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Mark, I feel that my approach to guiding my students and being there for them in their issues has been transformed through this training. I have been able to give them a perspectives that frees them from their being trapped and stuck in life without having to go through the therapy approach of what happenned when you were two... This has been very liberating for me and has been a critical component in building a strong partnership with my co-director in Plano. Rabbi Nasanya Zakon Director DATA of Plano Dear Mark, I would like to thank you for the wonderful and most helpful "sessions" we had together. Although I have undertaken many classes over the last 15 years, this is a class I will always hold dear to my heart. Not even halfway through the first session, I was startled by the sudden impact your presentation gave me! Talk about a major and quite possibly life changing, AHA. I believe you are a Master in the way you spoke and how your words facilitated my shift in thought. In the last two months since our meetings I have consistantly rejected the old need of having data, negative thinking, and unwanted thoughts. Your teaching of those thoughts being just that, thoughts, and ability to control or eliminate them was very very helpful. As I said in our last session, I know I will be back. Back to reinforce what we worked on, and back to throw some of MY thoughts your way. While I was quite surprised that we really did not discuss religion, Judiasm, and G-D, I understand how those concepts can be discussed now that I am in control of what I think about and what I don't "think" about. It's certainly is ironic how I have spent so much of my life looking for Balance and looking for ways to "Be in the present". Usually the results were short term. With your sessions and with no real goals on my part, it's amazing how Balance and Being in the presence - Have "just come onto me". Thank you, Rabbi Mark, for guiding me towards the unexpected and Most Appreciated! Jon C., Seattle, WA Dear LivingJudaism, Thank you Sharon for coordinating this for us (Shabbat 100). And thank you to Rabbi Bitton and Mrs Bitton for a wonderful Shabbat. We appreciate your kindness and such warm hospitality - not to forget the wonderful and delicious meal. Spending Shabbat with you made the celebration even more joyful. Best regards and once again, Thank You. The Rahbarrads Hi Sharon, First of all I want to say how great it is that you are doing this (coordinating Shabbat 100's). To think about all the lives made more meaningful by the work you do is amazing. Additionally, we very much enjoyed having out guests last week. All the best, Pam Hi Sharon, Thank you very much for your hospitality on Friday night. It was lovely to see you, meet your kids, and see everybody else as well. I had a great time and was amazed by your cuisine, Sharon. I hope you had a very nice Shabbat and week-end. Laurence Hi Rabbi, Thanks for checking up on me. Our talks are making a difference, because I now have a whole new perspective on life and dating. I feel more confident and positive about the process, especially now that I am really only dating for marriage. I have a better outlook on life too. I am not caught up in feeling down, of course also because I know that I have you as a good friend and Rabbi! Mike (editors note: Mike is happily married now with a baby!) Hi Chaim! I just wanted to drop you a quick note to let you know how amazing your couples program is. It is very effective because of it's pragmatic help for problems we have all the time--what to do when we argue, how to avoid conflicts, and how to make each other more happy. It's truly changing our marriage, and we love the fact that it's all based in Jewish sources. We can't thank you enough, Paul Dear Chaim and Techiya et al, Thank you for all of your work on behalf of the young Jewish community of Seattle. I have really sensed a change in energy since you arrived here, and I know you have transformed the lives of many people. Your plans to expand your presence through LivingJudaism are very promising and ambitious. I speak for many people when I say you are teaching the most essential things we all need to know about Judaism and marriage, and I am also deeply grateful for what you have done for me personally. Let me know how I can be of help to you in any way. Best wishes, David Dear Chaim and Techiya, Thank you so much for including me in your Shabbat dinner last Friday. Your Shabbat celebrations are now famous in the city! It is really wonderful that you have brought such terrific energy with your warmth -and you are injecting new life into the Jewish community. I’m sure I speak for many when I tell you how much I appreciate your kindness, generosity and spirit! Many Thanks, Julie Mark, Once again I found our class last night to be enormously useful. I’m so impressed with the elegant simplicity that you seem to be able to bring to important issues like anger and the role of humility in character. I’m accustomed to thinking of these concepts, however important they may be, as too amorphous and subjective to ever be discussed with serious intellectual rigor, even if we can mostly agree on extreme examples of right and wrong. Your explanations make a great deal of sense to me and not only provide a great framework for thinking them but measuring them as well. Best Regards, Jon Dear Chaim, You are all such special people who have brought the beauty of traditional Jewish life to many Jews in the city of Seattle. I have lived here 9 years and have attended countless activities sponsored by other Jewish organizations in the area. However, the impact you have made in your short tenure here has been more than all of those organizations combined! It's amazing how many people are active in your programs. I know the warmth I feel when I am at an event (Shabbat dinner at your home, study group, etc.) cannot be matched - it's like coming home. All of you are viewed as highly respected Jewish leaders in the community and very loved. However, I feel especially fortunate, as I not only think of all of you as spiritual guides but also as my dear friends. You have shown me, whether in good times or bad that the answers are in the Torah. On several occasions one or more of you has been by my side to help me find the right path or simply look at things from a different perspective. What makes that even more special is that you lead by example by walking the talk yourselves. Judaism has always been so important to me. However, finding a way to learn about all aspects of our complicated religion has at times been acumbersome journey. Thank you so much for fostering an environment that has enhanced my life and brought Jewish living within my grasp and into my heart. Susan |