Kallah awakens the Jewish soul

LORNE MALLIN SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH BULLETIN

Dozens of Lower Mainland Jews have returned from a remarkable experience at the 10th International ALEPH Kallah. Many have expressed renewed commitment to their Judaism after the June 30-July 6 gathering of more than 700 people from around the world at Western Washington University in Bellingham, Wash.

"I was taken to depths of davening (prayer) that opened places inside I have never known before," said Carol Ann Fried, a board member of Vancouver's Or Shalom Synagogue, which is affiliated with the Kallah's sponsor, ALEPH: Alliance for Jewish Renewal. The Kallah, which means gathering in Hebrew, is held every two years.

"I learned about kabbalah and ritual," she said. "My heart sang literally and figuratively, led by our own Myrna Rabinowitz, the Chutzpah festival's Linda Hirschhorn and a multitude of amazing rabbis-with-guitars. I deepened my connection with members of our own Vancouver chavurot (friends) and made new friends with other Jewish Renewalniks."

Fried played a key role on the Kallah planning committee as the liaison for dining room, which consistently produced superb kosher vegetarian fare. Other local people involved included international advocate Rabbi Nomi Oren, seniors advocate Gloria Levi and registration co-ordinator Raziel Ross.

More than 40 Canadians attended, with most from the Vancouver area, including several from Bowen Island, Victoria, Nelson, Calgary and Edmonton. On Canada Day, the dining areas were festooned with Canadian flags, posters and fact-filled cards. Canadians sat together for breakfast under a six-foot flag. Or Shalom co-founder Rabbi Daniel Siegel, now ALEPH rabbinic director, spoke of Canada's contributions to world and Jewish renewal and led the singing of O Canada.

Among the highlights of the Kallah was the daily choice of eight different morning services, shmoozing in the courtyard, the Shabbat afternoon performance by the Kids' Kallah and shopping in the giftshop/bookstore. A best-seller was Hazzan Richard Kaplan's new CD, Life of the Worlds, which is available at Banyen Books. Kaplan was a hit of the 2000 Westcoast Sacred Music Festival in Vancouver.

For Or Shalom's Kymn Goodman, the Kallah was much more than she expected. A singer-songwriter, she performed at the late-night lounge and intro-duced her liturgical compo-sitions at several services.

"In my drumming class, I learned kabbalah, in my voice class I learned trust, in my choir I learned about listening and community," she said. "So many life lessons. The rabbis were so inspirational. I was so moved by their words and their melodies. I was so impressed with the huge amount of effort that so many contributed to create this amazing week of Torah and shalom. It has given me new hope for my journey, the journey of Or Shalom, and that of the world."

The experience was particularly poignant for Janice Cramer, a board member of Vancouver's newest congregation, Ahavat Olam.

"I was able to share yahrzeit for my dad with a large community," she said. "In this way, I was able to take the memory of my father into the circle of mourning and remembering and it was a blessing."

The week has also inspired Cramer to want to take part in the Davennen' Leadership Training Institute, in which Susan Shamash Polsky of Or Shalom is enrolled.

"I was so inspired by Marcia Prager's workshop on davening that I would love to expand my learning in her two-year leadership training for davening," Cramer said. "This is a dream that I pray will happen."

Maggy Kaplan, another Ahavat Olam board member, said the Kallah had a significant impact on her Jewish identity.

"For someone who has avoided being Jewish for most of my adult life, one of the things that struck me the most was how great Shabbat was, and I found myself wondering why everyone wouldn't want to be Jewish," she said. "It was an inspiring week in so many ways, and there is a lot that I am bringing into my life from it, but I think that the unequivocal acceptance of my Jewish identity is the biggest gift I got from the Kallah."

Several Vancouver-area residents led workshops and other events at the Kallah. Aviel Barclay taught Shalhevetyah: The Holy Flame of the Aleph-Bet; Rabbi Nomi Oren taught Peace as Process: Coming to Know Peace, to Grow Ourselves as Peacemakers and led A Walk in Shabbat Consciousness; Alan Morinis taught The Duties of the Heart: What an Ancient Jewish Source and Our Own Hearts Teach Us About Healing and Growth; Myrna Rabinowitz led singing leading into Shabbat and during seudat shlishit Saturday evening; and Mordehai Wosk led A Spiritual Mikveh – Talking to God.

Lorne Mallin, Kallah publicity co-ordinator, lives in Vancouver.

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