The Journey Begins - Rabbi Gerzi - Class - #12

What does it mean to live from within — to truly become aware, aligned, and open to the flow of divine presence through us?In this deep and honest reflection, we explore the movement between inner and outer, silence and speech, selfhood and oneness. Life offers us constant transitions — moments of change and reflection — and our spiritual work begins with noticing them: Shabbat, birth, death, even the changing of the day. These are invitations to pause, to become present, and to explore.We reflect on:The power of hunger — not just for food, but for purpose, for HaShem, for truthRepetition as real spiritual work — avodat HaShem is showing up again and againHabbatah — checking in with body, emotion, thought, without judgmentThe inner practice: “Ignore or explore?”Silence as a higher form than even prayer, as taught by the RamchalThe paradox of closeness to HaShem — where “I” disappears, and yet we still long to be ourselvesInsights from The Lonely Man of Faith by Rav SoloveitchikEmbracing existential loneliness, and how separation can be a gateway to true connectionWe are not our thoughts. If we can observe something, we are not that thing. We are the part that is conscious and aware — the divine spark within. The journey to know ourselves is also the journey to know who we are not.Ultimately, we are vessels, created in the image of HaShem, here to bring awareness, healing, and wholeness into the world.Take time. Be patient. The work is worth it.Recorded, Thursday, June 26th (30th Sivan).