Yeshaya Douglas Ballon
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Yeshaya

Call me Yeshaya.

The bima has been the only place where I have been addressed by my Hebrew name--
a variation of Yeshayahu, Hebrew for Isaiah—Yeshaya.
What would it mean for me to be called Yeshaya elsewhere? 
What does it mean for me to be called Yeshaya in my heart?

I started to answer that question earlier this year—quite spontaneously.
I arrived at a retreat where they handed me a blank name tag and a pen.
This was a totally Jewish environment, a spiritual haven.
With a little hesitation I wrote in large block letters Y-E-S-H-A-Y-A. 
“Let’s see what this feels like for five days!”
It took some practice.
to say it
to hear it
and when I did,
it felt wonderful.
Since then Yeshaya keeps showing up--
as a participant at the Jewish Renewal Kallah
as a member of the shul’s new men’s group
as a volunteer at the Stanford Jewish Chaplaincy
Yeshaya shows up wherever I let him in.

There’s nothing wrong with Doug .
There’s something special— 
soft and sweet and spiritual
— 
about  Y  e  s  h  a  y  a  .

I want to expand the sphere where I hear that vibration.
Not at work just yet, but in shul
— 
why not here?
why not now?
This is the perfect time and place to take that step.

So in shul I request
--
Call me Yeshaya.

  • May you feel connected body, mind, heart, and soul to the highest manifestation of who you are.
  • May you have the courage to reclaim, reinvent, and rename yourself as many times as you want. 
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Yeshaya Douglas Ballon 
Spiritual Mentoring 

  • SPIRITUAL MENTOR
    • Spiritual Direction
    • Jewish Spiritual Direction
    • J. Article
    • INDIVIDUAL
    • GROUP
    • Sage-ing Mentorship
  • AUTHOR/POET
    • Unthinkable Dreams
    • A Precious Heritage
    • Cutting Room Floor
    • The Blog
    • ETHICAL WILLS
    • Poetry
  • ARTIST
  • BAKER
    • Recipe
    • References >
      • A brief history of challah
    • "Challettes"
    • Babka!
    • Bagels >
      • Claire's Bagel Recipe
    • Pizza
  • Contact