A Focus on Healing

e National Jewish Post&Opinion Volume 76, Number 18 t July 14, 2010 t 3 Av 5770 Two Dollars www.jewishpostopinion.com i heberach Ma focusS on healing Art by Irene Konig NAT 2 July 14, 2010 Jewish themes, including works with a About the Cover tallit image as a background.The Jewish- Editorial themed works range from calligraphy Shabbat Shalom “Source of Healing”is and design prints for weddings to In honor of this 12th healing/wellness a work of art Irene Konig comforting works for those in mourning, BY RABBI JON ADLAND issue, I have a story to tell. About 20 created after she read a as well as presentations of inspirational June 25, 2010, Balak years ago, I was taking a class called prayer written by a man quotes, excerpts from the Song of Songs, (Numbers 22:2–25:9), 12 Tammuz 5770 “Jewish Perspective on Healing and who had suffered the other Psalms, quotations from some of Wholeness” at Congregation Sha’ar profound loss of a loved the greats in Jewish history, home and The Indianapolis Hebrew Congregation Zahav in San Francisco. The teacher was one. It was so poignant personal blessings, and many, many more. Israel 2010 trip leaves on Sunday. This Rabbi Nancy Flam. At the end of the and spoke so clearly that Irene Konig. In addition to this large collection of will be my ninth trip to Israel; the first class, she explained that in our Jewish she wept as well when she read it. This Jewish inspired art, Konig has also created one took place in 1971. For Sandy, this tradition it is not “kosher”to study just man, David, was crying out to God to many other art pieces, which draw on a will be her fifth trip since 1988. Both of for study sake. One has to use the help him get through his bitterness, his wide range of feelings, thoughts, and my children have traveled and studied knowledge in some concrete way, to take anguish, and his sadness following this experiences, all heartfelt. All master there. Israel is a part of who we are as action with what one learned. profound loss. Writing just like the prints are made by hand, and then prints Jews. It is my fervent prayer that others She said she was planning to create a Psalmists, he turned to the Source to are made from the master prints. All in will find a place for Israel in their lives weekly Jewish healing prayer service help him heal. At the end, Konig added all, there are close to 300 different prints, and souls as well. and she asked if anyone in the class some words of her own to complete it. all available in modest prices, all made This trip will include 23 others. Along would like to contribute to it. I had been These words add a note of hope that on request, and all matted and enclosed with Sandy and me are 18 IHC members, experimenting with affirmations for healing would be granted over time. The in a crystal-clear envelope. Categories a close friend of one couple, and two of healing, and I decided to put together a orchids in the background are beautiful on the website, www.artoflife.us, serve my college friends who live in New York. nice one for this new service. With my and graceful, and lift their petals upward to help in the search for the perfect (They are already there and went with long list of affirmations it took me days toward hope and healing. piece. Konig will be glad to work with our wonderful guide, Doron Bookshtein, to come up with a combination that was Konig has created many works with you to find what would be the best print, to Petra.) For many on the trip, this is short but also hopefully effective. and gift certificates are available, if needed, their first Israel experience. It is certainly The Merriam-Webster dictionary j i in case you can’t decide. not the same country it was when I defines “affirm” this way: (1a) validate with the following longer version that Konig likes to use interesting materials traveled there in 1971, but it is still an confirm; (b) to state positively; (2) to ended up in subsequent printings. and incorporate them into the master amazing experience to walk where our assert (as a judgment or decree) as valid “I am a precious part of all that exists. print. She has used leaves and berries, ancestors walked and to pray where they or confirmed; (3) to express dedication I am one with the Power that created ribbons, fabric, flowers of all kinds, jewelry, prayed as well. to. Affirmations can be beneficial if one me. I feel this connection now, masks and other assorted objects. Often In a week we will be in Jerusalem. We says them to oneself or out loud with the surrounding and protecting me. I am safe she puts into calligraphy her own words, will spend Shabbat there, see the old belief that the words are in the process of and secure. With every breath, healing expressing a sentiment that she could and new city, and taste the delicious coming true. energy enters my body and flows freely, not find elsewhere as a quotation. Her falafel on Ben Yehuda and King George This is congruent with the belief that bringing strength, vitality and rejuvenation works adorn many homes in the central Streets. I know that if I stand in one our thoughts create our reality, that to every cell. As my awareness of this Texas area and in other parts of the place on Ben Yehuda Street just long thoughts are significant and filled with prefect Presence gets strong, I feel it country. In addition, she has donated enough someone I know will pass me potential. Not that one should feel guilty creating vibrant health and harmony in some of her artwork to the Jewish by. It is inevitable. It is wonderful. It is or overly concerned if one has unkind or my body, mind and spirit. Community Center in Havana, Cuba, Israel and Jerusalem. unpleasant thoughts, but that they are “Joy now floods into my life as I and to a hospital in Israel, Shaare Zedek. Let me pause though for a moment in important even though we cannot see experience the wonders and miracles Konig holds a bachelor’s degree in fine my excitement about our trip to reflect them. I remember reading something such daily, evening, morning and noon. Every arts from the City College of New York, on the fact that today is the fourth as atoms and molecules of thoughts day I feel more alert, alive and enthusiastic as well as a master’s degree in psychology anniversary of the kidnapping of the move faster than the atoms in a chair or about life. Because of my connection to from the New School for Social Research Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit. His return to other inanimate objects. I am reminded all of life, as I improve, those around me in New York. Just a little over half of her Israel is a continuing focus of the Israeli of the saying,“If you can conceive it and feel better also. I am uplifted and grateful. life has been spent in Austin,Texas, where government and his captivity a source you can believe it, you can achieve it.” The Creator’s infinite LOVE fills me at she currently resides. She has two daughters. of pride to the terrorist organization Even though I had a headache at the all times, and my LOVE for myself and Irene Konig may be contacted at Hamas. He is a political pawn in a time, when I said to myself the following others is growing deeper. I am relaxed, [email protected]. (see Adland, page NAT 3) words by Louise Hay, “The overflowing content and at peace.” love from my heart surrounds and Then some years later I received a call The National Jewish dissolves any pain in my body,” I would from Cantor Joyce Ury Dumtschin from feel a little bit better. Temple Beth Or in Dayton, Ohio. She My affirmation that made it to the had seen the original affirmation and first printing of the healing service was: wanted my permission to include it on a Post &Opinion “I am a precious part of all that exists. music tape of Jewish songs, psalms and There is no separation between God and sayings that she and two colleagues, www.jewishpostopinion.com myself. As I feel this connection, I know Barbara Wolfman and Gary Wolfman I am being filled with diving love and were composing. The tape – now a CD – Editorial and sales offices located at The Jewish Post & Opinion 1111 East 54th St., Suite 119, Indianapolis, IN 46220 Published biweekly by surrounded by infinite perfection. I is called Sh’ma T’filati (Hear My Prayer): The Spokesman Co., Inc. office: (317) 972-7800 • fax: (317) 972-7807 accept this healing energy as it flows Jewish Music and Readings for Healing. (USPS 275-580) (ISSN 0888-0379) [email protected] unrestricted through my body bringing One of its purposes was to have a Periodicals postage paid at Address correspondence to: Indianapolis, IN strength, vitality, and rejuvenation to resource available for rabbis and 1111 East 54th St., Suite 119, Indianapolis, IN 46220 All circulation correspondence every cell. I feel this powerful energy caregivers who are visiting people in should be addressed to cleansing and healing any unbalanced hospitals and nursing homes.

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