Brookhaven Courier

Issue date: 10/8/07 Section: News

Media Credit: Lucy Ko Rabbi Hanan Schlesinger came to campus Sept. 19 to explain Jewish Kabbalah or mysticism.

Rabbi Hanan Schlesinger spent three hours Sept. 19 at Brookhaven College enlightening students and faculty on Jewish traditions such as Yom Kippur and Kabbalah.

He said the Jewish observance of Yom Kippur is a 10-day period of reflection, penitence and forgiveness.

Kabbalah is a journey beyond the physical world to enlightenment. Schlesinger said the word Kabbalah, in Hebrew, means to receive and accept tradition.

He said both Yom Kippur and Kabbalah have been in Judaism from the beginning of the religion. Kabbalah's origins are from Jewish biblical beliefs, which say people want to come closer to God.

Schlesinger said there is no right way to define Kabbalah because the definition is beyond words.

He said this means mystical words are difficult to understand because they are describing things that are indescribable.

On the other hand, he said Yom Kippur is a tradition that is easily explained. He said it happens every year during September or October.

The first nine days of observance are for soul searching, he said.

Individuals take inventory of their lives and ask forgiveness from anyone they have offended in the previous year.

Schlesinger said Jewish people consider how to improve personal behavior during the next year.

He said participants fast the last day, which begins Friday at sunset and continues through sunset on Saturday.

During the fast, participants do not eat, drink, bathe, have sex, sit comfortably or wear supportive shoes. The associated suffering Schlesinger said simulates grieving and death, which are considered blessings.

Schlesinger said without suffering one might indefinitely put off living a good and full life.

He said Yom Kippur ends with a meal shared by friends and family. With a clear conscience and new goals in mind, life begins anew, as does the Jewish New Year, he said.

When the lectures began many students said they did not know much about Kabbalah or Yom Kippur, but after the end they said Schlesinger aroused arguments, questions and answers.

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