The Honeycomb Project Rabbi Joshua Lesser Gayanne Geurin Amy Robertson, PhD Congregation Bet...
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Transcript of The Honeycomb Project Rabbi Joshua Lesser Gayanne Geurin Amy Robertson, PhD Congregation Bet...
The Honeycomb Project
Rabbi Joshua LesserGayanne Geurin
Amy Robertson, PhDCongregation Bet Haverim, Atlanta, GA
Elements of StrategyThe Original Va’ad
• By Invitation• Thoughtfully put together
Intentionally Diverse (Straight, Gay, Transgender, Men, Women, Different Ages, Parents, Partnered, Single, Intermarried, Multi-Ethnic Family, Jews of Color, Jews by Choice)
12 participants (reduced to 10)• Structure
Once a month (January-October) 1.5 hour Shabbat Morning Practice In people’s homes Generally led by rabbi, but had two gatherings successfully led by
other program leaders (Lay cantor and Exec Director)
Elements of Strategy Introducing it to the Community
• Word of Mouth – Our first Va’ad had such a positive experience that there was a buzz
• High Holy Day Launch Our Executive Director explained the launching of
this project as a part of her welcome. Our community has laypeople along with the rabbi
give d’vrei torah. This year the laypeople were from the original va’ad and everyone including the rabbi focused their sermons on a middah or two.
Elements of Strategy Introducing it to the Community
• Create Clarity, Consistency and Regular Engagement Visual and Conceptual Cohesion
The Honeycomb Project – The honeycomb as the visual represents individual middot as parts of a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts. The honeycomb was chosen to represent the unity and harmony of all of the middot working together so that the structure reaches it’s unique potential.
Elements of Strategy Introducing it to the Community
• Create an Iterative Process• Middah of the Month
(See )• Communicate through various
platforms Weekly e-newsletter Bookmarks Facebook Website Shabbat Services Rabbi Mails/Specialized Emails
Elements of Strategy Build on What Exists and is Successful
• Create another Va’ad So much excitement that we created two One that meets 2x a month and the other once a month One that is intentionally geared toward parents and does have
couples taking it together• Chant
CBH holds regular chant serviceso Weekly morning and monthly eveningo Occasional Shabbat chant services
Aligning chant practice and middah of the montho The kavanah before chant practice focuses on middah of month
(usually includes teaching and a focused consideration)o Chants will reflect an aspect of the middah
Elements of Strategy Chanting Example
Middah of the Month: Kavod
• Draw from teachings on holiness/kedushah in kavod section in the project’s curriculum (Isaiah, angels calling out: Holy Holy Holy .. “Where there is true holiness there is God’s kavod”) and Rabbi Shai Held’s recent teaching from protests on injustice and racism: Rabbi Joshua B. Levi says: "When a person walks on his or her way, a procession of angels walks before him or her and says, 'Make way for an image of the Blessed Holy One'" (Midrash Tehillim, 17).
Elements of Strategy Examples of Chants for Kavod Middah
Kadosh, Kadosh, KadoshAdonai tzevaotm’loh kol ha-ertz k’vodoHoly, Holy, Holy is Adonai of hosts, all the Earth is full of It’s Glory
Hareini mekabel alaiEt mitsvat haborehVeahavtah lerachah camochaVeahvtah chamocha(Leviticus 19 / morning prayers) I take upon myself to bond with the Creator’s commandment: Love your fellow human being as yourself
Galeh Galeh Galeh Galeh Kavod Malchutecha AleinuReveal the honor of your magnificence
Blessing Practice ( silent focused meditation)
May I, ( other by name)___be blessed with freedom from fear
May I, ___ be blessed with compassion
May I, ___ be blessed with lovingkindess
May I, ___ be blessed with peace
Elements of Strategy Meditation & Mussar
• Formerly Meditation and Mysticism• A monthly Shabbat meditation service with
text study• Example: Kavod text on Greeting People with
Shalom as recognizing God’s presence within them.
Elements of Strategy Culmination
• A Shabbaton open to the entire community engaging spiritual practices
• October 16-18, 2015
3 Most Successful Components
1. Chanting Supports middah teachings/experiences in other
congregational settings Creates community opportunity for deeper
immersion into the middah through a contemplative and mindfulness practice.
Weekly practice allows for people to go more deeply into the practice
3 Most Successful Components
2. Middah of the Month Includes the entire community Offers a “bite-size” learning and a practice Offers different learning and practice from
curriculum Can be printed out Supports the work of the Va’ads
3 Most Successful Components
3. The Post-Va’ad People are looking for more Group initiated Leadership opportunities
Biggest Challenges
• Adapting Curriculum Beyond binaries Different modalities Implications for privilege and gender roles More mindfulness
• Chanting Challenges Time for development of focused phrases, composing new
chants and researching existing chants Time for thoughtful design of integrating kavanah and chants
• People Feeling Excited
Integration
• The culminating retreat• Involving the community• Already part of the strategy/building on what
has already been enduring and successful in the synagogue.
• Integrate middah into conflict resolution