The Kabbalah of Time
Revelation of Hidden Light Through the Jewish Calendar
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Introduction
"For everything there is a season and for every time there is a purpose under Heaven." (Ecclesiastes 3:1)
We spend much of our life in spiritual darkness. We often go about our lives with great uncertainty, without the benefit of sage advice or guidance. Yet somehow we just keep going, attaching ourselves to values that confuse our minds and our hearts, and ignoring the real needs and wants of our soul.
We become so busy with our own personal affairs and so distracted by the avalanche of superfluous information directed at us, that we blind ourselves to the signs all around, the lessons and warnings G-d presents to us at every moment. Certain instances, however, awaken us from this darkness. In those times, which are like lightning bolts of clarity, we realize that there is something greater, something beyond this physical plane and our worldly concerns.
The reality is that our soul needs to sing! Yet what are we to do if we do not know the melody and the lyrics of the song? The Ba’al Shem Tov, the founder of the Chassidic movement, explains that this is the feeling behind the shofar blast on Rosh Hashanah. The shofar is the most basic and primal expression of the soul, and it is with this cry that the Jewish people awaken spiritually at the start of every year.
This book’s objective is to bring us closer to our song. The song of the soul: of the individual, of the Jewish people, of humanity, and of nature. This “four-fold song” is directed towards G-d, and the Jewish calendar itself is its sheet music.
In an effort to promote more harmony in our lives, we will study Jewish values and techniques for spiritual enhancement that will make ourselves attuned to the energy of each week of the year. This book will give access to unknown tools, which allow for an open channel of dialogue with G-d. These teachings are not new. They are already found in the Torah itself. They are within everyone’s reach, close to the mouth and to the heart.
Through continuous effort, an individual who is committed to change can obtain personal as well as collective transformation: in the family, the local community, the city, and beyond. As the prophet Isaiah exclaims, the Earth was not created to be chaos. We desperately need to live in a better world, and leave it more peaceful for future generations.
Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi, the Alter Rebbe, teaches that one should “live with the times.” By connecting Jewish lessons to fixed times in the Jewish calendar, the book is meant to serve as a tool for self-reflection and spiritual development through the songs of the animals in Perek Shirah, the teachings of the rabbis in Pirkei Avot, as well as the kabbalistic meaning behind the numbers and divine attributes (sefirot) related to each day of the Counting of the Omer.
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About the Book
Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi, the Alter Rebbe, famously stated that we must "live with the times," thereby experiencing the teachings of the Torah related to each week of the year. Similar to the zodiac, where every month has its own symbolism, every week of the Jewish calendar also has a unique meaning.
Kahane and Wainer explain that the calendar is the master key to unlock the hidden rationale behind the formal structure of ancient sacred texts, as well as to understand basic mystical concepts. When comprehended within the context of the Jewish calendar, these works reveal the spiritual energy of each week, serving as a practical guide for self-analysis and development.
During this annual journey, we will learn to live with greater harmony, happiness and gratitude by learning from the Kabbalah, from age-old Jewish ethical teachings, and even from animals. The objective is to make the reader be in touch with the spiritual powers of each week, thereby improving one’s daily conduct and rediscovering the universal song within each one of us: the song of the soul.
About the Author
Rabbi Daniel Kahane is a graduate from Georgetown Law School and Princeton University, where he received the religion departmental award in Jewish studies, as well as a Certificate in the subject. He also attended Yeshiva University and Hebrew University in Jerusalem. Besides from working full-time as an attorney, Rabbi Kahane teaches weekly classes at Chabad of Aventura, FL.
Mrs. Wainer is a prolific author, having published several works regarding Judaism and Jewish history, as well as Brazilian law and history. Her titles include: "Jewish and Brazilian Connections to New York, India, and Ecology," "Family Portrait; A Jewish Perspective on Ecology;" "Civil Liability of the Developer;" and "Brazilian Environmental Legislation." Ann Helen earned a master’s degree in corporate law in Brazil, and an MA in religious studies at Florida International University. She gives lectures and university classes, exploring the links between Judaism and Brazil.