Writings

By the time I was eight years old, familial discord caused me great shame and distress. I struggled in school. Both of my parents were liberal minded and prided themselves in not being submissive to any external religious authority. They finally decided to separate after years of clashing. This exacerbated my feelings of insecurity and inadequacy. Feeling like an outsider, I played the “class clown” in order to gain the attention I was craving. I also found temporary relief with binge eating which got more compulsory and solitary over time.

I wanted to feel better, to come out from my sad isolation, but I could not control myself or my situation. It was comforting to know that I could turn to food whenever I needed to deal with anxiety, fear, rejection, boredom, loneliness, or just for enjoyment. The food became my “Higher Power” that I used to fill the many voids in my heart. My over-dependency on food made me seek more food, rather than secure the appropriate “ingredients” I needed in order to have a fulfilled life: stable and loving relationships, a purpose to live for, and clear moral guidelines to develop contentment and inner peace.

Eventually, it became clear to me that the strategy I was using was not working. Life too often felt like torture. How to gain self control was a pressing question. I needed to keep my head above water. Nearing my wit’s end, I looked around for whatever was in reach that I might grab hold of as a life preserver.

My mother practiced yoga so I asked her to teach me. She also introduced me to a spiritual recovery fellowship. My father spent hours talking with me about psychology and philosophy and eventually gave me a book about meditation. I studied psychology in college and graduate school. While it seemed like a logical place to find answers regarding mental health, and also a means to earn an income, I found the answers to questions like “what is a healthy human being” to be insufficient.

After making a significant commitment to a support group and immersing myself in the study and practice of yoga in the beautiful Berkshire Mountains, I deepened my connection to the tradition to which I was born but had little understanding of - Judaism. With the help of compassionate teachers and role models, I embraced my faith. I found that the answers I had been seeking were within the teachings of Torah. This elevated my thinking and got me even more passionate about my purpose: to continue to come into greater alignment with the Loving source of strength that I had learned to open up to. It became clear to me that my goal in life was to help others gain well-being and peace.

Let’s talk about (y)our current situation. Does it feel a little precarious? Do you feel like you are in harm’s way or like you are trapped, a stranger in a strange land? While in many ways we have it much better than those who came before us or our ancestors in Persia or Egypt, to a great extent we share their dilemma. Exile is not only a geographical condition but is a problem of our separation from G-d and our purpose. To be alienated from your proper place in the world is unpleasant. How do you deal with it? Like most people, you try hard to be “in control” of your life, but, too often, the outcome is a condition that controls you. There are a very limited number of things in this world that you actually have control over. To take control over what you can —yourself, your attitude, and your inner peace— you need an approach that is grounded in the truth of who you are here to be in the world.

If you or someone you love is experiencing some of the symptoms of exile -anxiety, insecurity, fear, headaches, physical tension and pain, disease, depression, obesity, relationship problems- then let's utilize timeless principles that can be found in Torah and yoga to get back home. Sincere motivation, coupled with the right principles, will shed light on the necessary actions.

G-d is the greatest source of love in the world. One of the ways that G-d manifests love is by giving us a soul that forever remains connected to Him. Your soul (neshama in Hebrew) wants only to do acts of goodness. It wants to extend love in a unique way. Because your body's cravings for food, sex, and other sensory stimulations tend to compel you to pursue selfish desires, there is a battle raging within you. This spiritual battle goes by many names but we can follow the convention of calling it the rider (neshama) and the horse (yetzer ha'ra). No matter how skilled one is at riding a bucking bronco it is never a serene trot through the park. If you want your actions to be in harmony with and empowered by G-d, you will need to exercise control over your deeds, words, and thoughts. To really take the reins means to gain control of the body. This is called self control or self mastery.

How? Recognize that you have a great helper on your side--G-d--and to a large extent all of His love infused creation. The power in the world that we call love is both universal and intrinsic. Finding it within leads to greater selflessness and enlightenment. By moving towards love we endeavor to share more of ourselves- our gifts, talents and skills-with an eye towards bettering the lives of others. Strive to discover your unique purpose for being here and wholeheartedly exercise your will to fulfill it. By leading this purpose-driven life, instead of running after selfish attachments, you will cultivate peace within yourself. You will move closer to others who are striving to do the same in their lives, and you will find new, more satisfying pleasures that are much more compatible with long term peace.

Start where you are and focus on doing what you can. Don’t be afraid of failure or slow progress; just keep practicing.

© 2014 by Andrew Kahn. All rights reserved. Andrew Kahn is the director of the Peaceful Presence Yoga Studio in Cedarhurst, NY. More on this topic can be found in his book: How to be a Peaceful Presence: Finding Your Inner Peace. He can be reached at andrewkahn@peacefulpresence.com.

We stand for building a world of love and not hate. May we have moral clarity now as we stand strong together. It is not too difficult to see who is building what is good and whose deceptive and hate-filled ways will lead to more destruction. Choose life and choose the good.

All of God’s children were meant to live with goodness, kindness, unity, harmony, and love all along. My teacher said “Evil” is the word “Live” turned inside out. In the spirit of yoga, while we unite to fight the evil of hate and needless violence, we should also turn our vision inward and double our efforts to eradicate the evil within us. The yoga and spiritual masters understood that the inside job is the most consequential battle. We must not see evil only in “the other.” We must wrestle with and try to overcome our own hidden selfishness to earn the world we yearn for.

May peaceful wings spread over Jerusalem soon. May the light of goodness and the spirit of cooperation inspire all of God’s children to live with kindness, harmony, and love.

I’d like to see colleges, universities, media outlets, and social media platforms stand up and stop harboring groups that spread hate. Freedom of speech should not include harboring those who incite violence by fomenting anger, hate, and rage. America needs a higher standard than that. Hate does not bring anyone toward the goal of a freer, kinder, more holy, more compassionate, and loving world.

Let’s take a deep breath and reset. There is a better way forward and we all need to work on it now — with our full spirit — before even greater strife.

Here is a little spiritual/yogic teaching that the sages also understand: There is a battle of good and evil, and the evil is not only in the other but within. As we overcome it within, peace emerges victorious within and outside. This is actually very empowering. Nobody should feel powerless in this battle. As the good becomes really good it creates a much more visible contrast with that which is not good. Choosing the good becomes less confusing, more obvious, and more inviting. As more and more people choose the good, evil loses its support.

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Calmness, kind communication, and cooperation can still shine through our words and actions even during these troubled times. We can be very strong and very discerning and empathic at the same time. In this way, we will do our part to help restore civility, respect, and the feeling of safety.

May more and more people help create an environment of cooperation as we stand strong for all that is good and courageously stand up against what is bad — including all words and actions that further spread divisiveness and hate in America.

We must quickly learn to see the forces in media and the people who divide and stir hate. We really need leadership that unites. We need to work together or we will be divided and conquered by the forces that seek our destruction. May a leader who can unite Americans step forward.

May this growing circle — this unity of goodness — become stronger and stronger now!

There is a time for peace and a time for war. Sadly, this is a time for war in Israel, and for a while there will be necessary violence. Teaching hate and revenge leads to another cycle of violence. It delays our ultimate destination of peace on earth. May cool heads and discernment prevail — especially in Israel. May we always remember that peace and prosperity for ALL are our deepest and most enduring longings, and that life is truly precious and sacred.

All people and leaders with a true vision of God’s goodness and unity — join together now. The solution is in the hands of the moderate, silent majority who must learn to speak up to stop the spread of hate. The dream and hope for peace is alive and can never be lost.

Yogis and spiritual masters remind us that the inner work we do to purify ourselves is most effective for helping restore good order and peace in the world around us. Let’s get to work and have victory in the inner battle for peace. The inner battle is actually the most important one.

As social workers, we can stand strong for these ideals and when we see individuals or groups that spread the hate that always leads to a growing cycle of violence, we can speak up or take some other action to stop it rather than remaining silent and letting it grow and become out of control.

I believe that passivity and silence just don’t create the world we want. Constructive words, being an active part of the unity of goodness, and discerning strong actions are necessary. One of the messages that I’d like to promote is that all of life is sacred and precious.

I hope that many social workers will work to raise this awareness and that as soon as possible we can go back to building rather than needing to destroy. Thank you for being on the team. There is so much to do.

Speak Out Against Blanket Vilification. It’s vital to distinguish legitimate criticism of policies from sweeping hate against a people or identity. Calling out unfair stereotyping or demonization of all Zionists, Jews, Palestinians, or Black people is essential. Historically, demonizing any group paves the way to treating that group badly and acting violently.

Promote Nuanced Understanding. Conflict can blur realities. Right now black-and-white thinking is part of the problem. Labels like oppressor/oppressed, occupier/occupied, Zionist/Palestinian — while they have some meaning — are very often being used to divide society and make listening and working together very difficult.

Maintain Human Dignity for All. Even amidst war, every person — including Israelis and Palestinian civilians — deserves respect and recognition of their humanity. I’ve heard people on both sides say “they are all complicit and deserve to be harmed.” To me this is not helpful. The “enemy” can never truly be destroyed. The yogis say that the real enemy and evil must be confronted within. Every individual, group, and nation has their share of what the Tanya calls the Animal Soul — but we also all have a Divine Soul that can grow stronger.

Build Bridges Despite Tensions. Intentional connection with diverse voices and communities fosters empathy and resists the pull toward baseless hatred.

Counter Hate Speech and Misinformation. Conflict zones are ripe for propaganda. Actively challenging hateful or false claims about any group is crucial. While individuals and groups must face consequences for what they have done, blanket dehumanization is not the way forward — because humans have inherent value, and recognizing this is part of the solution.

Support Peace and Justice Initiatives. Encouraging efforts that promote peaceful coexistence, justice, and mutual respect provides a positive path forward. Greatness has much to do with humility, kindness, love, and human caring. Let’s try to show respect for other people even if we see things differently.

The archer keeps making corrections as he focuses on the center of his target. At first he misses completely, then hits the outer ring, then little by little he hits the center. What is the true target? Peace.

I pray that I and others never forget that peace is not minor but major. We must never become vicious, callous, undiscerning, and stoop to brutality. That is not the way forward. It is a missing of the mark.

Peace is found within and shared. It is in seeing our unity, kindness, and cooperation that God, so to speak, smiles. But how can we find this with our present enemy? If someone is sworn to our destruction it will be very difficult if not impossible. Does that mean we can give up on peace? No. There will be strength and more solid boundaries necessary. We must protect life, including our own. Life is sacred and precious — all of life. Yet life sworn to death needs to be stopped one way or another. I always prefer the least possible harm to life.

Our goal is not domination but helping everyone we can. They will need food, water, clothing, housing, and education — which leads to more freedom, abundance, and choice. True liberation leads to one finding their place within the whole and playing a constructive role.

So our job, for all who accept it, is to simply help our struggling fellow beings if they will let us. In return, we hope that others will pass it on and this world will become not a hell but a heaven on earth — a place where people care for the weak, the sick, and the old, nourish the young, feed the hungry, clothe the naked, shelter those in the cold, and share light with those who stumble in the darkness.

In the battle between light and darkness, I pray that the light of brotherhood will win — and that in time more and more people will recognize that the whole world is one family. This is not just my dream. It is the true state of affairs. And the realization of this is the destination that goes by many names, including messianic times, or the time of self-realization.

I have no official sanction or permission to speak for anyone else but myself. Having said that, here is my people’s ultimate goal as I understand it: A world of peace, kindness, cooperation, sharing, caring, respecting others, and celebrating religious, ethnic, and cultural diversity. There is tolerance and patience but there is also moral clarity — not knee-jerk moral equivalence. All approaches are not equal. Some lead to life and some lead to death.

Good practices and their opposites: Purification / Impurity · Moderation / Excess · Self-control / Impulsiveness · Energy / Lethargy · Joy / Depression · Peace / Conflict · Hope / Despair · Humility / Dismissive pride · Kindness / Cruelty · Empathy / Apathy · Generosity / Selfishness · Truth / Falsehood · Faith / Worry · Contentment / Discontentment

I am a Jew and I have survived and will survive. There have been great empires — Assyrian, Roman, Byzantine, Spanish, Nazi Germany — that eventually tried to destroy or subjugate the Jewish people. While our numbers have been cut down, our strength has grown. This is because the soul continues its work with even greater zeal.

I want a world where people of different religions can cooperate and those with no religion can also exist without unnecessary pressure. There are many legitimate paths to goodness and to God. I want that world to be progressively filled with more light, strength, and kindness, and to always treat life as precious and sacred.

I don’t care so much for material things. I’ve heard that the key to impact is to work hard and not care who gets the credit. There are so many people across this earth — Jewish, Muslim, Christian, no religion — of like spirit. We need to see this through together with great vigor.

What I want: a place where I can live safely and do this sacred work. It is a land that my ancestors lived in and worshiped in — the land of Israel. From that place, I want to offer the world the light of kindness, mercy, proper judgment, and strength. Will you help me? If you will you will be blessed. The choice is everyone’s to make: light or darkness, good or bad.

I will always believe in doing the least possible harm. I can’t help but be sad about the fate of even an enemy. Human life is the most precious and sacred thing. In my view, all people are created in the image and likeness of God. Join me, but don’t try to destroy me. It is like destroying the air you need to breathe.

A bit about me: I live in a modern orthodox neighborhood. Many people have brothers and fathers who have been called up as reservists or know people recently killed or taken hostage. The people I have worked with for years are Holocaust survivors — many have been re-traumatized. What about “Never Again?” The trauma is all around.

My father had a beautiful life and marriage with a Persian woman from Iran for 35 years. Nargus cooked for us, cut our hair, and brought my father and us great happiness.

My father gave me the middle name Martin after Martin Luther King, who was his hero. He and his father worked for causes like the Congress of Racial Equality. I would love to see reciprocity when it comes to fighting antisemitism. Questioning the right of a nation to exist is antisemitism. It has grown rampant — and I ask all good, decent, God-loving people to bring that to a stop.

My first name, “Andrew,” is named after an Israeli fighter pilot who died in the Six-Day War — Arnon Livnat (1937–1967). His plane was shot down as my mother was pregnant with me. livnat-brothers.com

My last name is “Kahn.” My grandfather always said we are Kohain — a priestly group descended from Moses’s brother Aaron. One of my brothers had his DNA tested and the Y-chromosome analysis found a match with the Cohen Markers.

I hope that people will say no to hate and terror but I don’t want to fight it every day unless I must. I was becoming discontent. I don’t want to spend my life that way. “Who is happy? He who is satisfied with his lot.” I want to focus on being grateful for all that I have. I’d prefer to grow love — and I think the effect will be better.

It is sad that the world does not seem ready for The World Is One Family. I guess specific groups must start off by saying “We are all one Family: One Heart.” We will get to the bigger world is one family one day. The truth can’t be forever denied. It is a dream of cooperation, kindness, and love that I need to keep alive — for myself at least.

higherorderlove.org is a way for me to focus on gratitude and for others who wish to do the same. Also useful: An Introduction to Mindful Gratitude

I am someone who believes in a Power Greater than myself and I am comfortable calling that power God — even though I know the term carries baggage. If I had to define what I mean by God in one word, the word would be “Love.” There is something I call Higher Order Love that is much more specific, and its nurturing, healing, comforting, and disciplining power is quite real. It often works through people.

For America to truly be a great light to the world we need to get beyond the polarization and divisiveness. So much media takes political sides and only exacerbates distrust, communication breakdown, and hate. A house divided falls. Benjamin Franklin: “We must all hang together, or most assuredly we shall all hang separately.”

When it comes to hate, I much prefer love. I don’t really want to fight hate — I’d rather feed the fires that produce warmth. The problem with hating any group — Blacks, Jews, Arabs, Muslims, Israelis, Iranians, immigrants — is the hate itself, which poisons hearts and tends to rationalize violence.

“And they shall beat their swords into plowshares… nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.” (Isaiah 2:4)

It is very difficult for Israel to live alongside an armed group sworn to their destruction. Peace agreements can only be made with parties willing to live and let live. We must create shared narratives that leave open the possibility of hope and the valuing of life.

It is too simplistic to say that Jews are simply white, colonizing, privileged oppressors. Some Jews have been living in Israel for thousands of years. Many Jews have worked very hard to reach a point of affluence and many have never gone beyond poverty. Perhaps more than any other group, Jews have suffered historically as victims. Germany has paid tens of billions in restitution. Hate can take on an overpowering and destructive force of its own if the silent majority stays silent.

My grandfather came from Poland when he was 17. Many years later he could not call home because there was nobody home. They had all been murdered along with about 6 million other Jews and millions of others.

We also cannot justify as “resistance” murder, rape, and kidnapping. And it is too simplistic to say there are no people in the West Bank or Gaza who have the right to a secure life with hope.

True Religion: that which helps create more love and helps reveal the fundamental truth that has been nearly lost: that The Whole World Is One Family. Swami Kripalu said: “If we cannot love others, we aren’t following religion, but the illusion of religion. True religion teaches the oneness of all.”

If you like what you are hearing please let me know. I have more to say and there is so much work to be done. theworldisonefamily.com

H — Honest: I genuinely desire something better for both you and me. From a yogic perspective, “evil” exists within, even as people perceive it outside. The battle of good against evil must be fought within and won first. Please join me in trying to win that internal battle first.

O — Openminded: I aim to be open to what I don’t yet understand. Many valid approaches exist to solve problems, so it’s crucial to define the problems we’re addressing.

Problem 1: Divisiveness, polarization, and lack of trust in America. Solution: Reward those who unite and heal our nation. Share narratives that promote peace.

Problem 2: Hate. Solution: Embrace love and marginalize all forms of hate. Love must be strong, using its power with discernment until hate loses popularity.

P — Purposeful: Thoughts, words, and actions should be purposeful for someone devoted to peace. The purpose, in my view, is to protect the most precious thing there is — life. We must make a decision: do we justify anything in the name of “resistance,” including murder? Revenge won’t create the world we want unless we desire mass destruction and anarchy.

E — Everlasting: Hope springs eternal. The effort to find hope, redeem, and work toward harmonious coexistence persists as long as life exists. While land can be secured by strength, the ultimate promised land includes freedom from fear, a deep devotion to life, and an awareness of the sacredness of God’s creation. “Innocent until proven guilty” prevails.

Original	Reframed
“Globalize the Intifada”	Globalize Compassion and Moral Courage
“From the River to the Sea”	Let All Live in Dignity and Peace
“Genocide”	We reject distortion. We uphold truth and memory. Let memory and moral conscience guide every faith, every voice.
“BDS”	Build, Develop, Strengthen: A Shared Call for Justice and Human Dignity
“Apartheid”	Apart from hate, united in hope. Together in the light of truth and love.
“Occupation”	Our real task is to sanctify — with peace, justice, and sacred presence.

When we dehumanize and demonize a group or a country, we create more death and destruction — for both those using distorted language and the target. In this case, the one Jewish State and the Jewish people.

Please help promote responsible language in all communication and media — language that builds bridges for coexistence rather than walls of destruction. Every form of media has a duty to preserve civil society, not to tear it down.

At Peaceful Presence, we honor the dove—our symbol of peace. But we also recognize the lion—rising when necessary to defend life and hope. These two are not in conflict. They are on the same team.

If a regime calls for a country to be wiped off the map, chants “Death to Israel,” and, at the same time, builds nuclear weapons, it must be stopped. This isn’t a political opinion—it’s a moral responsibility.

I am a peace lover. A card-carrying kumbaya yogi. But I don’t believe in just kicking the can down the road.

Israel has incredible potential and so much it wants to give to the world. But when hatred is taught—when children are raised to see others as evil and worthy of death—it steals the future from all of us.

Interrupt the Teaching of Hate

Most people, deep down, want to live, love, learn, and connect. I believe—as we do in the U.S.—that a person or a people is innocent until proven guilty. But when hate is embedded in education, culture, or media, it leads to demonization, dehumanization, and ultimately violence. And that violence often comes full circle.

We must interrupt the teaching of hate. We must speak for friendship, for shared humanity, for the ancient truth that every human being is made in the image of God.

A Warning for America

In the United States, our media silos—CNN, Fox, MSNBC—and even more so, our social networking platforms—often push us to extremes. They fuel division to gain loyalty. But what happens next? People fume. They rage. And some act out. Guns are drawn. Fires are lit. There are reports that bots intentionally stir division, weaponizing our pain against each other.

If we don’t stop this, the consequences could be catastrophic. I don’t say that lightly. The potential for destruction is real.

A Call to Connection

So what can we do? We must renew our commitment to connect across differences. To listen. To understand. To love our neighbor as ourselves. That is the hope for the future.

The Jewish people may need to rise like a lion—for self-defense and survival—but our ultimate goal and vision must never be forgotten: Shalom means Peace. The Promised Land is a world where love, opportunity, abundance, and kindness prevail—it helps usher in the time when all recognize that we have one common Creator.

Let’s work together to build that world. As we continue our efforts, we will find help and success that appears to be miraculous.

Does the Peaceful Presence Dove fit into our real world? Let us move toward the day when all can rest without fear.

Israel Longs for a Lasting Peace
Created by Andrew Kahn

Israel longs for peace, a safe home for all,
yet too many voices are calling her fall.
Freedom should build, not tear apart;
peace must be rooted in truth from the start.

We have more in common than divides,
but hate and denial can’t be our guide.
Guided by love, we can make things right,
together in courage, together in light.

Rally the masses, friends from near and far;
brotherhood and goodness — that’s who we are.
Teach mitzvot, teach kindness, show the way,
and build bridges for tomorrow, starting today.

We have more in common than divides,
but hate and denial can’t be our guide.
Guided by love, we can make things right,
together in courage, together in light.

The world is listening; our choices ring,
trust in love, trust in kindness — let all sing.
A higher light guides us, quietly within;
hope and compassion are where we begin.

The sickness of hate has finished the body I briefly called my home but my soul must speak. Here is the message worth reposting:

Please stop teaching all forms of hate and don’t use technology to spread it. Please try to stop hate from spreading wherever you see it. Even in the name of human rights or freedom, hate leads to violence — and often ends up causing even more harm to the very people it is meant to avenge.

Across the divides, let’s work to grow a better world with a love for goodness. May new alliances form now and each day, both small and large, and move us toward a unity of goodness. Be a realist and pursue a worthy ideal at the same time. The age that we long for is close at hand.

For peace and love to prevail, they must guide our actions. Every day, may more and more people stand unequivocally with the goodness which never teaches hate, but instead cherishes all of life. Goodness recognizes the necessity of strength to preserve and build an inclusive world of beauty, diversity, and kindness — seeks connection, welcomes friendship, and cultivates cooperation and caring. This is what God wants for us to actively help create, and what religions are supposed to guide humanity toward.

According to this humble Jewish yogi, God wants Israel to have a country from which to share light, innovations, and help with problems like disease and hunger. Allow Israel to exist. Of course it will need to protect itself from those who try to destroy it. Help protect her. Gradually, let even those filled with the seeds of hate see for themselves that while Israel is very far from perfect, she really does not want to kill. She much prefers to help and heal. Having to kill is the saddest thing of all.

Let’s put an end to the hate that perpetuates killing. Everyone is a part of God’s creation and life is sacred and precious. War is hell and is the last thing I want. Trying to destroy Israel “From the River to the Sea” is promoting genocide and is very bad. While there are legitimate needs of impoverished people, there is a much better way to get those needs met. Using them to try to destroy Israel is pointless. It won’t work. This approach will just create more suffering and death.

It has been said that the first casualty of war is truth. There are competing narratives about Israel. One is bent on destruction — highly destructive, with the potential to lead to unbelievable destruction and even World War III. The vast majority of humanity does not want this and should not be silent.

Another narrative says Palestinians have no right to a land to live in. This too is false. Those sincere about living in peace should be protected from harm and supported.

We must form a shared narrative that allows Israel to live and fulfill its God-given mission — and at the same time recognizes the rights of those who would live and let live. The trust is presently deeply broken and will not quickly be rebuilt.

God is love, and love is God. It is time for us to see that Abraham and all of his children really have only one God — a God best universally defined as love. We must learn to live together before so many are destroyed. No matter what has happened to you or your family, teaching hate that perpetuates the cycle of violence is never the solution. Working accords are the only option until a genuine love and universal brotherhood is gained.

Those set on promoting hate, destruction, and death — please quickly reconsider your approach. Killing leads to more of the same. The cycle of violence must be stopped as soon as possible.

1. Don’t let the teaching of hate spread through any means. Hating life or any people is not good. We can’t overlook it even when it happens to be the Jews — Jews count too and cannot be written off as white, Zionist, occupiers, or oppressors. Protecting the most vulnerable rather than ganging up is critical.
2. Individuals and groups bent on destruction need to be met with a clear and unequivocal rejection. Promoting destruction only leads to another cycle of violence, and the tired statement of “they deserve it” only rationalizes acts that violate civilization.
3. Full force forward — build a world of kindness, caring, love, helpfulness, giving, uplifting, treating the sick, feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, sheltering those without a home. This is humanity’s true destiny.
4. Trust only comes with time. This need not stop people from building. Those who seek world domination for their own selfish ends will not prevail. Love is strong. God, who in truth is love, will not ultimately let that happen as long as we do our part.
5. Never give way to despair or hopelessness — build this world every day with heart and devotion.
6. The most impactful work individuals can do is overcoming the evil within themselves. As this happens, their actions in the world reflect peace and leave a trail of life and harmony.
7. Just keep going forward. “Clean your own house” — purify yourself. Watch for internal pride, anger, greed, gluttony, lust, envy, and sloth, and ask for God’s help removing all that gets in the way of service to God and others.

Who: Family, friends, and fellow students. I hope to serve as the spiritual director and steward of the vision, guiding who participates, when, and how.

What: A year-round location, if possible.

When: As soon as the right opportunity presents itself.

Where: Ideally in Jerusalem — or as close to it as possible if that's not immediately feasible.

How: Through a combination of yoga, massage, social work, savings, and the support of family and friends.

Exploratory Questions:

Who would like to be a part of this? Who has resources or experience to help bring this to life? How and where should funds be responsibly managed? When might a purchase or lease become possible? Who else feels called to teach there? How will Peaceful Presence Yoga be taught and shared? Should the focus remain solely on yoga, or grow to include other healing arts?

Approach: Start by gathering a small circle of trusted allies — family, students, or supporters — who believe in the vision and may be able to contribute time, wisdom, or resources. A simple written proposal outlining the mission, core values, and spiritual goals of the Jerusalem space can help bring clarity and momentum.

Next, consider forming a legal or nonprofit structure to allow for transparent fundraising and organization. Begin small: explore rentals or partnerships in or near Jerusalem for seasonal retreats or short-term stays. Let the project unfold naturally and with integrity, always keeping the heart of it spiritual, healing, and community-centered.