The Spiritual Transformational Processes

of Baalei Teshuvah

Roberta G. Sands andRivka A. Danzig (dec.)

Goals of Today’s Presentation

Present a model of spiritual transformational processes of Jewish adults who have become Orthodox

Identify implications of this model for working with individuals with health challenges

Prior Literature and Research on Religious/Spiritual Change

Research on religious conversion Psychosocial and spiritual development

theories Spirituality and religion as meaning-making

framework Literature on baalei teshuvah Prior research has not addressed processes

of change among baalei teshuvah over time

Definitions Spiritual transformation: movements of the

soul toward and away from the “Divine Source of Being” (Steinsaltz,1987)

Processes of ST: “soul work” Soul work involves active meaning-making

Three elements

• Expanded knowledge of Torah

• Experience of Holiness (Qedushah)

• Perform commandments (mitzvot). The transformation processes are non-

linear, recursive, and spiraling

Qualitative Research Methods

Data collection methods• Individual interviews (N = 48, half men, half

women; half observant 2-12 yrs, half 13+)• In-depth interviews

• Time lines

• Focus groups (N = 2)

• Key informant interviews (N = 10) Individual and focus group interviews were

transcribed; key informant interviews were summarized.

Qualitative Methods of Analysis

Review of transcribed interviews and focus group meetings, minutes of team discussions, and analytic memos

Using a grounded theory approach (Glaser & Strauss, 1967), inductively developed and revised analytic categories and framework for model

Coding of transcripts Cross-checking of findings across methods

(triangulation)

Case Example 1

Rochel: 31 year-old single woman, observant 4.5 years. Parents divorced when 8. Mother had significant mental illness. Lived with different parents in different cities. Continuity in Jewish affiliations. Traveled in Israel, where learned Hebrew, and Germany. Studied in seminary in Israel and became Orthodox on return to US. Continues to struggle with issues around feminism.

Case Example 2

Barbara: 35 years old, married with children; observant 18 years. Grew up in intact home; attended Jewish day school. Active in Jewish youth groups. Started to become observant in high school; continued during college. Law school + high powered job. Married & moved to Israel; later returned to US. Gave up law to teach because law “didn’t jive with my soul.” Gives classes and leads services for women.

The Model of Spiritual Transformational Processes

I. Spiritual Eclipse of the SoulII. Spiritual ImprintsIII. Existential VacuumIV. Spiritual ReactivityV. Spiritual Immersion VI. Movement toward QedushahVII. Living the Commitment (open-ended)

I. Spiritual Eclipse of the Soul

Definition: muting, silencing, or blocking of spiritual needs by adverse or non-supportive experiences

Result of lack of exposure to Jewish education or practice, disapproving attitudes by family and others, & other experiences (e.g., child of Holocaust survivor, family conflict or abuse)

“I felt so cheated. That there was this whole part of who I was, or who I could be connected to, that was kept totally away from me.” (Shira)

II. Spiritual Imprints

Definition: Individuals or experiences that leave a strong impression on the individual’s soul or spiritual development• They may be from childhood or adulthood

• Examples: grandparents, lighting Sabbath candles, youth group activities, contact with charismatic rabbis

“I was awestruck…a watershed moment in…my relationship with Judaism…a very powerful transformation for me…his impact… on me was very, very deep.” (Jeffrey)

III. Existential Vacuum

Definition: A state of inner emptiness and the perception that life lacks meaning (Frankl, 1963)

Characterized by feelings of loneliness, shame, chaos, and confusion and a sense that “something is missing”

May be manifested by depression, restlessness, tension, ennui, & “spiritual emergencies” (Grof & Grof, 1990)

“There’s something missing….When you think of a wheel and a tire, you think of the spokes and the hubcap. Now what’s the center of our life?” (Danielle)

Opens up space for the unfolding of spiritual reactivity

IV. Spiritual Reactivity Definition: Struggling, striving, and searching for meaning in

response to existential vacuum Unfocused spiritual seeking within diverse spiritualities and

Judaism Reactions: rebellion, separation from family/friends, wandering

“We used to go up to the ashram…. It wasn’t so much about G-d; wasn’t about religion. It was about spirituality…having transcendental experiences, feeling my body floating or whatever.” (Yehudis)

“I see a poster... that there was going to be a Bible study class….I had no interest in learning the Bible; I just wanted to meet some girls. But I met this rabbi.” (Steven)

V. Spiritual Immersion

Definition: serious engagement in activities within Judaism that enable connection with G-d

Characteristics: • Incremental study, gradually taking on mitzvot, and

forming new relationships that link them with religious community.

• Idealization of new connections and community.

• “Spiritual canyoneering” ----------- >

Spiritual Canyoneering

"I'm the kind of person that doesn't like to walk into cold water; I like to jump….I jumped deeply into it before I really knew what it was all about or what I was going to experience…. As a kid I would jump off large cliffs into quarries.  And it's kind of what I did going into being religious, too.  I didn't think about it too much.” (Jeffrey) 

VI. Movement toward Qedushah

Definition: a spiritual process in which one deepens one’s relationship with God and intensifies one’s commitment to the practice of Judaism

Characteristics:• Engagement in a deliberate and directed transformational process

• Cascading learning process• Continued, expanded spiritual seeking, learning, and observing• “BT high”

• Spiritual struggles• From straddling two worlds to making a commitment

"You can't just do one mitzvah.  You start doing one. Because I wanted to learn to read from the Torah, I started to go to minyan, and I started putting on tefillin.  And then I started going to Shabbes services." (Barry)

VII. Living the Commitment

Definition: observance becomes normative and pervades one’s everyday life and spiritual/religious existence.

Characteristics• Observing mitzvot on daily basis

• Regular Torah study

• Engaging in acts of lovingkindness (chesed).

• Participating in community and leadership.

Living the Commitment“I'm trying very hard now to structure my week to go to as many women's shiurim (classes) as I can….That it keeps me…revved up and in the right direction." (Shira)

“Davening is… the most important part of the beginning of my day.” (Amy)

“… we wiped ourselves out as a family, with doing a lot of volunteering. But it felt so good…. We had so much energy and enthusiasm, and we wanted to give, and we wanted to raise money for good causes, etcetera.” (Yehudis)

Discussion

Gradual process, not leap into faith Prior eclipses and losses of meaning create need

for new sources of meaning (Spiritual) transformation occurs in the context of

relationships with “spiritual models” (Oman & Thoresen, 2003)

Heightened group identification and solidarity support the process

Deepening of knowledge of one’s religion & religious values is inspiring

Discussion—cont.

The need for knowledge slows the process down

Social support, modeling, and community reinforcement spur the process on

“Doing” reinforces what one has learned Chesed and community service appear at

the highest level of spiritual transformation

Implications for Health Spiritual transformation develops from an unmet

need for a framework to structure meaning • Need derives from prior losses or gaps (eclipse of soul)

• Need to construct a meaningful life (existential vacuum) Serious health issues of oneself or others can

provoke a need for a new framework for meaning Critical elements for change:

• Emotional support

• New knowledge

• Religious communities or social networks that draw people in and enhance and reinforce spiritual/religious values

Research Team

Roberta G. Sands, PhD, PI

Rivka Ausubel Danzig, DSW, Co-PI

Robyn Rapoport Spero, MA, Research Associate

Samuel Z. Klausner, PhD, Research Consultant (volunteer)

Interviewers from 3 metropolitan areas

Transcribers from 2 metropolitan areas

Acknowledgments

We are grateful for the funding and support provided by The Spiritual Transformation Scientific Research Program, sponsored by the Metanexus Institute on Religion and Science, with the generous support of the John Templeton Foundation.

We also thank Temima Azizollahoff Danzig for creating our logo.