FAQ

What is Spirituality?

At Ayeka, we hold that the most important things in life are beyond definition. Like beauty and love, spirituality reveals the limitation of words. Even while being experienced, it is very difficult to explain or articulate the experience to another person. Nevertheless, the expression most frequently heard on our programs describing spirituality is: a deep connection to another being, place, or time, which transcends my ordinary existence.

According to the Kabbalah, our soul is a "piece of a Higher and Divine" reality. The voice within us that senses that there is something more than our physical reality, that yearns for a deeper connection and more meaningful existence is the whispering of our soul.

How is Spirituality Connected to Ethics and Behavior?

At Ayeka, we posit that growth in spirituality should directly result in growth in ethical awareness and behavior. We go "inside" in order to go "outside." The real test of spiritual growth is becoming a more loving and compassionate human being. Greater awareness of one's spiritual life needs to be reflected in greater awareness of the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of others.

How is Spirituality Related to Religious observance and Ritual?

Ayeka is not affiliated with any religious denomination or track of observance. Each individual is fully respected, regardless of religious denomination, level of observance or belief system. We understand that people need to walk their own path, at their own pace. Everyone heard a different voice of God at Mount Sinai.
Ayeka programs have been successfully facilitated for secular, Reconstruction, Reform, Conservative, Orthodox, and ultra-Orthodox communities.

Why is Spirituality important?

It is important to be a good person. Hopefully, people will discover that deepening their spirituality will help them become even better people. We take care of our bodies and we develop our minds. We shouldn't be strangers to our own souls. Taking the time to engage in our spiritual lives should enable us to see the Godliness in ourselves and other people as well.

Starting with Abraham through Moses and the whole Torah, it is evident that Judaism came into the world to bring a sense of living in the Image of God. Even our name, "Yisrael", means to struggle with God. The wisdom of Judaism can serve as a guide to this struggle and the subsequent personal growth.

Why is it difficult for Jews to Talk about God?

There are a number of reasons, and they are present in virtually every Jewish community, regardless of religious affiliation or background.

1. Post-Holocaust: We have a lot of baggage. Whenever the issue of God comes up, certain questions will inevitably arise: "Where was God in the Holocaust?" "Why is evil in the world?" Questions for which we have no answers. Questions that make us feel extremely ill-at-ease. Questions for which we sense we should have something profound to offer, but words fail us. We have no answers. So the topic is often avoided.
   At Ayeka, We reframe the question from "What is God?" to "What is God to me?" This reframing allows people to come to their own personal understanding and relationship with God. I am not obligated to be a great theologian. There are some questions which we may never have answers to. We are not all-knowing beings. But the question that we must try to answer is "What is my relationship with God?"
2. Other Religions: Christians love to talk about God. Moslems talk about God. One of the ways that we have separated ourselves from other religions is to emphasize our focus on learning, ethical behavior, and social action.
3. Personal Autonomy: There is a prevailing misconception that a relationship with God diminishes one's personal autonomy, that believing in God necessarily reduces my freedom and choices in life. Many students have remarked that they have been surprised to find the opposite to be true. That developing their spiritual nature has given them greater control in their lives, that they are becoming more themselves.
4. Science: Because of the centrality of science in our world it can be awkward to discuss ideas of spirituality, faith, and religion. Sometimes people feel medieval, even primitive, discussing God. Abraham Joshua Heschel writes that science does not try to fathom the mystery. It merely describes and explains the way in which things behave in terms of causal necessity.

Is Spirituality a New-Age Narcissism?

It can be. A focus on spirituality can be as self-indulgent as a focus on materialism. There is certainly a "feel-good" quality to many of the spiritual programs today, in which the goal of spiritual growth is measured in how present I am in my own life.

The Ayeka approach is that everyone has a unique calling and contribution to fulfill in this world. Developing our spiritual life helps us gain clarity as to what this calling is. Developing our spiritual life allows us to become more aware of the inner stirrings of our soul which invite us to become more giving and loving people. The goal is not simply to be at peace with myself. The goal is to use my unique God-given gifts to bettering the world. Through accessing and living my inner life I can help the world become more in the Image of God.

Will there be a Language Barrier?

Ayeka's programs are geared for English speakers. Source material will be presented in both English and Hebrew.

Who attends Ayeka programs?

Ayeka's programs are geared for adults, ages 19 and up. The only requirements are an open mind, a desire for personal growth, the patience and ability to listen to others, and the ability to work in a group setting. Participants include men and women from all religious backgrounds and levels of observance. Our last program included doctors, artists, social workers, lawyers, Jewish professionals, psychologists, and graduate students.