This event has been cancelled. 

Bio:
Rabbi Matthew Ponak is a teacher of Jewish mysticism, a musician, and a spiritual counselor. Ordained with honors at the neo-Hasidic Rabbinical School of Hebrew College, he also holds a Master's degree in Contemplative Religions from Naropa University. Matthew is certified as a Focusing Professional to guide others to deeper self-knowledge and healing through their bodies. He is the author of Embodied Kabbalah: Jewish Mysticism for All People which comes out in December of 2022. To learn more about Matthew and his upcoming courses and speaking engagements, please visit matthewponak.com.

"Matthew’s evolving vision of an evolving Judaism steps beyond the limits of a supposed Jewish essentialism, shatters the imposed conformity of an imagined Jewish continuity, and allows the iconoclastic daring of Jewish creativity to reinvent who is and what it means to be a Jew in the 21st century."
~Rabbi Rami Shapiro, author of Judaism Without Tribalism

"Matthew Ponak is the Norman Blake of nigunim (wordless Jewish melodies).  Ponak’s music isn’t flashy – it’s real, and beautiful."
~Joey Weisenberg, Creative Director of Mechon Hadar’s Rising Song Institute

January 14th Offerings: 
Rabbi Matthew will be leading a Four Worlds Contemplative Service followed by a teaching about the relationship between the soul and the body from Kabbalah.  More about The Four Worlds Service:  Inspired by the deep structure of the morning Shabbat prayers, the Four Worlds Service is a journey through the body, heart, mind, and soul. Rabbi Matthew will lead participants through Qi Gong movement, niggun (wordless melodies) singing w/guitar, a poetic spiritual reading, and meditation. The Four Worlds Service is derived from Kabbalah and the teachings of Reb Zalman Schachter Shalomi. Reb Zalman taught that the four parts of Shaḥarit [the morning prayer service]—(1) Birkhot Hashaḥar, (2) Psukei D’zimra, (3) Shma U’virkhoteiha, and (4) the Amidah—align with the Kabbalistic worlds of (1) physical/assiyah, (2) emotional/yetzirah, (3) mental/briyah, and (4) spiritual/atzilut.

As an alternative to liturgical forms of tefilah (prayer), Rabbi Matthew will share practices that resonate with each of the Four Worlds that are not siddur-based. Qi Gong for physical (because it involves body movement), niggunim for emotional (because they open the heart), a spiritual reading for mental (because it brings in a sense of awe), and silence/meditation for spiritual (because it is an invitation into connection with Goddess—or whatever your preferred God/Goddess language is!).

The teaching on the soul and the body from Kabbalah:  After Kiddush, Rabbi Matthew will teach about the connection between our inner worlds and the physical body. He will share a Jewish mystical text from his book Embodied Kabbalah and leave lots of time for discussion and questions.