Aug 2, 2024
5 min
Reach in and touch your soul
A summary of TJF Talks Episode #84
Introduction
In a recent episode of TheJewFunction podcast, hosts Lio and Seth embarked on an enthralling journey with their guest, the insightful Rabbi Mordechai Yosef Ben Avraham. The discussion delved deep into Rabbi Mordechai’s remarkable transformation from a young man in Los Angeles to an Orthodox rabbi in Israel, offering a compelling blend of personal experiences, spiritual insights, and reflective wisdom.
“Our guest today is someone who heard that inner voice calling them,” Lio remarked with palpable excitement, setting the tone for an intellectually stimulating conversation. The episode opened with Lio and Seth addressing their audience, touching upon the unpredictable times we live in. “Good to see everyone again, indeed,” Lio noted, as Seth commented on the daily barrage of bewildering news, comparing it to rolling dice in the unpredictable game of life. “Does it feel like there’s no way out, Seth?” Lio asked, reflecting on today’s chaotic world. With a wry smile, Seth responded, “I don’t know.”
Ray Dalio’s Cycles of History
Seth took a fascinating detour, sharing his recent intellectual journey through the works of Ray Dalio. “Dalio’s research reveals that history moves in cycles, some lasting 70 to 80 years while others span centuries.” He continued, “The bad news is we happen to be living in the time where it’s all crumbling. The good news is at some point, it’ll be over, and something new will be born.” This set the stage for a conversation about larger existential questions and the cyclical nature of human existence.
The Genesis of a Soul Search
Then, the conversation shifted to Rabbi Mordechai. Born and raised in Los Angeles, he navigated the tumultuous waters of an undefined spiritual upbringing. His parents’ openness to diverse spiritual ideas laid the groundwork for his eventual journey. “A lot of African Americans were introduced to Christianity, but my parents weren’t denominational in that way. They had a very spiritual outlook,” he recounted.
A chance encounter with a girl he met at a business conference led Rabbi Mordechai to the Kabbalah Center. “I initially thought it was ‘Jewish Scientology,’ but I was blown away by my first lecture,” he shared. This meeting sparked the beginning of his spiritual quest.
Revelations at the Kabbalah Center
Rabbi Mordechai’s time at the Kabbalah Center was nothing short of transformative. Here, amid celebrities also seeking deeper meaning, he found a path that resonated with his spiritual yearning. “Seeing non-Jewish celebrities at the Kabbalah Center made me realize that fame and wealth don’t equate to spiritual fulfillment. It made me question life,” he reflected. Visits to Israel, notably the Arizal’s mikveh, further solidified his spiritual commitment.
The Complex Issue of Antisemitism
As the conversation shifted towards antisemitism, Lio asked, “Have you felt it? What do you think is the root of it?” Rabbi Mordechai responded thoughtfully, highlighting the divine interplay between Jewish consciousness and global perceptions. “We must come closer for the universe to relax,” he declared, underscoring the crucial link between Jewish unity and global harmony.
Rabbi Mordechai drew parallels to his own experiences as an African American. “Just as Black youth are indoctrinated to perceive themselves in certain ways, Jews face a similar indoctrination from the world,” he noted. “The systemic nature of antisemitism has roots that go beyond ordinary logic — it’s a testament to the unique spiritual role Jews play.”
Navigating the Orthodox World
Rabbi Mordechai’s journey into the Orthodox Jewish world was fraught with challenges. Integrating into a new community with its own sets of rules and cultural norms was humbling. “I knew a lot of big concepts, but there’s a whole practical aspect — reading the siddur accurately, knowing the real Berachot system, joining meals by families. It’s humbling,” he confessed.
Through this process, Rabbi Mordechai discovered the intricate layers of Jewish practice and community life. The need for balance between profound spiritual concepts and their practical applications became a vital part of his transformation.
A Call for Unity and Consciousness
When pressed for concrete steps towards fostering Jewish unity, Rabbi Mordechai emphasized starting within the home and cultivating relationships based on core desires. “We need to focus on the base of the Midrash and connecting to that light,” he proposed. Relationships, he stressed, are central to fostering true unity. “It’s all about relationships.”
Practical Steps Towards Healing
Rabbi Mordechai shared tangible steps for fostering unity. He urged Jews worldwide to express the divine within their everyday lives and to own their unique autonomy. “Create unity within yourself, with nature, and with your fellow man. Let that vibrational effect create a forcefield of protection and love,” he advised.
Reflecting on his spiritual evolution, Rabbi Mordechai emphasized that the journey is about more than just individual enlightenment, it’s about collective transformation. “It’s about going deeper into spiritual expression every day,” he stated.
Reimagining Education and Society
Rabbi Mordechai highlighted the necessity of a shift in societal values, advocating for an educational paradigm that reveals each person’s unique divine mission. “Evaluate what your core desire is. What makes you unique? What does your soul want to contribute?” he urged. This re-evaluation, free from secular definitions, creates a foundation for a society built on true unity.
He offered a poignant analogy about children’s creativity, uncorrupted by societal expectations. “Imagine if there was no grading system, and you just allowed the child’s expression to be understood for what it is, not compared to societal norms,” he said. This, he argued, is the type of re-education necessary for true connection.
A Final Reflection
As the discussion drew to a close, Lio invited Rabbi Mordechai to imagine that all Jews were listening to him at that moment. His parting advice was powerful: “Figure out how to express the aspect of God within you in your everyday life. Own your autonomy and feel safe with it but focus on that mission daily, going deeper into the expression of the internal God.”
For those unready to embrace God in their journey, Rabbi Mordechai offered an alternative: “Utilize different methodologies to create unity within yourself, with your past, with nature, and with your fellow man. Let that vibrational effect serve as a forcefield of protection and love.”
Continuing the Journey
To delve deeper into these discussions and their historical context, listeners are encouraged to explore the first 20 episodes of The Jew Function podcast, which outline Jewish history and its patterns. The Jew Function team invites everyone to engage with these ideas and join in the transformative journey toward unity and understanding.
As Seth aptly summarized, “Something is happening. The words coming out of people’s mouths are what we need to hear. The universe is conspiring towards healing and unity.”
In the light of such insightful exchanges, the call for unity rings louder. Engage, listen, and let’s build a better world together, one soulful conversation at a time.
Engage further with the content on various platforms, be it YouTube, Instagram, or the podcast website. The collective journey towards Jewish unity and global harmony starts with these conversations, reaching deeper into our souls and extending to the broader world. Let’s make each step count, for ourselves and for the future we aspire to build.
Share:
Introduction
In a recent episode of TheJewFunction podcast, hosts Lio and Seth embarked on an enthralling journey with their guest, the insightful Rabbi Mordechai Yosef Ben Avraham. The discussion delved deep into Rabbi Mordechai’s remarkable transformation from a young man in Los Angeles to an Orthodox rabbi in Israel, offering a compelling blend of personal experiences, spiritual insights, and reflective wisdom.
“Our guest today is someone who heard that inner voice calling them,” Lio remarked with palpable excitement, setting the tone for an intellectually stimulating conversation. The episode opened with Lio and Seth addressing their audience, touching upon the unpredictable times we live in. “Good to see everyone again, indeed,” Lio noted, as Seth commented on the daily barrage of bewildering news, comparing it to rolling dice in the unpredictable game of life. “Does it feel like there’s no way out, Seth?” Lio asked, reflecting on today’s chaotic world. With a wry smile, Seth responded, “I don’t know.”
Ray Dalio’s Cycles of History
Seth took a fascinating detour, sharing his recent intellectual journey through the works of Ray Dalio. “Dalio’s research reveals that history moves in cycles, some lasting 70 to 80 years while others span centuries.” He continued, “The bad news is we happen to be living in the time where it’s all crumbling. The good news is at some point, it’ll be over, and something new will be born.” This set the stage for a conversation about larger existential questions and the cyclical nature of human existence.
The Genesis of a Soul Search
Then, the conversation shifted to Rabbi Mordechai. Born and raised in Los Angeles, he navigated the tumultuous waters of an undefined spiritual upbringing. His parents’ openness to diverse spiritual ideas laid the groundwork for his eventual journey. “A lot of African Americans were introduced to Christianity, but my parents weren’t denominational in that way. They had a very spiritual outlook,” he recounted.
A chance encounter with a girl he met at a business conference led Rabbi Mordechai to the Kabbalah Center. “I initially thought it was ‘Jewish Scientology,’ but I was blown away by my first lecture,” he shared. This meeting sparked the beginning of his spiritual quest.
Revelations at the Kabbalah Center
Rabbi Mordechai’s time at the Kabbalah Center was nothing short of transformative. Here, amid celebrities also seeking deeper meaning, he found a path that resonated with his spiritual yearning. “Seeing non-Jewish celebrities at the Kabbalah Center made me realize that fame and wealth don’t equate to spiritual fulfillment. It made me question life,” he reflected. Visits to Israel, notably the Arizal’s mikveh, further solidified his spiritual commitment.
The Complex Issue of Antisemitism
As the conversation shifted towards antisemitism, Lio asked, “Have you felt it? What do you think is the root of it?” Rabbi Mordechai responded thoughtfully, highlighting the divine interplay between Jewish consciousness and global perceptions. “We must come closer for the universe to relax,” he declared, underscoring the crucial link between Jewish unity and global harmony.
Rabbi Mordechai drew parallels to his own experiences as an African American. “Just as Black youth are indoctrinated to perceive themselves in certain ways, Jews face a similar indoctrination from the world,” he noted. “The systemic nature of antisemitism has roots that go beyond ordinary logic — it’s a testament to the unique spiritual role Jews play.”
Navigating the Orthodox World
Rabbi Mordechai’s journey into the Orthodox Jewish world was fraught with challenges. Integrating into a new community with its own sets of rules and cultural norms was humbling. “I knew a lot of big concepts, but there’s a whole practical aspect — reading the siddur accurately, knowing the real Berachot system, joining meals by families. It’s humbling,” he confessed.
Through this process, Rabbi Mordechai discovered the intricate layers of Jewish practice and community life. The need for balance between profound spiritual concepts and their practical applications became a vital part of his transformation.
A Call for Unity and Consciousness
When pressed for concrete steps towards fostering Jewish unity, Rabbi Mordechai emphasized starting within the home and cultivating relationships based on core desires. “We need to focus on the base of the Midrash and connecting to that light,” he proposed. Relationships, he stressed, are central to fostering true unity. “It’s all about relationships.”
Practical Steps Towards Healing
Rabbi Mordechai shared tangible steps for fostering unity. He urged Jews worldwide to express the divine within their everyday lives and to own their unique autonomy. “Create unity within yourself, with nature, and with your fellow man. Let that vibrational effect create a forcefield of protection and love,” he advised.
Reflecting on his spiritual evolution, Rabbi Mordechai emphasized that the journey is about more than just individual enlightenment, it’s about collective transformation. “It’s about going deeper into spiritual expression every day,” he stated.
Reimagining Education and Society
Rabbi Mordechai highlighted the necessity of a shift in societal values, advocating for an educational paradigm that reveals each person’s unique divine mission. “Evaluate what your core desire is. What makes you unique? What does your soul want to contribute?” he urged. This re-evaluation, free from secular definitions, creates a foundation for a society built on true unity.
He offered a poignant analogy about children’s creativity, uncorrupted by societal expectations. “Imagine if there was no grading system, and you just allowed the child’s expression to be understood for what it is, not compared to societal norms,” he said. This, he argued, is the type of re-education necessary for true connection.
A Final Reflection
As the discussion drew to a close, Lio invited Rabbi Mordechai to imagine that all Jews were listening to him at that moment. His parting advice was powerful: “Figure out how to express the aspect of God within you in your everyday life. Own your autonomy and feel safe with it but focus on that mission daily, going deeper into the expression of the internal God.”
For those unready to embrace God in their journey, Rabbi Mordechai offered an alternative: “Utilize different methodologies to create unity within yourself, with your past, with nature, and with your fellow man. Let that vibrational effect serve as a forcefield of protection and love.”
Continuing the Journey
To delve deeper into these discussions and their historical context, listeners are encouraged to explore the first 20 episodes of The Jew Function podcast, which outline Jewish history and its patterns. The Jew Function team invites everyone to engage with these ideas and join in the transformative journey toward unity and understanding.
As Seth aptly summarized, “Something is happening. The words coming out of people’s mouths are what we need to hear. The universe is conspiring towards healing and unity.”
In the light of such insightful exchanges, the call for unity rings louder. Engage, listen, and let’s build a better world together, one soulful conversation at a time.
Engage further with the content on various platforms, be it YouTube, Instagram, or the podcast website. The collective journey towards Jewish unity and global harmony starts with these conversations, reaching deeper into our souls and extending to the broader world. Let’s make each step count, for ourselves and for the future we aspire to build.
Share:
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