Discovering the Landscape of the Soul

Posted Wednesday, Jan 28th, 2009

A noted author once wrote of landing in Chicago.  He rented a car and proceeded to drive to the city.  But time and again, despite the map he had with him, he couldn�t find his way out of the airport.  That is, until he realized he�d landed at Midway airport � and was trying to navigate his way out of O�Hare!  Life�s like that too.  Often we try, and try again.  But without the success we anticipate from our efforts.  At those times, we have to check in with ourselves and the world to ask, �Do I have the landscape clear?�

 

�Soul Maps�, the recent JLI course, was just that � an opportunity to clarify the landscape of our soul.  It explored the book of Tanya.  The original work is a text authored by Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi, founder of the Chabad-Lubavitch Chassidic Movement.  He labored for twenty years to completing it in 1796. Upon receiving the book the legendary Rabbi Levi Yitzchok of Berditchev exclaimed, �Reb Schneur Zalman did the impossible � he put so great a G-d in so tiny a book!�  The JLI course, authored by Rabbi Shais Taub, explored the whole of Tanya in a mere six weeks.  That�s a tall order, especially given that the Alter Rebbe once told his brother R. Yehuda Leib, that while writing Tanya, he once spent six weeks pondering on whether to include just one letter in the text!  Yet in taking a broad approach, the course afforded students the lay of the land so to speak, allowing them to gain access to their inner workings and thus make shifts in outlook and conduct.

 

Omek, a Crown Heights based organization devoted to in-depth transformational learning for women, offered the course to both local residents and those who wanted to call in from further afield.  �Having had the privilege of being involved with JLI for some time, I am acutely aware of how enriching the material is,� says director Shimona Tzukernik.  �All JLI courses explore concepts in such a fresh and comprehensive way, I had no doubt that participants would gain from the experience.�

 

And that sense has proven true.  Eighty nine students signed up for the course which was held in the merit of a speedy recovery for Yechiel Michal ben Doba Raiza Raskin.  The response has been overwhelmingly positive.  In the words of one of the participants:

 

�Dear Shimona, I just wanted to say thank you for the incredible Tanya classes that you taught these past few weeks.  It gave me a whole new meaning to Tanya.  In the past, I've always thought of Tanya as examining the personas of the �Righteous, Intermediate and Wicked� among us, but having nothing much to do with me.  I never quite understood those people who said. �The Tanya is brilliant!� or �Tanya changed my life!�  I always thought of it as just another subject in school.  However, I am happy (and excited) to say that things have changed thanks to you. Tanya is alive � and it now talks to me!  Every time I sat in your classes I had a feeling of (this might sound strange) my soul being elevated. I walked home in an uplifted mood�I especially loved the last class.  Firstly, we were always taught to say chapter forty one before prayer.  I've read it in English a couple of times but never understood it.  Tonight, I finally got it!  Secondly, I deal with teens and the concepts of self esteem, self worth, suicide etcetera come up. When you learn Tanya, and realize how much G-d loves us, and how 'important' we are to Him, those thoughts don't even make sense! It finally clicked!...I also loved your class on happiness�I could go on...Thank you, thank you, thank you! I look forward to learning with you again!�

 

Another student wrote, �Tanya?  Tanya to me was a subject, remained in my heart.  I knew many concepts.  Understood many ideas but was never actually able to put it all together.  Now I see the whole picture.�

 

The learning was intellectually stimulating and students certainly gained access to �the whole picture.�  But it didn�t end there.  A central goal was to make an impact, a shift, in the way we relate to ourselves and negotiate our daily lives.  Here too, the feedback was resoundingly affirmative.  One participant shared that, �I definitely feel a shift in a positive way in my spiritual service of G-d.  I am excited to read the daily portion of Tanya, to know the larger picture that puts together all my little pieces.�  Another said, �The class was taught in a way where familiar ideas were reviewed and expanded upon in both a practical and intellectually stimulating way. I came home from each class inspired to actually apply what I learned throughout the session at home and in my daily life.  And yet another said, �The influence the class had on my daily spiritual practice was palpable � now I just need more!�

 

And more there is.  Next up with Omek is the JLI course, You Be the Judge II, authored by Rabbi Eli Silberstein.  It's a course on Talmudic Ethics. We'll be examining compelling contemporary legal scenarios through the lens of Talmudic thinking. It promises to be intriguing.  There is no prior knowledge of Talmud necessary, so for all those women who want to taste the richness of Talmudic debate, contact Omek at [email protected].  You can take a peek at the topic to be covered in lesson one on the website�s home page at http://www.shimona.org/home.html.   At issue is whether two young men who murdered their parents have the right to inherit the money left to them in the will!

 

Shimona�s style is at once intellectually rigorous and personable.  In the words of one student, �You have a special talent that enables you to connect to people in a very spiritual way � through teaching.  Loved the course, connected to it and made it my passion for 6 weeks!  So come join us, ignite a passion and feel the shift.  Omek, in-depth transformational learning for YOU.



   In the Media
Naperville Sun
Wednesday, Nov 3rd, 2010
J-Wire
Tuesday, Nov 2nd, 2010
The News-Press, Southwest Florida
Tuesday, Nov 2nd, 2010
The Rice Thresher
Monday, Nov 1st, 2010
Jewishinstlouis.org
Wednesday, Oct 27th, 2010
NY Blueprint
Tuesday, Oct 26th, 2010
Winnipeg Jewish Review
Tuesday, Oct 26th, 2010
North South Brunswick Sentinel
Tuesday, Oct 26th, 2010
Vail Daily News
Tuesday, Oct 26th, 2010
Miami's Community Newspapers
Monday, Oct 18th, 2010
South African Jewish Report
Thursday, Oct 14th, 2010
St. Louis Jewish Light
Thursday, Oct 14th, 2010
Norwich Bulletin
Thursday, Oct 14th, 2010
Swampscott Reporter
Thursday, Oct 14th, 2010
J-Wire
Thursday, Oct 14th, 2010
Warwick Beacon
Thursday, Oct 14th, 2010
Jewish Ledger
Thursday, Oct 14th, 2010
Reston Connection
Thursday, Oct 14th, 2010
TribLocal.com
Tuesday, Sep 14th, 2010
lubavitch.com
Tuesday, Sep 14th, 2010
Sparta Independent
Friday, May 14th, 2010
The Vancouver Sun
Monday, May 10th, 2010
Stockton Record
Thursday, Apr 29th, 2010
Skokie Review
Thursday, Apr 29th, 2010
Jewish Review
Wednesday, Apr 28th, 2010
Jewish Press of Tampa
Wednesday, Apr 28th, 2010
Roseville Press Tribune
Monday, Apr 26th, 2010
Summit Daily News
Monday, Apr 26th, 2010
Jewish Review
Monday, Apr 26th, 2010
Lubavitch.com
Monday, Apr 26th, 2010
Madison Eagle
Monday, Apr 26th, 2010
Beliefnet.com
Monday, Apr 26th, 2010
SILive.com
Monday, Apr 26th, 2010
Boulder Jewish News
Wednesday, Apr 14th, 2010
Santa Barbara News-Press
Wednesday, Apr 14th, 2010
Daily Record
Wednesday, Apr 14th, 2010
5 Towns Jewish Times
Wednesday, Apr 14th, 2010
TheAlternativePress.com
Wednesday, Apr 14th, 2010
SILive.com
Wednesday, Apr 14th, 2010
5 Towns Jewish Times
Thursday, Apr 1st, 2010
The Montreal Gazette
Tuesday, Mar 16th, 2010
Toledo Blade
Monday, Feb 8th, 2010
Hartford Courant
Tuesday, Feb 2nd, 2010
Norwich Bulletin
Monday, Feb 1st, 2010
Cincinnati.com
Monday, Feb 1st, 2010
Asheville Citizen-Times
Wednesday, Jan 27th, 2010
Westchester.com
Wednesday, Jan 27th, 2010
Vail Daily News
Wednesday, Jan 27th, 2010
Jewish Press of Pinellas County
Wednesday, Jan 27th, 2010
New Jersey Jewish Standard
Tuesday, Jan 26th, 2010
Madison Eagle
Monday, Jan 25th, 2010
NorthJersey.com
Wednesday, Jan 20th, 2010
Recorder Community Newspapers
Tuesday, Jan 19th, 2010
The Alternative Press
Monday, Jan 18th, 2010
Cincinnati.Com
Wednesday, Jan 13th, 2010
Florida Sun Sentinel
Wednesday, Jan 13th, 2010

Friday, Dec 18th, 2009
Jewish Times of Southern New Jersey
Friday, Dec 11th, 2009
Lubavitch.com
Thursday, Dec 3rd, 2009
Lower Hudson Journal news
Wednesday, Dec 2nd, 2009
Daily Breeze
Monday, Nov 30th, 2009
JackCentral - Flagstaff, AZ
Thursday, Nov 19th, 2009
Jewish Press - August 2009
Wednesday, Nov 18th, 2009
Toledo Blade
Monday, Nov 9th, 2009
Charlotte Sun
Thursday, Nov 5th, 2009
The Westender - Brisbane's Urban Voice www.westender.com.au
Thursday, Oct 29th, 2009
The Westender - Brisbane's Urban Voice www.westender.com.au
Thursday, Oct 29th, 2009
Cincinnati.com
Thursday, Oct 29th, 2009
YourNepean.com
Wednesday, Oct 28th, 2009
NJ.com
Wednesday, Oct 28th, 2009
Orlando Judaism Examiner
Friday, Oct 23rd, 2009
SILive.com
Friday, Oct 23rd, 2009
The Riverdale Press
Thursday, Oct 22nd, 2009
Asheville Citizen-Times
Wednesday, Oct 21st, 2009
The Billings Gazette
Monday, Oct 19th, 2009
The Swampscott Reporter
Friday, Sep 25th, 2009
The Westender
Monday, Sep 14th, 2009
Palm Beach Daily News
Sunday, Sep 6th, 2009
Jewish Press
Thursday, May 21st, 2009
Jewish Press
Thursday, May 21st, 2009
Jewish Press
Thursday, May 21st, 2009
Five Towns Jewish Times Online
Friday, May 8th, 2009
www.hometownlife.com
Monday, May 4th, 2009
Jewish Times of Southern New Jersey
Monday, May 4th, 2009
chicagojewishnews.com
Friday, Feb 20th, 2009
Vail Daily
Monday, Feb 16th, 2009
YourHub.com
Monday, Feb 16th, 2009
Calgary Herald
Monday, Feb 9th, 2009
The Stonington Times
Thursday, Feb 5th, 2009
NJ.com Somerset
Wednesday, Feb 4th, 2009
baltimoresun.com
Wednesday, Feb 4th, 2009
NJ.com
Wednesday, Feb 4th, 2009
silive.com
Monday, Jan 26th, 2009
Westender-Brisbane
Monday, Jan 26th, 2009
Jewish Times of Southern New Jersey
Wednesday, Jan 21st, 2009
wickedLocal.com- Swamscott
Tuesday, Jan 20th, 2009
Chabad Jewish Learning Institute of Winnipeg
Tuesday, Jan 20th, 2009
silive.com
Monday, Jan 19th, 2009
Jewish Times-SJ
Monday, Jan 19th, 2009
Baltimore Jewish Times - November 7, 2008
Thursday, Jan 1st, 2009
The Gazette (Montreal)
Thursday, Dec 11th, 2008
Greater Media Newspapers
Thursday, Dec 11th, 2008
Toledo Blade
Thursday, Dec 11th, 2008
jewishinstlouis.org
Thursday, Dec 11th, 2008
Daily Pilot
Thursday, Dec 11th, 2008
Singapore Outreach Program
Thursday, Dec 11th, 2008
The Westender
Thursday, Dec 11th, 2008
Vail Daily News
Thursday, Dec 11th, 2008
The Tennessean
Thursday, Dec 11th, 2008
Calgary Herald
Thursday, Dec 11th, 2008
Cincinnati.com
Thursday, Dec 11th, 2008
Canadian Jewish News
Thursday, Dec 11th, 2008
Student
Thursday, Dec 11th, 2008
Asheville Citizen-Times
Tuesday, Nov 4th, 2008
WESTENDER
Friday, Oct 31st, 2008
News Press
Friday, Oct 31st, 2008
Thousand Oaks Acorn
Friday, Oct 31st, 2008
The Baltimore Sun
Friday, Oct 31st, 2008
YourHub.com
Friday, Oct 31st, 2008
The Wisconsin Jewish Chronicle
Friday, Oct 31st, 2008
Jewish Press
Friday, Oct 31st, 2008
Staten Island Advance
Monday, Oct 27th, 2008
Lubavitch.com
Friday, Aug 22nd, 2008
Calgary Herald
Thursday, May 15th, 2008
Voices
Tuesday, May 13th, 2008
5 Towns Jewish Times
Monday, Mar 31st, 2008
Hunterdon County Democrat
Tuesday, Feb 5th, 2008
Calgary Herald
Saturday, Feb 2nd, 2008
www.JewishTelegraph.com
Wednesday, Jan 2nd, 2008
Town-Crier
Tuesday, Jan 1st, 2008
www.lubavitch.com
Monday, Dec 31st, 2007
The Jewish Telegraph
Monday, Dec 31st, 2007
Calgary Herald
Thursday, Nov 22nd, 2007
Arutz Sheva (www.IsraelNationalNews.com)
Wednesday, Nov 21st, 2007
www.JewishTelegraph.com
Friday, Nov 9th, 2007
Northbrook Star
Thursday, Nov 1st, 2007
http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20071027/NEWS/710270537/1001/NEWS0105
Saturday, Oct 27th, 2007
Tallahassee Democrat (FL)
Friday, Oct 26th, 2007
Jewish Review (Portland, OR)
Friday, Oct 26th, 2007
The Gazette (Colorado Springs)
Friday, Oct 26th, 2007
The Tennessean (Nashville, TN)
Friday, Oct 26th, 2007
CJN (Cleveland)
Friday, Oct 26th, 2007
Jewish Exponent
Friday, Oct 19th, 2007
JTA News Wire
Friday, Oct 19th, 2007
Towne Crier Online (Wellington, FL)
Friday, Oct 19th, 2007
The Reporter (Broome County, NY)
Friday, Oct 19th, 2007
Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle
Friday, Oct 19th, 2007
The Jewish Exponent (Philadelphia)
Friday, Oct 19th, 2007
thestate.com
Monday, Oct 15th, 2007
The Atlanta Jewish Times
Monday, Oct 15th, 2007
Westchester.com
Monday, Oct 15th, 2007
The Jewish Review
Sunday, Oct 7th, 2007
The Jewish Review
Sunday, Oct 7th, 2007

Monday, Aug 20th, 2007
Pocono Record
Wednesday, Nov 8th, 2006
Pocono Record
Wednesday, Nov 8th, 2006
Daily Camera
Monday, Nov 6th, 2006
Sun Sentinel
Saturday, Sep 16th, 2006
Washington Jewish Week
Thursday, Mar 30th, 2006

Tuesday, Mar 28th, 2006
Wrangler News
Sunday, Jan 29th, 2006
Jewish Exponent
Thursday, Dec 29th, 2005
The Californian
Wednesday, Nov 30th, 2005
The Californian
Wednesday, Nov 30th, 2005
Newday
Monday, Nov 28th, 2005
Nassau Herald
Monday, Nov 28th, 2005

Monday, Nov 21st, 2005
The Day
Wednesday, Nov 2nd, 2005

Thursday, Aug 11th, 2005
Richmond Times-Dispatch - Dec 11, 2004
Thursday, Dec 30th, 2004
Jewish News - Dec 20, 2004
Thursday, Dec 30th, 2004
Jewish Learning Institute�s interactive course to apply ancient wisdom to modern issues
Thursday, Dec 30th, 2004

Friday, Dec 17th, 2004
University-level adult education program utilizes text analysis to probe major dramas in the Book of Genesis
Sunday, Dec 5th, 2004
The Newtown Gazette
Thursday, Oct 21st, 2004
The Newtown Gazette
Thursday, Oct 21st, 2004

Friday, Oct 15th, 2004
Jewish Reflector - October issue
Monday, Sep 27th, 2004
Jewish News - Sept. Edition
Monday, Sep 27th, 2004
Richmond Times Dispatch, Sept. 18, 2004
Monday, Sep 27th, 2004





Print this page
Print
 Email to a friend
E-mail

Warning: Unknown(): write failed: No space left on device (28) in Unknown on line 0

Warning: Unknown(): Failed to write session data (files). Please verify that the current setting of session.save_path is correct (/tmp) in Unknown on line 0