
August 19 12-1
When our weekly Study Group resumes on August 19, we will discuss the Jewish folk legend of the Lamed Vavnik–a story with origins in Torah and Talmud that has influenced such contemporary novels as Nicole Krauss’s The History of Love and such films as the Coen brothers’ The Big Lebowski. According to the legend, there are, at any given time, 36 righteous individuals upon whose merits the world continues to exist. The number 36 is represented in Hebrew as lamed vav. Those who wish to participate in our discussion on August 19, might want to take a look at a few of the following resources:
General Information:
https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/lamed-vav-x1e92-addikim
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tzadikim_Nistarim
https://www.splicetoday.com/pop-culture/the-lamed-vavnik-and-popular-culture
http://ejmmm2007.blogspot.com/2009/03/lamed-vavniks-thirty-six-righteous-who.html
https://forward.com/culture/13406/the-thirty-six-who-save-the-world-01872/
https://www.matthewkressel.net/2015/10/13/36-days-of-judaic-myth-day-36-the-lamed-vav-the-thirty-six-hidden-righteous/
https://ohr.edu/2442
Stories about Lamed Vovniks:
https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/36-lamed-vovnick-stories-1/
https://www.naaleh.com/the-hidden-light/?hilite=%27topic%27
https://www.reddit.com/r/nonduality/comments/1r3y9f/the_lamed_vovnik_tale_as_told_by_speed_levitch/
Catholics on Lamed Vovniks
https://www.vermontcatholic.org/uncategorized/hidden-saints-the-legend-of-the-lamed-vavniks/
https://www.redlandsdailyfacts.com/2012/05/19/the-legend-of-the-36-righteous-men/
When our group meets on Friday, August 26, we will begin our exploration of Andre Schwarz-Bart’s novel, The Last of the Just, a book with roots in the lamed-vavnik legend. This post-WWII novel, which was awarded France’s highest literary prize in 1959, follows the Levy family over eight centuries, from York, England in the 1100s until the Eastern European Holocaust. The novel has been described as an enduring classic that reminds us “how easily torn is the precious fabric of civilization, and how destructive are the consequences of dumb hatred.” While, as the preceding quote suggests, Schwarz-Bart’s novel is unsettling, it provides much food for thought.
Now in its 23rd year, our informal discussion group meets in person from 12-1 in CBI’s small chapel (with an option on Zoom for those who cannot attend in person). All are welcome to attend regardless of their level of expertise. If you have questions, please contact Jay Jacoby at jbjacoby@uncc.edu.
Guest speaker (May 6): Alan S. Baumgarten: Mindfulness and Zen Judaism
“I have been in Asheville since 1983 and a member of Congregation Beth Israel for more than 20 years. I am a family doctor now working part-time as I move into retirement. I love my work, so I am proceeding slowly. I have been very active in our medical community, my practice at the Family Health Centers and social causes. I enjoy a spiritual life both Jewish and mindfulness, fitness and martial arts, gardening, woodworking, cooking and baking, travel (haha) and most of all my family.”
Join us for Shabbat morning services in-person or via Zoom every Saturday morning at 9:30am.
Join the Zoom service by going to Our Virtual Community page here, then scroll down and click on the blue Saturday Morning Service button.

August 19 12-1
When our weekly Study Group resumes on August 19, we will discuss the Jewish folk legend of the Lamed Vavnik–a story with origins in Torah and Talmud that has influenced such contemporary novels as Nicole Krauss’s The History of Love and such films as the Coen brothers’ The Big Lebowski. According to the legend, there are, at any given time, 36 righteous individuals upon whose merits the world continues to exist. The number 36 is represented in Hebrew as lamed vav. Those who wish to participate in our discussion on August 19, might want to take a look at a few of the following resources:
General Information:
https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/lamed-vav-x1e92-addikim
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tzadikim_Nistarim
https://www.splicetoday.com/pop-culture/the-lamed-vavnik-and-popular-culture
http://ejmmm2007.blogspot.com/2009/03/lamed-vavniks-thirty-six-righteous-who.html
https://forward.com/culture/13406/the-thirty-six-who-save-the-world-01872/
https://www.matthewkressel.net/2015/10/13/36-days-of-judaic-myth-day-36-the-lamed-vav-the-thirty-six-hidden-righteous/
https://ohr.edu/2442
Stories about Lamed Vovniks:
https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/36-lamed-vovnick-stories-1/
https://www.naaleh.com/the-hidden-light/?hilite=%27topic%27
https://www.reddit.com/r/nonduality/comments/1r3y9f/the_lamed_vovnik_tale_as_told_by_speed_levitch/
Catholics on Lamed Vovniks
https://www.vermontcatholic.org/uncategorized/hidden-saints-the-legend-of-the-lamed-vavniks/
https://www.redlandsdailyfacts.com/2012/05/19/the-legend-of-the-36-righteous-men/
When our group meets on Friday, August 26, we will begin our exploration of Andre Schwarz-Bart’s novel, The Last of the Just, a book with roots in the lamed-vavnik legend. This post-WWII novel, which was awarded France’s highest literary prize in 1959, follows the Levy family over eight centuries, from York, England in the 1100s until the Eastern European Holocaust. The novel has been described as an enduring classic that reminds us “how easily torn is the precious fabric of civilization, and how destructive are the consequences of dumb hatred.” While, as the preceding quote suggests, Schwarz-Bart’s novel is unsettling, it provides much food for thought.
Now in its 23rd year, our informal discussion group meets in person from 12-1 in CBI’s small chapel (with an option on Zoom for those who cannot attend in person). All are welcome to attend regardless of their level of expertise. If you have questions, please contact Jay Jacoby at jbjacoby@uncc.edu.
Join us for Shabbat morning services in-person or via Zoom every Saturday morning at 9:30am.
Join the Zoom service by going to Our Virtual Community page here, then scroll down and click on the blue Saturday Morning Service button.

August 19 12-1
When our weekly Study Group resumes on August 19, we will discuss the Jewish folk legend of the Lamed Vavnik–a story with origins in Torah and Talmud that has influenced such contemporary novels as Nicole Krauss’s The History of Love and such films as the Coen brothers’ The Big Lebowski. According to the legend, there are, at any given time, 36 righteous individuals upon whose merits the world continues to exist. The number 36 is represented in Hebrew as lamed vav. Those who wish to participate in our discussion on August 19, might want to take a look at a few of the following resources:
General Information:
https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/lamed-vav-x1e92-addikim
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tzadikim_Nistarim
https://www.splicetoday.com/pop-culture/the-lamed-vavnik-and-popular-culture
http://ejmmm2007.blogspot.com/2009/03/lamed-vavniks-thirty-six-righteous-who.html
https://forward.com/culture/13406/the-thirty-six-who-save-the-world-01872/
https://www.matthewkressel.net/2015/10/13/36-days-of-judaic-myth-day-36-the-lamed-vav-the-thirty-six-hidden-righteous/
https://ohr.edu/2442
Stories about Lamed Vovniks:
https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/36-lamed-vovnick-stories-1/
https://www.naaleh.com/the-hidden-light/?hilite=%27topic%27
https://www.reddit.com/r/nonduality/comments/1r3y9f/the_lamed_vovnik_tale_as_told_by_speed_levitch/
Catholics on Lamed Vovniks
https://www.vermontcatholic.org/uncategorized/hidden-saints-the-legend-of-the-lamed-vavniks/
https://www.redlandsdailyfacts.com/2012/05/19/the-legend-of-the-36-righteous-men/
When our group meets on Friday, August 26, we will begin our exploration of Andre Schwarz-Bart’s novel, The Last of the Just, a book with roots in the lamed-vavnik legend. This post-WWII novel, which was awarded France’s highest literary prize in 1959, follows the Levy family over eight centuries, from York, England in the 1100s until the Eastern European Holocaust. The novel has been described as an enduring classic that reminds us “how easily torn is the precious fabric of civilization, and how destructive are the consequences of dumb hatred.” While, as the preceding quote suggests, Schwarz-Bart’s novel is unsettling, it provides much food for thought.
Now in its 23rd year, our informal discussion group meets in person from 12-1 in CBI’s small chapel (with an option on Zoom for those who cannot attend in person). All are welcome to attend regardless of their level of expertise. If you have questions, please contact Jay Jacoby at jbjacoby@uncc.edu.