echad

The Search for Spiritual Enlightenment

The Search for Spiritual Enlightenment

The Search for Spiritual Enlightenment Growing up in the Sixties, I experienced the hippy movement and participated in the search for peace and spiritual enlightenment. One individual tried to convince me to accept Christianity and promised that if I did so, I would “find peace in my heart.” His arguments were unconvincing. I kept searching. Although it took some time, I finally found what I was yearning for. In 1973, while attending college, I encountered a Chassidic Jew who impressed me wit
Torah portion Va’etchanan) echad
Zalman Kravitz

Zalman Kravitz
Three Divine Echoes: Singularity, Plurality and Oneness

Three Divine Echoes: Singularity, Plurality and Oneness

Hear O Israel, the L‑rd our G‑d, the L‑rd is one (“echad”) Deuteronomy 6:4 We usually think of the cosmic struggle in terms of good versus evil. But according to the Kabbalists, good and evil are but spinoffs of unity and divisiveness. G‑d is the ultimate oneness, and everything G‑dly in our world bears the stamp of His unity. Evil, simply stated, is the distortion of this oneness by the veil of divisiveness in which G‑d shrouds His creation. Creation, as described in the teachings of Kabbala
echad divine
Zalman Kravitz

Zalman Kravitz
Even if He takes your soul

Even if He takes your soul

...Even if He takes your soul When the Romans took Rabbi Akiva to be executed, it was time to recite the morning "Sh'ma" (declaration of our total embrace of G-d's unity, from Deuteronomy 6 - Hear O Israel, the L-rd is our G-d, the L-rd is One! And you shall love the L-rd your G-d with all your heart, and all your soul and all your might...) The Romans began to flay his skin with iron combs as he was reciting the "Sh'ma" and taking upon himself the yoke of Heaven. His disciples said to him, "Ou
echad israel
Zalman Kravitz

Zalman Kravitz
In what sense is 'echad' [one] used in the Shema?

In what sense is 'echad' [one] used in the Shema?

The word 'echad, "one," is used in the Jewish Scriptures in either a compound or absolute sense. In what sense is 'echad used in the Shema, "Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One" (Deuteronomy 6:4)? Answer: In such verses as Genesis 1:5: "And there was evening and there was morning, one day," and Genesis 2:24: "Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother and shall cleave to his wife, and they shall be one flesh," the term 'echad, "one," refers to a compound united one. Ho
echad jewish scriptures
Zalman Kravitz

Zalman Kravitz
Chapter 12 - Y-H-V-H IS INDIVISIBLE

Chapter 12 - Y-H-V-H IS INDIVISIBLE

Continued from Chapter 11i (Deuteronomy 6:4) The Nicene Creed It is a fundamental belief of most Christians that God consists of three beings in one: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. This belief, called the Trinity, is diametrically opposed to the Jewish belief in the absolute oneness of God. It is also the antithesis of the teaching of the Torah, the Prophets and the Writings concerning the oneness of God. The Christian interpretation of the nature of God as a triune be
echad holy spirit
Zalman Kravitz

Zalman Kravitz