Rabbi Wayne Dosick, Ph.D. Scholar-in-Residence Weekend Topics
Dancing with God When Life Hurts
Suggested: Friday evening pulpit sermon or after dinner talk.
DANCING WITH GOD
WHEN LIFE HURTS
When we are faced with the pain and anguish of life’s tragedies, how do we cope? How do we pick up the broken pieces of our lives and become whole again? How can we believe in a supposedly just and loving God when life seems so unfair? Where is God when we need God most? A journey from hurt to healing; a summons not merely to endure but to prevail; a promise of hope restored and life renewed.
[divider]xxx[/divider]
Suggested: Shabbat after lunch (the companion teaching to the Friday evening sermon)
OUR GOD OF EVIL; OUR GOD OF GOOD
Using biblical, rabbinic, liturgical, kabbalistic, and chasidic texts study what Jewish tradition teaches about God’s role
in the good and evil that life presents.
or…
I PRAY THAT I AM ABLE TO PRAY
Using biblical, rabbinic, liturgical, kabbalistic, and chasidic texts, explore the purpose and possibilities, and the efficacy of prayer. What is the psycho-spiritual prayer-dynamic that our sages conceived, and how does prayer work? When you talk, does God listen? When God talks, do you hear?
or…
LIVING IN SACRED COMMUNITY
AND BEING ALONE WITH GOD
Using biblical, rabbinic, liturgical, kabbalistic, chasidic, and modern texts, here is a guide for forming kehillah, and creating a conscious, holy community, and, at the same time, for being in deep, personal, relationship with God. The contemporary dynamic tension between law and spirit; exile and return; chosen-ness and choosing; tradition and renewal; mind, heart, and soul.
If a fifth presentation is wanted during the weekend, either of these alternative teachings can be adapted to another setting, including being shortened into a Shabbat morning pulpit sermon
[divider]xxx[/divider]
Suggested: Saturday evening
The Centerpiece Workshop
KABBALAH ALIVE!
A SoulJourney into the Tree of Life
With sweet melodies, and meditative prayer discover the way to “zoom” into God’s holy presence; to connect and communicate with God in deep, intimate relationship; new ways to talk to God and listen as God responds; and to fulfill the yearnings of heart and soul. “How-to-Do” Kabbalah — Anytime. Anywhere. All in just 20 minutes a day!
.
[divider]xxx[/divider]
Suggested: Sunday morning (especially for parents)
BRINGING UP ETHICAL CHILDREN IN UNETHICAL TIMES
Inspirational advice and a practical, everyday guide to teaching and modeling ethical values and moral behavior to our children; for showing them the difference between right and wrong. Be inspirited to make the promises to our children that will help grow their hearts and souls.
or…
YOUR MONEY AND YOUR LIFE: YOU CAN HAVE BOTH
Using ancient spiritual wisdom to find meaning and worth, values and ethics in the modern marketplace; finding satisfaction and fulfillment at work and at play; knowing that you can do well and do good.
or…
JEWISH ENCHANTMENTS
A joyful journey into the nusach – prayer melodies – of the synagogue, and the songs and chants of the our Jewish heritage. With biblical, liturgical, chasidic, Israeli, and contemporary musical texts, we connect to the richness of the Jewish tradition, the deep friendship of community, the holy relationship with God, and the sublime sounds that touch our hearts and souls. Sing along, hum along, or just listen and enjoy; and lift up and celebrate your spirit.
or…
WHAT’S A NICE JEWISH BOY DOING AT CATHOLIC SCHOOL?
The growing synthesis of differing religious traditions and faith communities. The growing awareness that there is much more that unites us than divides us as children of the universe and children of God.
and…
As a stand-alone presentation, or incorporated into one of the Shabbat talks: a preview of Rabbi’s Dosick’s newest work.
FOUND!
GOD’S REAL NAME
An intriguing and fascinating account of the discovery of the real Name of God — that has been hiding in plain sight in the Bible all these years — and an introduction to the full Essence of the Complete, Whole God; an exploration of the pathways of mind and spirit that bring us to the transcendent, supernatural God of the universe, and to the God of deep, personal, intimate, loving relationship — the immanent God Within.
and…
Available at any time / venue during the weekend, or as a stand-alone program…
best as an evening program for a large audience,
or adapted for after-dinner entertainment, donor / honoree recognition, and, especially, fund-raising.
JEWISH WRY
Hilarious stories and poignant tales. Jewish laughter, Jewish tears. In the jester lives the deepest truths, so, the wisdom of the ages is in this contemporary comedy. Good, old-fashioned humor; good-spirited fun. Nu. So, what could be bad?