Title:
Discovering Jewish spiritual direction
Author:
Nancy L. Seibert
Committee Member:
C. Kevin Gillespie
Committee Member:
David C. Newton
Degree Granting Institution:
Loyola University Maryland--College of Arts and Sciences
Place:
Baltimore (Md.)
Publisher:
Loyola University Maryland
Date Created:
2006
Type of Resource:
text
Genre:
thesis
Language:
eng
Format:
application/pdf
Physical Form:
electronic
Digital Source:
reformatted digital
Abstract:
Jewish life has not overlooked the contemporary universal search for spirituality. Ignoring uncertainty about spirituality in Judaism and controversy about its very relevance, Jews have embarked on a spiritual search that has taken them out of the mainstream. One opportunity has been the discovery of a new approach to Jewish spiritual guidance borrowed from contemporary forms of Christian spiritual direction. This study surveys the new approach, called Jewish spiritual direction, which had its beginnings in the 1990's with a core group of Jews who trained at Christian and interfaith spiritual direction centers. Research indicates a second generation is studying in distinctly Jewish programs. The pioneering work of Thal (1993) provides the initiative for discussion. The Jewish spiritual search is examined in terms of historical and contemporary experience of spirituality. Green (1986) offers a definition of Jewish spirituality supported by Thal, which upholds the new approach to Jewish spiritual direction. The study reviews Thal's contrast between Jewish spiritual counselors functioning from traditional models, and the new Jewish spiritual directors. The companioning role of the Jewish spiritual director among other spiritual guides is clarified. A purpose and approach for the new Jewish spiritual direction is discussed in terms of the director-directee relationship, which is searching for language, contemplative listening, prayer, and discernment translated into a Jewish context. Considering the companioning role of the spiritual director, the issue of introduction of Jewish tradition and spiritual practice is examined. Interviews with practicing Jewish spiritual directors provide an informal update of Jewish spiritual direction in 2006. It was found that Jewish spiritual directors apply knowledge of Jewish tradition and spiritual practices as appropriate for the directee's sense of Jewish identity. It is concluded that the new approach to Jewish spiritual guidance is no less Jewishly authentic than any other approach. Possible areas of further research include: numbers of Jews engaged in the directee-director relationship of this new form of Jewish spiritual guidance, and the impact of trends in the education of Jewish spiritual directors.
Subject:
Spiritual direction--Judaism
Subject:
Jewish way of life
Degree:
Master of Arts
Level:
Master
Discipline:
Pastoral Counseling
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Identifier:
SiebertNL-06
