Call of the Shofar

Call of the Shofar was an organization based in Baltimore, US, focusing on personal and relational transformation. Call of the Shofar offers workshops assisting individuals to enhance their personal relationships.[1] The organization's director is Steven (Simcha) Frischling.[2][3][4][5][6]

For other uses, see Call of the Shofar (disambiguation).
Call of the Shofar
FounderSteven "Simcha" Frischling
HeadquartersBaltimore, MD, US

Some have termed Call of the Shofar programs "cultlike".[7] Call of the Shofar members have voiced their contention to these designations.[8]

Activities

Programs

Call of the Shofar leads experiential workshops, follow-up groups, teleconferences and private coaching.[9][10][11][12][13]

Workshops

The "Seasons of Transformation" workshop is a 3-day residential events, usually held over a weekend starting Friday morning until Sunday evening including Shabbos.[9][14]

Locations

Call of the Shofar frequently weekend workshops in Baltimore, Maryland; Morristown, New Jersey, and Israel.[15] Other previous locations include Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and Los Angeles, California.

Follow-up groups are regularly held in Baltimore, Maryland; Silver Spring, Maryland; Brooklyn, New York; Monsey, New York; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Los Angeles, California and Jerusalem, Israel.[11]

Reception

Although the organization had been in operation for several years, Call of the Shofar had received little media attention up until December 2013. Following the publication of an interview with Frischling, the program received extensive coverage on news blogs and social media. Reviews of the program were mixed. The Call of the Shofar director publicly responded to the allegation posed by many rabbis and professional therapists that his program was a cult.[16]

In the Jewish community

Call of the Shofar received several favorable reviews from members of the general Jewish community, and received letters of support by several Jewish psychologists.[15]

In the Chabad community

The program has received mixed to unfavorable reviews from the Chabad community. Rabbi Shea Hecht has dubbed the program a "kosher cult"[17] (also a "parve cult").[18] Rabbis Yaakov Schwei and Yosef Braun of the Crown Heights Beth Din (Rabbinical court) declared that attending programs run by the organization is forbidden under Jewish law.[19][20] They were joined by the Vaad Rabbonei Lubavitch ("Central Committee of Chabad-Lubavitch Rabbis in the United States and Canada").[21][22]

While several Chabad rabbis denounced Call of the Shofar, others defended the desire of the program's attendees for seeking spiritual growth.[23] The existing rabbinical approbations supporting Call of the Shofar were called into question by some within the Chabad community,[24][25] while individual Chabad members have also spoken out in the organization's favor.[15][16][26]

Call of the Shofar response

In an interview with the Baltimore Jewish Times, Frischling claimed to be an ordained rabbi and denied the charges of being a cult leader. Frischling stated that his organization has rabbinical approbations from Rabbi Yaacov Hopfer, of Baltimore's Congregation Shearith Israel, Rabbi Michel Twerski of Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Rabbi Shmuel Kamenetsky of Philadelphia.[6] Kamenetzky's approbation was withdrawn following the unfavorable reviews by rabbis in the Chabad community. An additional approbation was added from Rabbi Yitzchak Breitowitz, of Yeshivas Ohr Sameach, Jerusalem, Israel.[27]

An official statement by Friscling was published in the Call of the Shofar website stating that Call of the Shofar programs comply with Jewish law.[8]

In an interview with The Jewish Week, Frischling described his workshops as "profoundly positive".[28]

References
  1. "Jewish Resources: Call of the Shofar. United Jewish Federations". Archived from the original on 2014-01-01. Retrieved 2013-12-31.
  2. "Who We Are: Board Members. CalloftheShofar.com". Archived from the original on 2014-01-01. Retrieved 2013-12-31.
  3. "Schwartz, Dovber. Interview with Simcha Frischling. HealthyJudaism.com". Archived from the original on 2014-01-01. Retrieved 2013-12-31.
  4. Interview with Simcha Frischling. Collive.com.
  5. Shamberg, Bentzion. Tom Kippur. The Way of Returning. Huffington Post.
  6. Call of the Shofar raises alarm in Chasidic community. Baltimore Jewish Times.
  7. "Behrman, Yaacov. Call of the Shofar. The Brooklyn Reader. bkreader.com. Dec 20, 2013". Archived from the original on 2014-01-01. Retrieved 2013-12-31.
  8. "Official Statement. Call of the Shofar. calloftheshofar.org. Accessed February 17, 2014". Archived from the original on February 22, 2014. Retrieved February 18, 2014.
  9. "Seasons of Transformation Weekend Workshop. Call of the Shofar. calloftheshofar.org. Accessed May 26, 2014". Archived from the original on January 1, 2014. Retrieved May 26, 2014.
  10. "Advanced Workshop. Call of the Shofar. calloftheshofar.org. Accessed May 26, 2014". Archived from the original on January 1, 2014. Retrieved May 26, 2014.
  11. "Community Program Follow-up Groups. Call of the Shofar. calloftheshofar.org. Accessed May 26, 2014". Archived from the original on January 1, 2014. Retrieved May 26, 2014.
  12. "Weekly TeleConference with Simcha. Call of the Shofar. calloftheshofar.org. Accessed May 26, 2014". Archived from the original on January 1, 2014. Retrieved May 26, 2014.
  13. "Private Consultation. Call of the Shofar. calloftheshofar.org. Accessed May 26, 2014". Archived from the original on January 1, 2014. Retrieved May 26, 2014.
  14. "Event Calendar. Call of the Shofar. calloftheshofar.org. Accessed May 26, 2014". Archived from the original on May 28, 2014. Retrieved May 26, 2014.
  15. Dickter, Adam. Views on Cultish Retreats Varies Wildly. The Jewish Week. Feb 26, 2014. Accessed March 10, 2014.
  16. Dickter, Adam. Chabad Leaders Clamp Down on Unorthodox Group Therapy Sessions. The Jewish Week. February 19, 2014. Accessed February 21, 2014.
  17. Rabbi Hecht Clarifies: Call of the Shofar is a Kosher Cult. CrownHeights.info.
  18. "Call of the Shofar is a cult". Collive.com.
  19. Line, Chabad On. "Cult Expert Explains Dangers". collive.
  20. Line, Chabad On. "Oholei Torah Staff Issue Statement". collive.
  21. Line, Chabad On. "Chabad Rabbis Ban "Call of Shofar"". collive.
  22. "Vaad Rabonei Lubavitch Prohibits Attending COTS". crownheights.info.
  23. Schochet, Yitzchok. Call of the Void. Collive. collive.com. December 19, 2013. Accessed February 21, 2014.
  24. "Videos: Rabbi Shea Hecht Q&A on Call of the Shofar". crownheights.info.
  25. "Cult Experts Weigh In on COTS Damage Control". crownheights.info.
  26. Lew, Chana. Call of my Shofar. Chanalew.com. August 26, 2011. Accessed February 21, 2014.
  27. "Board Members. Call of the Shofar. calloftheshofar.org. Accessed February 17, 2014". Archived from the original on January 1, 2014. Retrieved December 31, 2013.
  28. Dickter, Adam. The Man Behind Call of the Shofar. The Jewish Week. February 19, 2014. Accessed February 21, 2014.
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