Title: Strength Eternal

Gender: Male

Age: 29

Sun Sign: Pisces

Chinese Sign: Metal Monkey

Location: Brooklyn, New York

The spiritual world beckons and as I build every moment I strive to self actualize the potential to do what I must- feel the real thirst for momentum.

I grew up in Montana, more or less off-the-land.  As I worked to develop my writing and performing skills I delved cross cultural religious views and scriptures.  I began to form my own conceptualizations about this life, the soul, the Universe, G-d- which I described at that time as Everything and Nothing at once the Endless Light of Love, the paradoxical Unity of Good and Evil infused with purposeful Fate (each “coincidence” as a synonym).  By the time I began college I found myself to be performing poetry and music and acting in community theatre.  I decided to take up the study of Cultural Anthropology leading me to in depth Lakota practices in which I began experiencing sweat lodge ceremony on a monthly basis. 

The local community of The Flathead Valley in Northwest Montana is decidedly Christian in influence and I have many good Christian friends who I would describe as the type that believe in G-d and truly value good connections with others.  I was always somewhat sensitive or at least aware of my Jewish heritage and expressed what I knew, which was not much at the time.  In the forests of Montana there were not many Jews, but I sought out a few individuals who could teach me a little.  Finding myself with no real teachers I began the task of learning mantra meditation from a Buddhist teacher I knew nearby.  I followed the regime for over a year and gained much insight on the process of quieting the inner self. 

            One day upon completion of a meditation I looked to my book shelf where my Jewish prayer book sat alongside my prayer shawl and I thought, “I’m doing this meditation, why am I not doing that one?”  I took down the holy tools and, wrapping myself in the tallit, I read the only Jewish mantra I knew, Shma Yisroeal Hashem Elokaynue Hashem Echa (Hear Israel the Lord your G-d the Lord is One).  With that I began learning more about Jewish meditations and mystical Kabbalistic teachings.  I maintained my Buddhist meditation in connection with my Jewish practices.  I learned from the internet a little and found a few more individuals who helped me learn and connect more to my Jewish self.  Early in that year (January 2001) I met a Rabbi on the internet who directed me to a yeshiva (Rabbinic Seminary, which is more or less like monastic life that culminates in marraige) in Brooklyn, NY.  I didn’t think I’d go.  I wanted to, but found myself stuck working and trying to get back to college somehow. 

            I then took a trip to Israel.  There’s an amazing organization that sends Jewish students to Israel for a free ten day trip.  There’s much to be said of the aim of such a program, but for my part I took off the next four months and backpacked around the small country on a spiritual quest.  I stopped in Brooklyn just prior and was given an offer to return to the yeshiva to work teaching English to the Yiddish speaking kids while learning the mystical Chassidic teachings and organized spiritual practices of my ancestors.  I’ve spent the last five years learning and working in Brooklyn.  I’ve traveled hear and there to help Rabbis with Rabbinic work or just to share and explore the spiritual explosion that’s abound in the world today.  It’s a true blessing and very powerful.

I am now back to college- working to complete a double major in Cultural Anthropology and Psychology.  I’ve a few ideas on where to go, but am always striving to create new innovative ways to learn and share.  I enjoy many things, but the best of them all is broadening my spiritual self.  I am also in the process of finishing my Rabbinic degree.

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