas by creating a space of Judaism that is (sit down, please) INSPIRATIONAL. (Take a breath) ABUNDANT. (Drink a glass of water) BLISSFUL.
We are thankful to those who have have opened the gates to this sort of practice. The Jewish Ashram will provide a home for them to more readily and collectively build on what they have done, and bring in other important voices with important teachings about topics such as gratitude, abundance, love, possibility, and other subjects which concern spiritual seekers and fill the pages of spiritual, self help and psychology books. We would like to expose the world to this side of Judaism, the Gan Eden side. We believe that creating a new and dynamic incubator for a Judaism emphasizing these things can effect healing in the world, for Jews, non-Jews, and Judaism.
First, by creating a website where Jewish scholars and rabbis could offer inspirational messages, stories and ideals with our user base. The Jewish people need to meet all the Dalai Lamas from our scriptures. All the sages who taught us how to live fully and abundantly. Many rabbis have access to these learnings, but they are not taught or emphasized in traditional Jewish studies programs or shuls. We are taught about the holidays (yes, yes, we know they tried to kill us). We are taught the 613 commandments (really? 613? why do the Catholics only get 7? Oy, the suffering...). We are taught parables from the torah (stories about slaughter, debauchery, incest, deceit, etc).
We are not taught the Judaism which will guide us to burst open our hearts and fill our souls with song. This is the Judaism that we aim to teach in our virtual (and in the future, physical) ashram. We envision our ashram as an incubator and reference for inspirational Jewish spiritual creation from simple topics pertaining to daily living to more esoteric explorations regarding lifetime purpose, infinity and the unknown universe, and every subject in between. What if rather than beating us down, Judaism raised us to our highest heights?
We want to expose seekers with the side of Judaism that is masked in the world. The Judaism which elevates our hearts in prayer, meditation, poetry dance, movement and song. The Judaism which whispers to us to live the most fulfilled, loving lives. The Judaism which loses itself in bliss. The Judaism which witnesses peace in every corner of the globe, including in Israel. The Judaism which embodies infinite oneness with the universe. The Judaism which embraces all humans as one. The Judaism which manifests miracles and blessings throughout the world. That is the Judaism we are devout to. That is the Judaism we believe spiritual seekers will devour with greater appetite than their bubby's gefilte fish. That is the Judaism we want to spread in the online and eventually, physical worlds.
The Virtual Jewish Ashram (Phase One of The Jewish Ashram)
Project Description
We believe that Judaism has an image problem. Yes, it's true. There are too many unfavorable beliefs about the Jewish people, Jewish study and Jewish history -- even among Jews about being Jewish. Like the famous joke about the meaning of Jewish holidays: "they tried to kill us, we survived, let's eat." Although entertaining, we would like to challenge these assumptions and ideas by creating a space of Judaism that is (sit down, please) INSPIRATIONAL. (Take a breath) ABUNDANT. (Drink a glass of water) BLISSFUL.
We are thankful to those who have have opened the gates to this sort of practice. The Jewish Ashram will provide a home for them to more readily and collectively build on what they have done, and bring in other important voices with important teachings about topics such as gratitude, abundance, love, possibility, and other subjects which concern spiritual seekers and fill the pages of spiritual, self help and psychology books. We would like to expose the world to this side of Judaism, the Gan Eden side. We believe that creating a new and dynamic incubator for a Judaism emphasizing these things can effect healing in the world, for Jews, non-Jews, and Judaism.
First, by creating a website where Jewish scholars and rabbis could offer inspirational messages, stories and ideals with our user base. The Jewish people need to meet all the Dalai Lamas from our scriptures. All the sages who taught us how to live fully and abundantly. Many rabbis have access to these learnings, but they are not taught or emphasized in traditional Jewish studies programs or shuls. We are taught about the holidays (yes, yes, we know they tried to kill us). We are taught the 613 commandments (really? 613? why do the Catholics only get 7? Oy, the suffering...). We are taught parables from the torah (stories about slaughter, debauchery, incest, deceit, etc).
We are not taught the Judaism which will guide us to burst open our hearts and fill our souls with song. This is the Judaism that we aim to teach in our virtual (and in the future, physical) ashram. We envision our ashram as an incubator and reference for inspirational Jewish spiritual creation from simple topics pertaining to daily living to more esoteric explorations regarding lifetime purpose, infinity and the unknown universe, and every subject in between. What if rather than beating us down, Judaism raised us to our highest heights?
We want to expose seekers with the side of Judaism that is masked in the world. The Judaism which elevates our hearts in prayer, meditation, poetry dance, movement and song. The Judaism which whispers to us to live the most fulfilled, loving lives. The Judaism which loses itself in bliss. The Judaism which witnesses peace in every corner of the globe, including in Israel. The Judaism which embodies infinite oneness with the universe. The Judaism which embraces all humans as one. The Judaism which manifests miracles and blessings throughout the world. That is the Judaism we are devout to. That is the Judaism we believe spiritual seekers will devour with greater appetite than their bubby's gefilte fish. That is the Judaism we want to spread in the online and eventually, physical worlds.
In the future, we foresee a center which holds this inspirational Jewish experience and
study 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. We envision a place where Judaism is taught to
guide seekers in their spiritual development, whatever that means to them. For some,
their spiritual progression may be through the realm of creativity. What can Judaism
teach us about Creativity? For others, their expression will be through Service. How
could Judaism inspire these seekers through the tales and lessons from its texts? For
others, spirituality may come in the form of community. And so forth. We envision
teaching classes at this center where each student will embody the values of Judaism
and will be inspired and transformed to live in their most fulfilled nature.
The Jewish Ashram aims to be a place where Judaism guides people's lives on every dimension. We hope that in our center, Jewish people learn about dreaming and dancing, praying and praising, loving and losing, giving and gratifying. We hope that this retreat center opens our hearts to Judaism and that Judaism beams its golden light into the souls of its people. A Judaism that moves us from a place of abundance, and is mindful about sending fear based messages that paralyze us.
Although the project we envision is a physical space, which may require[s] millions of dollars to build, we would like to begin the process of gathering these Jewish teachings and spreading the word through the virtual universe.
Intended Need *
We intend to build a Jewish Ashram in California. We envision a retreat center where all Jewish denominations will teach, study and commune. More than anything, we envision a center where new Jewish liturgy and practice are fostered and expressed. The Jewish community too often works in silos. Chabbadnikim do not mingle with Reform Jews who do not mingle with Renewal and humanist Jews. We strive to create a center which is grounded in embodied Jewish spiritual practice: meditation, heart opening, and compassionate wisdom. We aim to bring teachers from every denomination of Judaism to teach retreats at the center. We imagine that every group will form the center in its own way, be it through new prayers, art, wisdom, books, dance, chant, etc. Regardless of what retreat a participant will select, they will have access to all spiritual teachings of Judaism. Once the center is established, we will create cross-denominational retreats that incubate new liturgy, prayers, and Jewish practices. We will share these practices with the global Jewish community through our virtual ashram.
Today, Jewish seekers can be found kneeling before Hindi rishis, yogis and gurus or meditating in Buddhist monasteries on mountaintops across Asia or praying to a myriad of other spiritual Gods, who resonate with their hearts. Many seekers do not have access to the Jewish teachings of the heart and so, seek teachings outside Judaism to fulfill their basic human needs: the expansion of hearts and souls, the seeking of purpose, and communal creation. There are infinite spiritual teachings and revelations in the Jewish texts and we aim to encourage rabbis and Jewish educators to expose seekers to the heart and soul wisdom of Jewish spiritual practice. The teachings exist. The teachers are ready. The students are yearning. We aim to create a space where all facets of spiritual Judaism can be woven into a magical tapestry of shared and blissful spiritual experience.
The Jewish Ashram aims to be a place where Judaism guides people's lives on every dimension. We hope that in our center, Jewish people learn about dreaming and dancing, praying and praising, loving and losing, giving and gratifying. We hope that this retreat center opens our hearts to Judaism and that Judaism beams its golden light into the souls of its people. A Judaism that moves us from a place of abundance, and is mindful about sending fear based messages that paralyze us.
Although the project we envision is a physical space, which may require[s] millions of dollars to build, we would like to begin the process of gathering these Jewish teachings and spreading the word through the virtual universe.
Intended Need *
We intend to build a Jewish Ashram in California. We envision a retreat center where all Jewish denominations will teach, study and commune. More than anything, we envision a center where new Jewish liturgy and practice are fostered and expressed. The Jewish community too often works in silos. Chabbadnikim do not mingle with Reform Jews who do not mingle with Renewal and humanist Jews. We strive to create a center which is grounded in embodied Jewish spiritual practice: meditation, heart opening, and compassionate wisdom. We aim to bring teachers from every denomination of Judaism to teach retreats at the center. We imagine that every group will form the center in its own way, be it through new prayers, art, wisdom, books, dance, chant, etc. Regardless of what retreat a participant will select, they will have access to all spiritual teachings of Judaism. Once the center is established, we will create cross-denominational retreats that incubate new liturgy, prayers, and Jewish practices. We will share these practices with the global Jewish community through our virtual ashram.
Today, Jewish seekers can be found kneeling before Hindi rishis, yogis and gurus or meditating in Buddhist monasteries on mountaintops across Asia or praying to a myriad of other spiritual Gods, who resonate with their hearts. Many seekers do not have access to the Jewish teachings of the heart and so, seek teachings outside Judaism to fulfill their basic human needs: the expansion of hearts and souls, the seeking of purpose, and communal creation. There are infinite spiritual teachings and revelations in the Jewish texts and we aim to encourage rabbis and Jewish educators to expose seekers to the heart and soul wisdom of Jewish spiritual practice. The teachings exist. The teachers are ready. The students are yearning. We aim to create a space where all facets of spiritual Judaism can be woven into a magical tapestry of shared and blissful spiritual experience.
The Jewish community collects many statistics about issues concerning the longevity of the Jewish people. Issues of intermarriage, conversion, loss of affiliation with Israel, etc. which concern these community leaders and scholars. There is one issue which may not be easily measured, but we believe is the most urgent to consider: the importance of the Jewish neshama (soul). We believe that by teaching the Judaism which fosters the expansion of the soul, our culture will rejoice in jubilant celebration of its traditions, increasing engagement with the culture and decreasing the issues that these concerning statistics present.
+++++++++++++++++
WORKING NOTES
Please identify which aspects of the criteria this project meets and why this project is uniquely suited to Reboot *
Have to ask about this....
Intended Audience *
Jewish (and non-Jewish) spiritual seekers of all ages Budget
Website development budget - $5000
Security based site because people will be sharing personal information Not sure how much detail they need. Will ask.
Outreach Plan
Social Media through Jewish organizations and the featured rabbis
Social media through non-Jewish spiritual communities (Buddhist, Hindu, Tao, Yoga, Meditation, Dance, Movement, Chant, etc....)
PR and media in Jewish and non-Jewish spiritual papers, journals and online sources Community games - 5 minutes of meditation, photo collage of an attribute or teaching, quotes / poems / songs, etc. new ritual corner
Evaluation Plan
Number of people who are active visitors on the site
Number of visitors who recommend the site to their communities
Feedback regarding impact of site from visitors
Development of preliminary funding plan [Funding raised] for physical ashram (not sure we should include this....) I'll ask.
Number of visitors who recommend the site to their communities
Feedback regarding impact of site from visitors
Development of preliminary funding plan [Funding raised] for physical ashram (not sure we should include this....) I'll ask.
