2A Liberty ● Aliso Viejo, CA 92656 ●www.tbesoc.orgThe Samueli Center for Progressive Judaism

BiographyDaniel Matt is a teacher of Jewish spirituality and one of the world’s leading authorities on Kabbalah and the Zohar. He has been featured in Time and Newsweek, and has appeared on National Public Radio and the History Channel. He has published over a dozen books, including The Essential Kabbalah (translated into eight languages), Zohar: Annotated and Explained, and God and the Big Bang: Discovering Harmony between Science and Spirituality (revised edition, 2016).

Several years ago Daniel completed an 18-year project of translating and annotating the Zohar. In 2016, Stanford University Press published his ninth volume of The Zohar: Pritzker Edition, concluding the Zohar’s main commentary on the Torah. For this work, Daniel has been honored with a National Jewish Book Award and a Koret Jewish Book Award. The Koret award hailed his translation as “a monumental contribution to the history of Jewish thought.”

Daniel received his Ph.D. from Brandeis University and for twenty years served as professor at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, California. He has also taught at Stanford University and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

Daniel lives in Berkeley with his wife Hana. Currently he is writing a biography of Elijah the Prophet for the Yale Jewish Lives series. He also teaches Zohar online. For information about this ongoing Zohar course, see the website of Stanford University Press: https://www.sup.org/zohar/class/

Temple Beth El of South Orange CountyCongregation B’nai Israel &

Community Scholars Program present

Ancient Wisdom & Contemporary Spirituality

A Festival of Jewish

Spirituality

Professor Daniel C. Matt

From Kabbalah

to the Big Bang:

March 13-15, 2020

with the Rabbi Allen Krause Scholar-in-Residence

“large enough to serve you; small enough to know you.”

William Spector, PresidentK’vod Wieder, Rabbi & Natalie Young, Cantor

Shula Kalir-Merton, Cantor Emerita & Interim Clergy Bonni Pomush, Executive Director

Allen Krause zt”l, Rabbi EmeritusLinda Kirsch, Director of Education Emerita

Saturday, March 14with Daniel Matt at TBESOC (2A Liberty, 92656)

9:15am Shabbat Morning Service Ecstatic chanting and meditation woven into a Conservative style service with Rabbi K’vod Wieder

12pm The Mystical Meaning of Torah

Following the service, Daniel Matt teaches over a community kiddush luncheon.

2pm Spirituality Workshops Towards a Mindful Life: An Exploration of Spiritual Practice of Mussar Steve Birch presents how a Jewish spiritual practice, almost lost to the Shoah, can help guide us through our lives, growing, improving and aligning ourselves with the One.

Meditation and Music: A Journey For the Soul with Cantor Natalie Young

3:15pm Spirituality Workshops Hineni YogaIlana Rogel-Wieder will combine Yoga with the wisdom of the Torah. We will learn to stay present on (and off) the mat and unlock the healing potential inherent in each one of us. This workshop is for the novice as well as the experienced Yoga student.

Path to Presence Rabbi Jill Zimmerman will lead this opportunity to explore the many dimensions of presence and how meditation and core Jewish texts can help us navigate challenging times.

4:30pm Closing Meditation

Sunday, March 15with Daniel Matt at Congregation B’nai Israel (2111 Bryan Ave, 92782)

9:30am The Zohar: Masterpiece of Kabbalah

WORKSHOP DESCRIPTIONSElijah The Prophet: The Man Who Never Died In the biblical book of Kings, Elijah the prophet is transported to heaven in a fiery chariot. According to rabbinic tradition, he was transformed into an immortal angel. Ever since his ascent, he has appeared on earth again and again—not only at ever Seder and every circumcision, but whenever people are in need or when they seek spiritual guidance or enlightenment. In this session, Daniel Matt (who is writing a biography of Elijah) will trace his transformation from a biblical zealot to his second career as a compassionate Jewish superhero

Raising the Sparks: Finding God in the Material WorldHow can God be encountered in our daily life? Dr. Matt will explore this question with us by teaching passages from Kabbalah and Hasidism on the nature of God, the act of Creation, and the challenge of discovering God in the material world.

The Mystical Meaning of TorahHow does the mystical approach to Torah differ from a literal approach? From a midrashic approach? How can a mystical approach enrich our lives today? Daniel Matt will explore these questions with us by teaching several passages from his award-winning translation, The Zohar: Pritzker Edition.

The Zohar: Masterpiece of KabbalahThe Zohar emerged in 13th-century Spain. How exactly did it originate and what is its significance for us today? How does this mystical masterpiece interpret and reimagine the Torah? Our scholar-in-residence will explore these questions with us by teaching several passages from his award-winning translation, the Zohar: Pritzker Edition.

Friday, March 13 with Daniel Matt at the Merage JCC (1 Federation Way #200, 92603)

12pm Elijah the ProphetThe Man Who Never Died

$18/person with advance registration $36 per person at the doorCSP 5780 members attend free

Friday, March 13at TBESOC (2A Liberty, 92656)

5:30pm Oneg

6pm Soul Spark Shabbat A meditative and chant filled service welcoming Shabbat with Rabbi K’vod Wieder, Cantor Natalie Young, and Daniel Matt

7:15pm Raising the SparksDaniel Matt teaches us after dinner about Finding God in the Material World (Advanced registration required)

Friday night program only $18/personFriday AND Saturday Shabbaton - $40/person

For registration, up to date program information, and sponsorship opportunities:

www.tbesoc.org/meditation