Labowitz, Shoni

views updated

Labowitz, Shoni

PERSONAL: Married Phillip Labowitz (a rabbi). Education: Attended Maryland Institute of Art, 1965, and Moore College of Art, 1966; Barry University, B.S., 1980; Norwich University, M.A., 1985; P'nai Or, ordained rabbi, 1987.

ADDRESSES: Office—11450 SW 16th St., Davie, FL 33325; fax: 954-472-6553. E-mail—[email protected].

CAREER: Barton-Gillette Art Agency, assistant photographer, 1966; art teacher at a synagogue in Fort Lauderdale, FL, and a Jewish day school in Buffalo, NY, between 1967 and 1974; Hebrew Day School of Fort Lauderdale, Fort Lauderdale, director of publications, 1975–77; Weston-Ganoff, Fort Lauderdale, graphic artist and designer, 1978–85; Temple Adath Or, Fort Lauderdale, FL, founder and rabbi, 1986–. Living Waters Spa Retreats, owner; Collectors, art dealer, 1979–80. Guest on television programs; public speaker. Exhibitions: Artist, with work represented at Pucker Sa-frai Gallery, Boston, MA, 1978–84; solo shows exhibited throughout South Florida, 1972–, and in group shows.

MEMBER: National Association of Women Artists, Delta Epsilon Sigma.

AWARDS, HONORS: Named woman of vision, Weitzman Institute, 2006.

WRITINGS:

Miraculous Living: A Guided Journey in Kabbalah through the Ten Gates of the Tree of Life, Simon & Schuster (New York, NY), 1996.

(With Carol Parvati Cohen) Kabbalah Yoga, with Rabbi Shoni Labowitz and Carol Parvati Cohen: The Tree of Life in 10 Postures (sound recording), Living Waters (Davie, FL), 1996.

God, Sex, and Women of the Bible: Discovering Our Sensual, Spiritual Selves, Simon & Schuster (New York, NY), 1998.

An Invitation to Prayer, TAO, 2000.

Creator and host of the radio program Spiritual Focus, WNN-AM Radio.

SIDELIGHTS: Shoni Labowitz is a rabbi and a leader in the Jewish renewal movement. She draws on the teachings of the Kabbalah in Miraculous Living: A Guided Journey in Kabbalah through the Ten Gates of the Tree of Life. These include intention, wisdom, understanding, compassion, strength, harmony, success, glory, creativity, and nobility. The book includes insights into Taoism and Buddhism as well as mystical Judaism in framing an understanding of and steps to a spiritual life. Meditations are included in each chapter. Booklist contributor George Cohen wrote that Miraculous Living "will attract interest." A Publishers Weekly contributor described the book as being "between a workbook for a spiritual journey and a commentary on the wisdom tradition of the Tree of Life." "All readers, regardless of religious faith, will benefit from this meditative approach," wrote Bernadette McGrath in the Library Journal.

In God, Sex, and Women of the Bible: Discovering Our Sensual, Spiritual Selves, Labowitz offers personal anecdotes and experiences of women who attend her workshops as she explores the lives of women of the Bible and their significance to women today. The eight women are Eve, Leah, Rachel, Jochebed, Deborah, Miriam, Ruth, and Naomi. Labowitz examines the translations of these women's stories and uses them to explain female sexuality in the context of menstruation, pregnancy, childbirth, menopause, and masturbation, and how each of these can provide a spiritual connection with God. In the Library Journal, McGrath recommended God, Sex, and Women of the Bible to those "who want a fresh look at the key women in the Old Testament." "Labowitz's penetrating readings provide fresh insights into oft-told biblical tales," wrote a reviewer in Publishers Weekly.

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

Booklist, September 15, 1996, George Cohen, review of Miraculous Living: A Guided Journey in Kabbalah through the Ten Gates of the Tree of Life, p. 182.

Library Journal, October 1, 1996, Bernadette McGrath, review of Miraculous Living, p. 86; October 1, 1998, Bernadette McGrath, review of God, Sex, and Women of the Bible: Discovering Our Sensual, Spiritual Selves, p. 100.

Publishers Weekly, September 2, 1996, review of Miraculous Living, p. 126; August 17, 1998, review of God, Sex, and Women of the Bible, p. 65.