Renewal Brit

Renewal Brit Introduction The following is a suggestion for a recommitment ceremony, to help us guide our consciousness towards the same goals. It is based on the idea of a marriage recommitment ceremony (Reb Zalman suggests that couples renew their vows from time to time, at least every seven years), and on a teaching about the advantage of Pi.u:im over Shavuot. Na'aseh V'nishma means we will do and then understand. This innocent offer was made by the ancestral Jews at Sinai. After we've been doing for a while, we come to understand more clearly what's at stake in the lifestyle. Then it is time to make a more mature ceremony of recommitment, ratification, vigorously backing up the first offer. In our history, this was said to have occurred at Purim, when the people were put to the test of their Jewish identification as symbolized in Esther. At that time the Jews ratified and upheld (Kimu V'Kiblu) what their ancestors had offered at Sinai. The next level of Na'aseh V'Nishma is Ki'mu V'Kiblu. Shavuot, which is compared to a marriage, was the initial giving of the Torah. On Purim, this acceptance was ratified by the Jewish people, thus it is compared to a recommitment ceremony. On Shavuot we offer our commitment in a naive way since we haven't lived out the lifestyle yet. After living out the commitment for a while, we may choose to do a recommitment ceremony where we answer the questions, "Now that we've been doing this for a while, would we recommit to it? Is it still worthwhile? Is it worth our loyalty, staunch steadfastness, perseverance and so on? If the answer is yes, we may wish to join in doing a Purim-type Shavuot-Brit, on which we uphold, ratify, back up, and recommit to what we have always held to be our goals. Just for clarification sake, a Brit is a covenant, a formal agreement between two or more partners, a bond, pact, deal or promise. Abraham made a Brit between God, himself and all his descendants. This was the beginning of the Jewish Hevra. Some say that in a deal, we each get something, and there is an explicit consequence if one partner renegs on the deal. A declaration made as a group provides the opportunity to clearly articulate our life goals, to become aware of our implicit moral-spiritual commitments. Without a clear statement, our values remain ambiguous. Without a statement before others, we are unaccountable and therefore uncommitted. It is not any specific thing that we are asking you to commit to or consider. At this point the exploration is merely, "What in your life have you already committed to? Is it still a valid real commitment? Would you recommit to it again? Is it still important to you? What, if anything, would you like to commit to? What are the values for which you would swear on the Torah? We already are adept at making promises for which we are unaccountable. We all want to improve ourselves, increase the love in our families, be good people, etc. Try to use this process as an opportunity to see deeper, to commit to the meta level of your value system. Try to connect your goals in a spiritual/Divine/context, placing your desires next to God. These ceremonies, or Jewish Renewal Brits are an exploration based on the assumption that we are all in stages of 'conversion' within Jewish Renewal. Jewish Renewal Jews are all Jews by Choice inasmuch as they had to overcome many obstacles to openly embrace Judaism. These statements may sound different according to your choice of language: For example, which of the following would you want to commit yourself to? • Recomitting to one's family. • Making a Brit with the company present. •with your work • to service • Making a Brit with the larger community • Making a Brit with the local community. •Making a Brit with the Torah •Making a Brit with the universe • Making a Brit with The Intelligent Universe • Making a Brit with the Jewish God or • Making a Brit with God as Jewishness understands it. • Making a Brit with Universal God • Making a Brit with the Ayn Sof. Suggestion: The most important part of this is in the doing, the "evidence" of your commitment. You may even consider detailing a particular consequence for not keeping your Brit. It may be helpful to choose the "evidence" first and later decide on the language of the Brit that this evidence manifests. Additional evidence suggestions •offer space for at least one meeting for a group this year. •offer to do some research for the group. •offer to type something up •offer to help publicize an event •offer to help plan an event •offer to do some charity, such as $75, to the Aquarian Minyan or Tikkun, if you do not keep your part of the bargain. rit l)rologl,,(e: The group assembles around a Khumash or Torah. All pile their hands over the holy object. L'.sfiem'fi/ifr,ud'1(utf'sliafi'B'ri{di:J{uV.'.sli'/ifr,intay :)'udJ{ay 'Vov J{ay May tfie Words of Our Afoutfis and tfie contempCationsof our fiearts 'Be5lccepta6{eto you My (jod. The group spokesperson reads: May the words of our mouths be a clear expression of the meditations of our hearts. May this our dedication and Renewal Brit help us bond together into a strengthened Hevra of strengthened individuals joining towards a better cell of society. May our hearts and hands act out our spirit. May our unconscious and conscious selves harmonize together on the following. We take a moment to do an act of Teshuvah and free ourselves from the guilt and shame which disempower us. May our minds be open and alert, ready to yield without pride. The following represents our group-heart statement: PreparationChant to drums (continues echoing): Knnu V'kiblu hayehudim (sounded, at own pace) Statement is read by spokesperson phrase by phrase with group answering responsively: On the issue of ----We feel/ dedicate ourselves to Of which we offer the following evidence of accountability: ... Those present uphold and (more or less fully) accept this statement. and pronounce the acceptance statement of Na'aseh V'nishma, chanting and moving in free spirit, each according to their own timing. Sealing Chant (to drums) "And they said: epilogwe Na'aseh v'nishma stt1tett1ent Spokesperson: And if at any moment in the days of our life any thoughts or doubts arise in our hearts not in harmony with these words we renounce it as of this moment. This does not cancel honest reappraisal, but strengthens our resolve to examine inner doubts, As we leamto accept the depth of the inner message) while standing clear in our commitments to each other before God. ~ evidenceof tlii.swe wi[{ come togetlierto evaluate tlieforce of tlii.s'Brit ne?(_t year in tlii.sseason. 5ldonai meCe/ifr,, 5ldonai maCa[di, 5ldonai yimlo/ifr,,L'oCamva-ed (2X) 5ldonai liu lia-eColiim{7 X) 'Baru{disliem kf;od ma{k_liutoCoCamva-ed (3 xJ Sponsor eme:IWitnesses' 'Response: 5lma n, So Afa it 'Be,:l{f.ver(jive V. . 1) Commitment to Emunah - Faith in the sacred: We believe in holding some things sacred. We understand the sacred as a doorway to the infinite, that which is beyond our concepts and attainments, a transcendent source that is also within us, the origin of origins, first, last and always, unique, was, is, and will be, in whom is absorbed all intelligence and besides w horn there is no other . .>'f.s evidence of tlii.s we eacli promise a specific amount of time and money to tlie efforts of tlii.s community'.; growtli. Restatement: Making a 'Brit to 'Be a Melper to the Torah 2) Commitment to Torah - Increasing Consciousness We create our Brit with the intelligence of the universe. May what we do contribute to the consciousness of all beings within the Holy One and cause only nakhas to our Creato·r. We commit our intelligence to help integrate the ancient tradition with who we are, the Torah of the ages with our inner spirit-wisdom, the holistic with the transpersonal, the Jewish with the universal so that the upper Torah be reunited with the lower Torah . .>'f.sevidence of tli.i.swe eacfi.promise to study an.amemorizeone new verse oftfi.e'Iorafi.. Restatement: Making a 'Brit to Manifest the Cotttpassion of the Uni\lerse Bln4 3) Commitment to Hitpashtut- Generosity We believe with all our faith in the abundant richness of the universe, of the multidimensionality of all existence, of worlds countless in number, and details and organization levels that have no finitude. Each dimension, created by the Creator-Whole is imprinted with perfection and is perfect unto itself. We affirm that generosity and expansion is the basic nature of the universe which is bursting with light and constant energetic explosions to which we are blind and mute . .>'f.sevidence of tli.i.swe eacfi.promise to fi.e{pin tfi.efood preparationfor tli.i.scommunity. Restatement: Making a 'Brit to 'Bring o"tr Deepest Vali.ces into oi.cr Relationships 4) Commitment to Devekut - Cleaving We commit to include in spending time with family and friends some way that we can overtly commune with the Divine. Our intention is that our personal, family, and communal actions be filled with God's Light with as much open consciousness as possible . .>'f.sevidenceof tli.i.swe eacfi.promise to read an.adiscuss a seCection from a fi.o[y 600/cto our family on Slia66at. Restatement: 5) Commitment to Teshuvah- Self-Correction It is our desire to follow the Divine way and to continue to correct our path as we stray. Our vow, Brit and dedication is to live in a state of continuous re-alignment with our Divine self. To the extent that we waver and move off this potential, we feel or know ourselves to be out of balance. We desire to be guided with compassionate guidance and to be separated from the domains of confusion and fragmentation. 5ls evi.denceof tliis we eaclipromise to meet witli our 'Tesliuvali6uddy in one nwntli and say wliere we are at witli tfzis covenant. Restatement: Making a ~rit with the Meart·Wa)' Tileret 6) Commitment to L'vaviut - Heartfulness We accept the responsibility to do whatever we can to open our hearts and to live in that state as much as possible. We ask for ongoing help to do this: may love become unblocked in our heart, may the Divine One open the depths of our hearts and soul, and may all come to a heartfelt way of acting and speaking, feeling, knowing and being. 5ls evidenceof tliis we eadt promise to offer a lia[f an liour taC{dngto someonewlio is currently suffering. Restatement: 7) Commitment to Avodah - Effective Service We accept upon ourselves to realize •some arena of stewardship in the areas of ecology and social action, •to become a help to those struggling for a better society, •an ally to those struggling for food, clothing, housing, and a life of value and meaning. We accept on ourselves to be an ally to the service goals of the Jewish Renewal Movement 5ls evidence of tliis we eaclipromise to do at feast 15 minutes a aay tidying up, picKf,ngup and cfeaning up during tliis retreat togetlier.. Restatement: 8) Commitment to Mesirut L'Kedushah- Dedication to Holiness With the power of the Torah that is available we stand before God and offer ourselves to Divine direction in the manner that God will suggest to me. Cause Your holiness to dwell within me and guide me in the way I should go. 5ls evidence of tliis we wi1£eaclispend a fia{f an liour supporting one otlier to define for liim or lier self, wliat clivine direction tliey are liearing,as voiced in tlieir deepestconcernsand fears. Restatement: Yesoa 9a) Commitment to Rukhniut - the Spirit Life We believe that the soul has some continuity after earthly death, that processes of cleansing heals the soul and restore it to its source. We affirm faith in life as a process of soul-making. We see life as a process of developing a soul. Rituals conveyed in a serious mode can help the soul's vision, and to center around one's truest priorities. Jil5 evi.t:fence of tliis we wi[( come togetlierto say a 1(p,daisni:n, a cemeteryupon tne nearingof tne ne;ctdeatfi. Restatement: Soti,<e1rit)I ,<e01.elre1tionwith those who go e1Uthe Wei)'. 9b) Commitment Yesod to Hitkashrut - Binding We consider ourselves aligned with the inspiration of all the transmitters of the Torah-tradition from Sinai, expressed and glorified by prophets and Tzadikkim of each generation. We desire to tie our spirit to the One with a strong tie from now until the very last moment of our life with all holy and enlightened beings whose mind, heart and soul adhere to the One with devotion unto death. We offer our conscious and unconscious mind, spirit and soul, to our community locally and to the communities of all Israel. We will participate in local Shabbat and holyday celebrations, offering our presence, time, money, intelligence, and energetic participation to support the endeavors of the local community. We will invigorate the community with our presence. jf.s evufence of tft.is we wifI attena at {east two community Sfi.a66at ce{e6rations a montft.. Restatement: Me1king e1 'Brit with the Vwlnere1ble M.:ilkhwt 10) Dedication to Hishtavut - Equality Wherever we are, we dedicate ourselves to create safety, mutual respect and equal advantage to male and female, young and old, gay and straight, enlightened and not yet enlightened, in all races, colors and creeds. May we become a force for justice and increased acceptance, tolerance and respectful loving in the world. Jil5 evi.t:fence of tliis we wi[[ discuss tne su6ject of i:n.toferance 'Witneacn otlierfor a fia(f an liour. Restatement: M.:ilkhwt 10b) KabbalatOl - Accepting Yoke of Heaven We accept upon ourselves and upon our children's children until the end of all generations and on all sparks related to our soul, spirit and psyche, the yoke of sacred reverence, the yoke of the Torah, the yoke of God's holy commandments. We declare that our will, intention and aim henceforth is to serve the Higher Intelligence without transgressing that will. We are prepared to submit our will, strength, and desire to help the divine will always. Jil5 evi.t:fence of tliis we wi[[ discussfor a fia(f an liour tlie faws and customs of Slia66at. epilog~e And if at any moment in the days of our life any thoughts or doubts arise in our hearts not in harmony with these words I have spoken we renounce it as of this moment. This does not cancel honest reappraisal, but strengthens our resolve to examine inner doubts, accepting the depth of the inner message while standing clear in our commitments to each other before God. awareness. 5'lsevuunce oftliis we wi[[ cometogetlierto evaluatetlieforce oftfiis :Britne;,.;J; year. Otliereviae.ncesuggestums •offer spacefor at feast one muting for agroup tfiis year. •offer to aosomeresearcfi for tliegroup. •offer to type sometliingup •offer to lie{ppu6{icizean.went •offer to lie[ppfan an.event •offer to aosomecliarity. Restatement: 'E.LO:H:JL'YJ{'ll, (When declaration is made before a group of ten, or in the presence of a Sefer Torah, add the following) 'Barukfisliem k]Jodmalkfiuto Cofam va-ed (3 xJ .9Ldonailiu lia-efuliimr1x; .9LdonairneCekfi, .9Lcfonai malaf(li,.9Ldonai yimfuk.{i,.L'o{amva-ed r2x; Sponsor an" Witnesses• 'Response: IJ!Lmayn,So May it 'Be,')./j,ver(jive 'Up.I