The Way of the Dragon - Marc Gafni — Gaia: A Stranger's Torah

About This Group

RSS Feed

The purpose and scope of this Pod
This Pod is for Jews and Gentiles who wish to explore Torah, Tanakh, Judaism and Life from a non-Xian and Jewish perspective without risking being assaulted by Xians who wish to convert them. Xians are welcome to participate as long as they do not bring texts or topics from their

...(more)

Greek Scriptures or attempt to promote a Xian interpretation of the Hebrew Scriptures in the general Pod - they are however welcome to explore how Xianism compare to Judaism in the Interfaith Corner.

There is a Rules Thread that I ask you to read and sign your agreement to.

People have questioned the narrow scope of this Group, thinking that they wouldn’t fit, because they are not Jewish, are not religious, don’t know anything about Judaism etc. One doesn’t have to be any of the above to fit, all one needs is a desire to learn something and share one’s personal thoughts on the Topics or bring Topics to be explored by the group members.

The Sages of Judaism had a myriad of opinions and thoughts on EVERYTHING between Heaven and Earth, there has never been a limit to what they brought forth and discussed in the light of Torah. As one of them said: “Turn it and Turn it again, everything is in it!”

That is exactly what this Group is about - turning it and turning it again. “It” meaning Torah and Tanakh and everything ever said by its proponents and detractors.

Also, there is no “single Judaism”. Unlike Xianism, Judaism is not monolithic and does not require a set belief or dogma to consider someone Jewish.

Rabbi Baruch Sienna once told me: “There are no right or wrong interpretations of Torah, only more or less probable.” The Sages considered it imparative that each student of Torah/Tanakh arrived at his or her own view through the application of logic, common sense and in such a way that the text and ideas appear pleasant to the mind and soul.

After all, Judaism has only one “dogma” - That if there is a G-d, this G-d is One. The statement of the Oneness of G-d can be understood in many ways - one is that the proclamation that G-d is One is a personal statement of allegiance to One spiritual Path, whatever that might that might be, that one be wholehearted in one’s spiritual search and not halfhearted or self-deceiving.

This is a Discussion Group and debate is encouraged, however some basic rules so we can keep things civil and respectful:

No bashing.
No name calling.
No offensive language.
No belittling.
No ridiculing.
No derogatory remarks.
No Xian/Messianic texts or topics outside the Interfaith Corner and no missioning anywhere.

There is a Rules Thread that I ask you to read and sign your agreement to.

Criticize the Post, not the Poster. Remember that there's a living human being on the other side of the screen.

The Group Admin will at their discretion decide if the rules have been broken. Three strikes and you're out.

About This Room

Share your links, excerpts, and/or reviews on books that touches on the Topic of the Pod. Links to specific websites that sell the books suggested here does not imply an endorsement of said website, and have only been included for...(more)

Room Activity

Nicole posted a reply to the conversation "The Way of the Dragon - Marc Gafni" ()

SillyOldBear posted a reply to the conversation "The Way of the Dragon - Marc Gafni" ()

Nicole posted a reply to the conversation "The Way of the Dragon - Marc Gafni" ()

SillyOldBear posted a reply to the conversation "The Way of the Dragon - Marc Gafni" ()

Nicole started a new conversation - The Way of the Dragon - Marc Gafni ()

SillyOldBear posted a reply to the conversation "Books: Secrets of Jewish Spiritual Living" ()

More...

Group Grapevine

JodyAllenGorran I'm sorry for initially posting an incorrect url for the book Secrets of Jewish Spiritual Living. I have corrected it as http://jewishspiritualliving.com (7 months ago)

andrew sorry for posting on the cherry; feel free to move it to the general dumb-ass section!lol (8 months ago)

More...

Advertising keeps Gaia free! Interested in sponsoring us?

previous thread

The Way of the Dragon - Marc Gafni

Nicole said May 20, 10:16 AM:

Thoughts?

The Way of the Great Dragon by Marc Gafni •May 20, 2009

More ▼

Re: The Way of the Dragon - Marc Gafni

SillyOldBear said May 20, 1:38 PM:

Not sure what you are after here, Nicole?

Shalom,
Dov

More ▼

Re: The Way of the Dragon - Marc Gafni

Nicole said May 20, 5:44 PM:

I saw the article and found it interesting, but wanted your take on it, Dov. Now, I know Kabbalah does not interest you much, but do you think it's a valid approach to the subject matter? While we are on the topic of Marc Gafni :)

Perhaps I didn't post it in the right place?

Shalom,

Nicole

More ▼

Re: The Way of the Dragon - Marc Gafni

SillyOldBear said May 20, 6:03 PM:

Oh, you posted it fine, my friend :)

I am sure it's valid approach.

I doubt Rabbi Gafni would have become a Rabbi if he hadn't had a basic idea of Kabbalah…:D

*light from darkness* is typically a kabbalistic approach. Isaac Luria 'came up with' Kabbalah as a way for Jews to survive their own longing for the Moshiach and find reason in the persecution they were subjected to by the surrounding societies.
*light from darkness* was also a way to remind them that the Shekhina was with them in the Galut (Exile), they met Her every time they drew forth a spark of light from darkness.

That's why it so ridiculous when non-Jews want to 'do Kabbalah', because Kabbalah is so essentially Jewish that it's hard to find anything as Jewish as that, Gentiles simply have no use for it, other than to play around with and distort.

Shalom,
Dov

More ▼

Re: The Way of the Dragon - Marc Gafni

Nicole said May 20, 6:18 PM:

Oh, but the fascination of the inaccessible! It becomes a sort of Everest - we have to learn it because it's there!

Shalom,

Nicole

More ▼

previous thread

threaded | unthreaded | newest first

The Way of the Dragon - Marc Gafni

Re: The Way of the Dragon - Marc Gafni

Re: The Way of the Dragon - Marc Gafni

Re: The Way of the Dragon - Marc Gafni

Re: The Way of the Dragon - Marc Gafni

Gaia Community

Explore

Inspire

The Gaiam Network