This article was more of a put-down of spiritual movements - blaming its popularity only on the "market," temples who are forced to kowtow in order to gain new members, focusing more on fears within certain branches of Judaism that individuals who "stray" from traditionally rigid Judaism threaten the very survival of Judaism - rather than any exploration of the REAL stuff behind spirituality, or any fascinating aspects it may have. Frankly, the only dangers I can see are in maintaining ignorance and spreading incorrect information.

This is the risk we who are involved in spirituality and metaphysics face from religions and religious proponents: their fear and unwillingness to explore what we believe, say and do, so there is open communication, knowledge, greater understanding, perhaps some acceptance, and hopefully compassion reached with all concerned parties.

Now, I can completely understand and sympathize with their need to cling to their religious beliefs - it is THEIR way of life and they have a right to their own beliefs, which includes the notion that Jews are commanded to be holy, but not spiritual. The reasoning of this, given by Prof. Charles Liebman of Bar-Ilan University, is that holiness "evokes an outside source whom we obey and a code of behavior to which we submit." I have to tell you that this came as news to me. I didn't think that Judaism made such a distinction. I always felt that the two are internal and go hand-in-hand. So, thank you for further enlightening me to this information, Prof. Liebman. However, it saddens me to see it, and I wonder if that viewpoint is shared by other Jews. I don't think it is.

One thing needs immediate clarification. I feel the term "spirituality" is greatly misunderstood. The word "spirit" comes from the Latin word for "breath" or "air." So, in this context, anything that breathes is spirit or spiritual.

Spirituality has come to encompass a wide range of phenomena from new religions, cults, exercise, diet, literature, music, psychology, healing, science, to personal growth and transformation. It is the latter which I prefer to focus on in because it is self-empowering and respects an individual's free will. Spirituality, in this way, is not what you call "touchy-feely" or phony, or airy-fairy. It is very real, very serious, and involves more than just a cute name. In its truest sense, it is metaphysics.

Real spirituality today (and I don't include in this the "weekend" metaphysician) means being a conscious creator. That means, knowing how and why you do what you do and knowing that you always have a choice, and will be responsible for your choices. It focuses on one's intention while never intending to harm another. It takes understanding to VERY deep levels, more than any religion has ever done. It makes the individual completely responsible. No middle-person, no guilt, no victimhood, no martyrdom, no more mixed messages or an overabundance of fears, but accepting that we truly are created in the image of God, loving and living it. In other words, really accepting that God is ONE. No more separation. Does this really contradict Judaism, where we are responsible for our own souls?

I'd like to pose a question based on this phrase from Weinberg's article: "The search for "spirituality" among American Jews is all the rage, with "Jewish renewal" and "kabbalistic healing retreats" a stock item on the community calendar. Entire synagogue movements have taken to producing experimental and "progressive" Jewish "discovery ceremonies," which seek to combine touchy-feely celebrations of the sunrise with stories of Elisha the mystical prophet and some fuzzy sense of meaning for Jews in almost-everything-goes America. What's wrong with this quest?"

Why not ask the question, "WHAT'S RIGHT with this quest?" And, how about not restricting this view only to America, because it's a world-wide occurrence? How about respecting an individual's free will and intelligence, which also come from God? I feel that many of the retreats Mr. Weinberg condemned are wonderful ways of incorporating Judaism with the present. If Judaism will continue in some form for those who are not willing to accept strict Orthodoxy, why not have it survive in at least in this way? It doesn’t have to be "my way, or the highway. " Can we achieve some kind of balance here? Who is anybody to tell anybody else what is spiritual for themselves?

While the Old Testament does contain many positive guidelines, I wonder how Mr. Weinberg, et. al., feel about some other not so wonderful commandments? Such as stoning people who don't live according to Jewish rules; that we must murder any man who shaves or cuts his hair; that anyone who works on the Sabbath should be put to death; that one should not be in contact with a women who has her period (try asking a woman that question before getting close to her). Are these laws and values we must still employ? Do they all make sense for everyone, today? I don't feel God is stagnation, or that God ever expected us NOT to evolve.

But, the point is not to condemn the beautiful things that DO exist in Judaism. We are looking at our spirituality today with new eyes. Today an individual realizes they have the right to DISCERN and CHOOSE what they feel is appropriate for themselves. This is called maturity, and it is being responsible. As in almost all of the world religions, Judaism prides itself on being based on control, and usually that control is instilled through fear and includes a superior viewpoint. I'm not saying everything in all religions is wrong or destructive; there are some very beautiful qualities in them. However, many people today have begun to wake up and see that they are more than simply pawns in what someone else or some old book has told them they MUST be.

Listen up, Mr. Weinberg. Many people are tired of manipulation, control, limitation and being threatened. Tired of being dictated to. Tired of separation from the rest of humanity on the planet. Tired of being TOLD what God is or isn't from someone else. People want to find out for themselves. (Heck, even Moses went up the mountain find out FOR HIMSELF what God was and what God had to say.) And it is NOT based solely on the "market." It is happening because people want it to happen because they feel traditional religion has failed them. They often feel something's missing. They feel betrayed and disrespected. This, in turn, is creating a new balance – which is desired and maybe even necessary. Maybe one day some people who were part of the "New Age" (which is really not new) movement will return to traditional religion. Maybe they won't. But, isn't it up to each person to decide this for themselves?

This is a wonderful time of integration, honesty, freedom, choice and personal empowerment. We also see this reflection EVERYWHERE. I must say that Mr. Weinberg's viewpoints, and those shared in his article, are like being a candle in the wind of evolution. Change is life and change is what's happening, and those who can choose which parts of Judaism they wish to embrace while blending it with other philosophies have the right to do so, and they can still call themselves Jewish, if they want to, by their own definition.

What I DO think Mr. Weinberg, and others, are really afraid of (albeit subconsciously) is that people ARE finding out deeper truths on their own, which may threaten a religion's survival in its current form. I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing if it does happen, by the way.

The spiritists and metaphysicians today, many of whom were raised in traditional religions, have come to realize that God doesn't demand anything of us. We know that we don't have to follow any laws in order to be loved by God. God loves us just as we are because God created us in Its image. We are all reflections of God and we feel compassion for others. We know that holiness and everything else always begins from WITHIN, and that the outside is merely a reflection of what's going on within ourselves. We feel this is being holy and spiritual, and we're happier people because of our spirituality. We don't make demands that everyone else be like us. We only ask to be respected for our own decisions, even if they conflict with another's. Now, why can't Mr. Weinberg, et. al., do likewise?