This Yom Kippur, October 12, 2024, Pico Shul is excited to offer something truly unique and spiritually uplifting. Amid the deep introspection and prayer that marks this holiest day of the year, we will have a special aromatherapy workshop led by Daren Schlecter, a certified aromatherapist and student of the renowned Avraham Sands, one of the foremost experts in Jewish aromatherapy and ancient Israelite practices.
Why bring aromatherapy into Yom Kippur services? The answer lies in the connection between smell and the soul, an idea deeply rooted in our tradition. Our sages teach that while all other senses can be deceived, smell uniquely transcends the material world, touching the very essence of the soul. It is the one sense that remains pure, never corrupted by the sin of Adam and Eve. This is why, according to Kabbalistic teachings, aromatherapy is a powerful tool for spiritual elevation, especially on Yom Kippur, when we seek to cleanse our souls and connect more deeply with the Divine.
Under Daren's guidance, we will explore different scents to enhance our spiritual experience, allowing us to focus our prayers, lift our spirits, and connect more profoundly with the day's sanctity. Each aromatic oil used will be carefully selected, inspired by ancient traditions, to evoke specific spiritual qualities.
This workshop offers a beautiful opportunity to engage the senses in a way that enhances our kavanah, our intention, on Yom Kippur. It's an invitation to open up to new dimensions of our faith and to experience Yom Kippur with renewed depth and spiritual awareness.
Join us as we explore this ancient practice, honoring our ancestors and the timeless wisdom of our tradition. Let the soul be nourished, let the spirit be elevated, and may this Yom Kippur be filled with the sweet fragrance of teshuvah, of return.
