Mourning Rabbi Alan Lew
The Awakened Heart Project is sad to announce the death of one of the great Jewish meditation teachers of our time. Rabbi Alan Lew’s teachings were infused with integrity, humor and insight. As a Jewish leader, a spiritual teacher and a friend he is and will be dearly missed.
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I just heard of Alan Lew’s death on a Channel 13 program on Religion this evening…January 18. His book was recommended in my b’nai mitzvah class 2 years ago. Ever since I have thought I would like to find time for meditation. I just started a few weeks ago at the Makom Center of the JCC in New York. One of my thoughts was that someday I would be ready to go to a retreat with Alan Lew. I still can’t believe this will not happen. With condolences to all who knew him from someone who wishes she had had the opportunity.
Rabbi Alan Lew and his friend Norman Fischer have both made a great contribution to the understanding of Buddhism and Judaism and JUBUs (Jewish Buddhists). Rabbi Lew’s description of “a fruitful and beautiful creative meeeting of two religious streams that cam together in the United States” is very profound. His valuable work will live on and help many people.
Loved all his books. Had a profound impact on my understanding of Judaism and spiritual practice. God rest his soul.
I am sad to learn of Rabbi Lew’s passing, as I am only now reading his book BE STILL and GET GOING, while on retreat. I had hoped to meet him on my next visit to SF. He is missed by many, even those like me who never met him. I am grateful to have his words of wisdom resonate in mind and heart. May he be at rest in eternal peace. Blessings.
I just read Rabbi Lew’s “Be Still and Get Going” and it spoke so clearly to my troubled, searching heart at a difficult period in my life … I was so looking forward to reading more from him in the future and am devastated to learn, just now on this website, that he has died! G-d is a righteous Judge. Rabbi Lew’s Memory is a Blessing.
I spent three days with Alan Lew at the Elat Chayyim Spiritual Retreat Center last year. He taught a wonderful amalgam of sincere, traditional Judaism and Zen. Upon hearing of his passing, I dropped everything and went to his levaya ( funeral ) in San Francisco. (I live on the east coast.) I think that my point has been made. He was a wonderful teacher and a great man. His memory will be a blessing for all of us.
when i heard about allen lew’s death i felt personally affected. i had read 3 of his books and benefitted greatly from his compassion and wisdom. i was happy to see that there was a place where i could voice my loss and share my feelings. what a shame to loose such a lovely person. thank you for providing this place for grieving and acknowledgemnt. suzy lowinger, spiritual director, graduate yedidya program
I was given a gift, I arrived in San Francisco the day Alan passed on and tucked him in with hundreds of other people in his resting bed.
I was able to participate for a full week to celebrate the life of someone who really mattered in my life and found joy as much as sadness with anyone I spent time with in any form and when I took time for my own silence with others or alone.
To see the new building (Alan’s dream) and see a gathering of over 50 clergy with 400 other people present, while 20 some odd gave testimony was more healing than I could imagine at a time of such loss.