I went to Yom Kippur at Elat Chayyim in 2007 with a vague fantasy that there might be some way to graft the vine of the spiritual journey I had begun onto my old Jewish roots. The community I met and the services led by Rabbi David Ingber and Rabbi Jill Hammer helped me begin to do just that. When I learned that there was something called Romemu and it was happening regularly in NYC, I knew I had found my vineyard. I live in Southern California, but I was searching for the holy peace and joy that are unleashed during Shabbat: the great ruach, the beautiful Carlebachian melodies, and the rediscovery of my own inner Shabbat that comes with all of this. I wanted it during the rest of the week to lift me up and those I’d encounter. What stands out to me about Romemu every single time I think about it is the incredible joy and spirit that I encountered the very first time I visited. I try to bring that spirit with me everywhere I go, to share it with others and to lift up the dormant sparks and make the world a happier place. Rabbi David's honesty spoke to me like no other time at services. It is from the heart and about opening the heart. Life is about receiving love not just giving. A valuable lesson. The joy, yes the joy - for me and anyone whom I have brought, regardless of whether they are Jewish or not. And, the inclusion, the notion of being welcomed and accepted and having the focus be on our community, on everyone's connective, and collective, tissue. Having Romemu and David as part of my spiritual life has made a huge difference to me, and it has become a critical piece of my personal journey and continued transformation. I am a practicing, orthodox Jew and there is no other place where I feel so at home as I do at Romemu - my soul comes home to itself. I am reminded of Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach’s song: "return again, return again, return to the land of your soul, return to who you are, return to what you are, return to where you are born and re-born again..." At Romemu I return to who I am "a Chassidic woman" to what I am "a seeker among other seekers", to where I am, born and re-born again "Romemu". I have come to Romemu's Blessing of the Sun, and the second night Seder and I am heading back to Australia soon, so I will be joining the community in spirit. Simply put, I felt some magic. Thank you Rabbi David and the congregation for introducing me to your spirited form of Judaism. I am a lapsed Reform Jew who went to Temple and religious school from the time I was eight years old to seventeen. I am now in my late 50's and look forward to attending your services. I think this group gives Judaism hope. There is a tremendous amount of love that goes around. It is very touching. I recommend that you consider coming to a service on a Friday night when there is a potluck dinner and then just stay for the dinner and see what you think of the people you will meet. I have met entrepreneurs, authors, comedians, spiritual leaders, college professors, teachers, doctors, lawyers, artists, fashion designers - it is an amazingly accomplished group from what I have seen and yet very humble - and you just never know who is going to be there! And the real result for me has been a deeper understanding and joy in my Jewish practice, connection with my internal spirit, and connection with my family and community. Romemu is not for everyone. It is for those who are willing and ready to really explore at a deep level, their connection to love. I know that I am fully engaged at Romemu because I have my eyes shut, I am singing, and I cannot hear my voice --- it is like being surrounded by a bubble of love! I do not know if it is the chanting, the music, the silence, the ability to pray in my body...or perhaps it is the meditative words of Rabbi David that opens my heart and allows me to feel more deeply my connection to the source of all life. It is always a pleasant surprise of what new ideas I will hear each week...it could be poetry that Rabbi David reads from sufi poets to kabbalists to philosphers...or Rabbi David's teachings that allow me to reach deeper into my understanding of the lessons of the Torah...or maybe its Rabbi David's vision of a spiritual center in the heart of Manhattan...that welcomes all and that allows for self expression. |