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Last week, ABC (Australia) Radio’s “The Spirit of Things” rebroadcast an interesting program on Hasidic Story Telling and the Spiritual wisdom contained within these stories.

The following is the episode summary as found on the “The Spirit of Things” website. Also towards the bottom of the page I have included a direct link to the online podcast version of the episode (look for the red).

Enjoy!

The founder of Hasidism, the popular Jewish movement which began in the 18th century, was an itinerant story teller. The Ba’al Shem Tov (Master of the Good Name) used mystical tales to convey the ’soul’ of Judaism, emphasising the love of God.

Guests

Rabbi Dr Jonathan Sacks
has been Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth since September 1, 1991, the sixth incumbent since 1845. He is widely recognised as one of the world’s leading contemporary exponents of Judaism. Prior to becoming Chief Rabbi, Rabbi Sacks had been Principal of Jews’ College, London, the world’s oldest rabbinical seminary, as well as rabbi of the Golders Green and Marble Arch Synagogues in London. He gained rabbinic ordination from Jews’ College as well as from London’s Yeshiva Etz Chaim.

Zalman Schachter-Shalomi
is a preeminent rabbi, teacher and Professor Emeritus at Temple University in the USA. He is the founder of the Spiritual Eldering Institute in Philadelphia.

Donna Jacobs Sife
is a singer, storyteller, educator and published writer based in Sydney. She has traveled throughout Australia, Israel, the United Kindom, and the United States to international acclaim, telling and teaching about story. Donna is a lecturer at the University of Sydney and the University of New South Wales in Sacred Story, and is a performing artist for the Department of Education. She tells stories at festivals and conferences and major events, and gives workshops to professionals in health, education, welfare and corporate sectors.

You can listen to this episode by following the Enclosure link.

Enclosure

Further Information

The Website of the Chief Rabbi
The Website of Dr Jonathan Sacks, Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth.

A Credo For All
Follow this link to the transcript of an interview with the Chief Rabbi, from The Spirit of Things, 14 November 2004.

Sage-ing Guild Website
The Sage-ing® Guild was organized in 2004 to coordinate efforts in continuing the eldering work of Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi.

Ageing to Sage-ing
Reb Zalman Schachter-Shalomi teaches people how to be spiritual elders. Follow thi slink to the transcript of an interview with Reb Schachter-Shalomi from The Spirit of Things, 17 September 2006.

Donna Jacobs Sife Homepage