– Marc Gafni’s students, collaborators, and supporters speak out for the sake of restoring integrity. This comment by Alan J. Weissman on Study with Marc Gafni, Commitment and Love was first posted to the Center for Integral Wisdom statement on centerforintegralwisdom.org. You can read the statement below or listen to the audio. –
Dear Marc,
The truth about our study, commitment and love. Our first encounter: a class called “The Eros of Tears.” Upon completion we walked and talked for over an hour. You encouraged and challenged me to renew my Jewish faith. Ten months later I took another class you were teaching. At that time you provided me with several books and authors to read. I felt such satisfaction and genuine acceptance.
Three years later when I was falsely charged with a crime and deeply broken you encouraged me to deepen my spiritual practice, to study Torah, Musar and do shadow work. We spoke almost weekly for the better part of the next 15 months. These were deep and holy conversations. During the darkest time of my life you were a constant presence, source of strength and light. You never asked me for anything and when I was broke you even paid my tuition so I could continue my studies.
And then there was the day I sat terrified waiting to be called back into court. You called me from Israel and then led all of Bayit Chadash in prayer. I had to hang up because I was called back into the court room. When we spoke 20 minutes later, my innocence and freedom having been declared, it sounded and felt like the Angels themselves were singing and applauding in the background.
With love and light always,
Alan J. Weissman