Spiritgrow: A spiritual frontier
Spiritgrow's success has been attributed to a unique father-and-son team and their 'out of the box' creative approach to Judaism
SPIRITGROW is continuing to push boundaries as an avant garde approach to Torah, teaching meditation, mindfulness and wellness, always injecting a Jewish spiritual dimension.
“We meet people on their turf,” noted Spiritgrow’s Rabbi Menachem Wolf. Menachem is far from your typical rabbi. A youthful voice, sporting a full beard, he holds his audiences enthralled with his encyclopaedic knowledge of history, philosophy and Kabbalah. His interactive approach in Shabbat services is legend, and exciting to witness.
And now, a new Spiritgrow initiative – an alternative to traditional Shabbat services – an ‘alternative to services’ based on meditations on gratitude, insight, stress release, mind control, focus and niggun (soulful mantra-type tunes) will be led by Rabbi Laibl, who recently conducted a Pesach retreat in Rhodes, Greece.
Spiritgrow is about to undertake a multimillion-dollar building project of a ‘green’ and energy-efficient building of three storeys for its burgeoning programs, with dedicated meditation space, and art and music space, as well as a large auditorium for Shabbat and High Holy Day services. Architect Graham Burrows of award-winning architectural firm Jackson, Clements, Burrows is fully capturing Spiritgrow’s spiritual character.
Spiritgrow’s next lecture series explores the benefits and dangers of AI, artificial intelligence, which Rabbi Laibl Wolf will deliver throughout June. “We should never fear ‘machinery’. Technological advancements are inevitable and inexorable – the product of human curiosity and ingenuity,” Rabbi Laibl notes, “and a robot doesn’t have a soul, no mind, no emotions, nor is it truly intelligent!” he adds.
Spiritgrow’s values extend to health and wellness, conscious eating, ego-abnegation and practising genuine humility through acknowledging the other, practising gratitude, spiritual endeavour and above all, the study of profound kabbalistic Chassidic teachings explaining the nature of person and the universe.
Rabbi Menachem has regular walks around nearby Caulfield Park with his congregants. “These produce some of the best bonding experiences I have with Spiritgrow members,” he notes. He has attracted almost a ‘cult following’, especially after his ‘shofar embellished’ rendition of Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah at the state funeral of musical entrepreneur Michael Gudinski, which brought the house down.
Spiritgrow’s success has been attributed to a unique father-and-son team and their ‘out of the box’ creative approach to Judaism, while remaining true at all times to Torah from Sinai. They provide personal advice and counselling, repair of intergenerational and marital breakdown, and spiritual growth training. When asked whether Spiritgrow ever runs out of ideas, both rabbis smile knowingly and respond that they have many more bold and even audacious plans in their to-do box that have yet to see light of day.
For enquiries, appointments, and program registrations, contact the Spiritgrow office on 9509 7211 or reception@SpiritgrowJosefKryssCentre.org
“We fully recognise that formal shule service is difficult, if not meaningless, for many younger and older Jews.”
– Rabbi Laibl Wolf, Spiritgrow Dean.
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