About Me

My photo
Joy Serves G*d in Joy as a passionate performing percussionist, poet, publisher, photographer, publicist, sound healer, spiritual guide, artist, gardener and Gemini. "Ivdu Et Hashem B'Simcha" -Psalm 100:2 ....... Joy Krauthammer, active in the Jewish Renewal, Feminist, and neo-Chasidic worlds for over three decades, kabbalistically leads Jewish women's life-cycle rituals. ... Workshops, and Bands are available for all Shuls, Sisterhoods, Rosh Chodeshes, Retreats, Concerts, Conferences & Festivals. ... My kavanah/intention is that my creative expressive gifts are inspirational, uplifting and joyous. In gratitude, I love doing mitzvot/good deeds, and connecting people in joy. In the zechut/merit of Reb Shlomo Carlebach, zt'l, I mamash love to help make our universe a smaller world, one REVEALING more spiritual consciousness, connection, compassion, and chesed/lovingkindness; to make visible the Face of the Divine... VIEW MY COMPLETE PROFILE and enjoy all offerings.... For BOOKINGS write: joyofwisdom1 at gmail.com, leave a COMMENT below, or call me. ... "Don't Postpone Joy" bear photo montage by Joy. Click to enlarge. BlesSings, Joy
JOY's POEMS

JOY'S POEMS ... "You G*d are the Compassion, the Strength, the Beauty, the Victory, the Splendor, and the Foundation of everything in Heaven and on Earth." (1 Chronicles 1:29) ... I see Your Face in All Nature that I photograph. ... ... http://joys-poems.blogspot.com/ . . . Click "Older Posts" on lower right of each post page for MORE earlier posted stories and art.

River of Light



River of Light 
Painted Path

by Joy Krauthammer © 


Torah, a path to follow, 
sometimes through a dense forest, 
with Light guiding the way, 
and painted with the colors of the rainbow. 

Path may be curvy or straight, 
short or long, 
narrow or wide, 
deep or shallow. 

Is the path rapid or slow, 
high or level? 
Familiar or new? 
Easy to follow or not? 
Filled with delights or difficulties?


Torah gives place to pause.
(as do stones in a stream)
Breathe deeply, reflect, and listen.  
From flowing waters, 
varied sounds are heard 
as many voices are heard in Torah. 

The ear of the heart
can flow to the heart of G*d 
in silence or sound. 
Quiet the mind. 
Shema / listen
What do you hear?


What is my path, 
my purpose toward the Divine One?
Do rocks, challenges, become obstacles (to a well), 
or provide places to step higher on the path?

Shema. 
Can you hear the sounds of water 
tinkle, splash, rush
falling, passing over the stones? 
Is the heart awakened?


In the quiet shade of trees, 
high, by a cliff,
Big Sur
overlooking the ocean, 
I have sat 
on raised stones 
in a gentle mountain spring, 
and played my Tibetan singing bowl.  

I sing Shalom / peace. I am grateful.  I am at Onement. 

-  Joy Krauthammer
~


G*d is Love
We are created B'Tzelem Elokim / in the image of G*d.
River of Light 
of our illuminated heart 
lives in the path of the Tree of Life.
Beginning with Chesed / Loving-Kindness 
to Malchut / Shekhina's Presence of full Light, 
49 Gates of our emotions and actions
 flow through the heart
from the Source.
-  Joy



Genesis 2:10  A river watering the garden flowed from Eden;
Psalm 46:4  There is a River whose streams make glad the City of G*d. 
Psalm 23:2  He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters.

Water as a metaphor for Torah. 
There is no water except Torah.  Bava Kama 17A
"O, all who are thirsty, come for water."  Isaiah 55:1

~ ~ ~


Molalla River
Canby, Oregon
© Joy Krauthammer  July 2014
~ ~ ~