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In college, I got into studying Eastern mysticism and meditation, which, led me into Kabala, which is Jewish mysticism. The truth is, I was lost, but at least I
was searching for spiritual things. (When I was saved I was completely delivered from kabala. I don’t recommend kabala to anyone, it is very dangerous and
weird). I attended college at Florida State University in Tallahassee, and I also had the opportunity to study in Florence, Italy for two semesters. While living in
Italy, I traveled extensively throughout Europe. Something about seeing Europe, re-ignited a desire in me to experience and identify with traditional Judaism. It
was strange because I had pretty much strayed away from it ever since my bar-mitzvah. However, I felt a passion to re-connect with the religious aspect of
Judaism, after seeing how many of my people suffered in Europe – whether it was the Inquisition, the pogroms, the holocaust – it was incredible to walk
through countries where Jewish communities once flourished and to think that millions were murdered, even little children, for no reason other than the fact
that they were Jewish.
BECOMING ORTHODOX - LAW SCHOOL AND LAW PRACTICE
In 1987, I was accepted to Stetson college of Law in St. Petersburg, Florida where I graduated in 1990 and began practicing law in Tampa that same year. I
was 25 years old. During my law school years, and early years of being a single lawyer, having discovered a renewed passion for Judaism, I faithfully attended
a conservative synagogue in Tampa, where I frequented services. I kept a rabbinically kosher home, separating milk and meat. I wrapped tefilin and prayed
the daily prayers from the siddur three times a day. I studied Mamonides. I kept all the Jewish holidays, both the big ones and the little ones. I had become very
orthodox. I was seeking God with all my heart. Yet, despite being active and observant in Judaism, I still felt very unfulfilled spiritually. I felt a huge vacuum in
terms of my relationship with God, and I needed more. I continued to get deeper into kabala, believing that mystical studies might give me answers, but there
was nothing.
Meanwhile, every couple of months, I would hop on an airplane, and catch a Grateful Dead show, wherever they might be appearing in concert (in those days
Jerry Garcia was still alive). It was amazing to me how such a large portion of the patrons at the Dead concerts were always young Jewish people. In fact,
both of my brothers, many of my cousins, and most of my Jewish friends that I grew up with were all “dead-heads”, as we were known. The Dead shows were
not just concerts, but were a kind of religious experience. I believe that the reason so many Jews could be found in this kind of venue was because we were
all dissatisfied or unfulfilled with our religion and were looking for spiritual things. Unlike our grandparents who escaped Europe and came to the U.S. with one
thing in mind – survival - Jewish people of my generation were generally comfortable, from prosperous homes, and not worrying about the Nazis or the
Cossacks anymore, but searching for how to have a personal relationship with God, outside of the traditional religious mold. In this search, many of us have
gone on some “long strange trips”. But some of us have been able to see that no matter what we do, or where we may go, we all arrive at the same
conclusion – man cannot embrace God alone, because of the fact that we are all sinners.
Sin distances mankind from God, and no man is without sin. If we are blessed to know this fundamental truth, then it leads us, as it did me, to the only
conclusion – we can’t be near to God unless we have an atonement for our sins. Our ancestors brought animals into the Temple to atone for sin through
animal blood. But those sacrifices were only temporal and imperfect. They did not cover our sins permanently. The one true God sent His Son, Yeshua, into the
world, who made a perfect atonement in His own blood. Only God Himself could make such a perfect atonement to give eternal life to the nation of Israel, as
well as to all the gentiles who call upon His name. Thus, through Him, our sins are released and we can finally embrace the one true God, the God of Abraham,
Isaac, and Jacob. There is no other way. God’s son is the way, the truth, and the life.
was searching for spiritual things. (When I was saved I was completely delivered from kabala. I don’t recommend kabala to anyone, it is very dangerous and
weird). I attended college at Florida State University in Tallahassee, and I also had the opportunity to study in Florence, Italy for two semesters. While living in
Italy, I traveled extensively throughout Europe. Something about seeing Europe, re-ignited a desire in me to experience and identify with traditional Judaism. It
was strange because I had pretty much strayed away from it ever since my bar-mitzvah. However, I felt a passion to re-connect with the religious aspect of
Judaism, after seeing how many of my people suffered in Europe – whether it was the Inquisition, the pogroms, the holocaust – it was incredible to walk
through countries where Jewish communities once flourished and to think that millions were murdered, even little children, for no reason other than the fact
that they were Jewish.
BECOMING ORTHODOX - LAW SCHOOL AND LAW PRACTICE
In 1987, I was accepted to Stetson college of Law in St. Petersburg, Florida where I graduated in 1990 and began practicing law in Tampa that same year. I
was 25 years old. During my law school years, and early years of being a single lawyer, having discovered a renewed passion for Judaism, I faithfully attended
a conservative synagogue in Tampa, where I frequented services. I kept a rabbinically kosher home, separating milk and meat. I wrapped tefilin and prayed
the daily prayers from the siddur three times a day. I studied Mamonides. I kept all the Jewish holidays, both the big ones and the little ones. I had become very
orthodox. I was seeking God with all my heart. Yet, despite being active and observant in Judaism, I still felt very unfulfilled spiritually. I felt a huge vacuum in
terms of my relationship with God, and I needed more. I continued to get deeper into kabala, believing that mystical studies might give me answers, but there
was nothing.
Meanwhile, every couple of months, I would hop on an airplane, and catch a Grateful Dead show, wherever they might be appearing in concert (in those days
Jerry Garcia was still alive). It was amazing to me how such a large portion of the patrons at the Dead concerts were always young Jewish people. In fact,
both of my brothers, many of my cousins, and most of my Jewish friends that I grew up with were all “dead-heads”, as we were known. The Dead shows were
not just concerts, but were a kind of religious experience. I believe that the reason so many Jews could be found in this kind of venue was because we were
all dissatisfied or unfulfilled with our religion and were looking for spiritual things. Unlike our grandparents who escaped Europe and came to the U.S. with one
thing in mind – survival - Jewish people of my generation were generally comfortable, from prosperous homes, and not worrying about the Nazis or the
Cossacks anymore, but searching for how to have a personal relationship with God, outside of the traditional religious mold. In this search, many of us have
gone on some “long strange trips”. But some of us have been able to see that no matter what we do, or where we may go, we all arrive at the same
conclusion – man cannot embrace God alone, because of the fact that we are all sinners.
Sin distances mankind from God, and no man is without sin. If we are blessed to know this fundamental truth, then it leads us, as it did me, to the only
conclusion – we can’t be near to God unless we have an atonement for our sins. Our ancestors brought animals into the Temple to atone for sin through
animal blood. But those sacrifices were only temporal and imperfect. They did not cover our sins permanently. The one true God sent His Son, Yeshua, into the
world, who made a perfect atonement in His own blood. Only God Himself could make such a perfect atonement to give eternal life to the nation of Israel, as
well as to all the gentiles who call upon His name. Thus, through Him, our sins are released and we can finally embrace the one true God, the God of Abraham,
Isaac, and Jacob. There is no other way. God’s son is the way, the truth, and the life.
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