Wisdom, Healing, and Taharah, from Sefer Maavar Yabbok –
Final Acts of Love and Compassion from the Kabbalah of Rabbi Aharon Berekhiah with Rabbi T’mimah Ickovits

Thursdays 8:00pm – 9:30pm PST
Jan 28, Feb 4, 11, 18 | 2021

It’s exciting to share that I’ll be teaching a four-session course entirely based on text from’ Sefer Maavar Yabbok’ not translated before (that we are aware of) starting Thursday January 28.

It turns out end of life rituals in this original version are quite different from what is commonly used in many Tohorah rooms.

This short course offers a new look into these ancient methods giving ear to Rabbi Aharon Berekhiah’s direction found in this earliest book on Jewish end of life rituals. This is meant to support ’tilting the scale’ in favor of gentle meaningful transitions.

This course is for you if you practice Bikkur Holim or Tohorah, officiate levayahs or memorial services, or are interested in understanding the kabbalistic substructure beneath the ritual expressed in a simple and clear way. No previous experience with Kabbalah is necessary.

This is what we will focus on each week –

1 )Bikur Holim – Torah verses, Psalms, and Piyutim to invite healing.

2) Rehitzah – A kabbalistic view of the body Divine, to bring to the final washing.

3) Taharah – is significantly different than what is commonly used in many Tohorah rooms.

4) Seven Sacred Circles, that is the hakafot ritual.