RIGLER

After ashram, Rigler found spirituality in Judaism

By SURA RUBENSTEIN

article created on: 2008-12-01T00:00:00

Sara Yocheved Rigler meditated three times a day for 17 years, much of which she spent in an ashram studying and teaching Eastern philosophy. Then the Phi Beta Kappa Brandeis University graduate went to Israel to learn more about the Jewish tradition she was born into.

In Israel, she was surprised to learn that Judaism emphasizes spiritual development. And she came to understand that Jewish tradition offers a way to integrate “all parts of ourselves into our spiritual life.”

Rigler stayed in Jerusalem, studied with internationally known Torah scholars, and now lives with her husband and children in the Old City. She has published two best-selling books about spirituality: “Holy Woman: The Road to Greatness of Rebbetzin Chaya Sara Kramer,” and “Lights from Jerusalem.” And she shares her insights about Judaism and spirituality with people around the world.

“Every Jew has the potential to be a spiritual giant,” she told a Portland audience on Nov. 20, during a stop on her North American speaking tour. And everyone should strive to realize his or her spiritual potential. “If you have anything other than a spiritual goal for your life,” she said, “you are investing in chandeliers on the Titanic.”

How to grow spiritually? First, understand that G-d tests us so that we have opportunities to grow spiritually. We have free choice in the moral realm—between the good, the right—and the bad, or what is wrong. Each positive choice moves us up the spiritual ladder. Each choice for the bad moves us downward. For example, she said, the first time you tell a lie, it might be very hard. But the second time, and the third, and so on, it becomes easier.

“There are no ‘parve’ or neutral choices in life,” she added. “You are either moving toward the light or further away from it.”

How do we “pass” our spiritual tests, and grow spiritually? Rigler offered a checklist.

The first step is to recognize that you are being tested. How can we tell? Whenever the choice is a difficult one. Tests are hard.

The second step is to bring G-d into the picture. Understand that the ultimate source of everything is G-d, regardless of whether it seems as if human agents are causing us pain or suffering. “As soon as you put G-d into the picture, it depersonalizes the situation,” Rigler said.

Next, identify the general category of the test: Are we “givers” or “takers”? If we go through financial difficulties, the question is whether we accept or reject what G-d sends us? If a Torah law is involved, do we follow G-d’s will or our own? If it involves family members or other close relationships, do we choose argument, alienation and estrangement, or do we choose connection?

She emphasized that “choice” means that we really could go either way, and that everyone’s “choice box” is different. Choice applies only when decisions are hard, when we wrestle with which way to go.

But there’s an easy way, she said, to know whether we are growing spiritually or not.

“The true measure of how spiritual you are,” she said, “is how much of a mensch you are.”

Rigler’s visit was co-sponsored by the Portland Kollel and Congregation Kesser Israel.