Honoring the Memory of

Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi, z"l
Founder of Aleph:
Alliance for Jewish Renewal

Ron Hart with Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi, z"l

Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi's innovations in Jewish worship include chanting prayers in English while retaining the traditional Hebrew cantillation, engaging worshippers in theological dialogue, leading meditation during services and the introduction of spontaneous movement and dance. Many of these techniques have also found their way into the more mainstream Jewish community.
Click to hear Reb Zalman chanting Psalms from his book, All Breathing Life Adores Your Name.

Schachter-Shalomi encourages diversity among his students and urges them to bring their own talents, vision, views and social justice values to the study and practice of Judaism. Based on the Hasidic writings of Rabbi Mordechai Yosef Leiner of Izbitz, he has taught that anything, even what others consider sin and heresy could be God's will. His detractors argue that his views are too unconventional, but his supporters argue that his approach empowers people and praise the range of Jewish ritual music and liturgical innovation that his work has encouraged.

His major academic work, Spiritual Intimacy: A Study of Counseling in Hasidism, was the result of his doctoral research on the spiritual direction used in Chabad Hasidism. He is a major presence in the field of Spiritual Direction (one-on-one counseling,) and he encourages the search for healthy spirituality in Jewish life. His groundbreaking work From Age-ing to Sage-ing: A Revolutionary Approach to Growing Older or "spiritual eldering," emphasizes working with seniors on coming to spiritual terms with aging and becoming mentors for younger adults.

Mourning the loss of Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi
See this piece highlighting Reb Zalman’s life and contributions to Jewish Renewal: http://www.dailycamera.com/News/ci_26084358/Zalman-SchachterShalomi-Boulder-rabbi-and-Jewish

University of Colorado Boulder Library
Go to the Zalman Schachter-Shalomi collection located online at this link:
http://libcudl.colorado.edu/zss/index.htm

Click Here for More Information on Reb Zalman

Recipient of Book Awards
A Hidden Light: Stories and Teachings of Early HaBaD and Bratzlav Hasidism
(Best Book in Philosophy & Religion, New Mexico/Arizona Book Awards)
Davening: A Guide to Meaningful Jewish Prayer
(Contemporary Jewish Life and Practice Award, National Jewish Book Award)
among others

 

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