Healed by the Talmud Class

Healed by the Talmud Class

A Jew living in Poland was suffering from a lung ailment, from which his doctors informed him he would not survive. They said that he’d better just relax and settle his affairs, while awaiting his inevitable, imminent death. But the man refused to cede to such harsh...
Figs

Figs

Teaser: Jedi Master Chef has given us a fig recipe! Apparently this Brisket with Figs and Red Wine was a HUGE hit with the guests. And I’m also told that you can replace the Brisket with Chuck Roast. We’ll all have to try it. Jumping in! – Happy Tu...
The Civil War: A Story of the Incans

The Civil War: A Story of the Incans

There once were two half-brothers born to a great leader.  Their father expanded his civilization through a mixture of war and diplomacy.  After their father’s death, due to an illness from far off visitors, the two stood up for an opportunity to succeed...
The Vision of Yupanqui: An Incan Legend

The Vision of Yupanqui: An Incan Legend

The Inca Yupanqui before he succeeded to the sovereignty is said to have gone to visit his father, Viracocha Inca. On his way he arrived at a fountain called Susur-pugaio. There he saw a piece of crystal fall into the fountain, and in this crystal he saw the figure of...
Mani: A Tupi Legend

Mani: A Tupi Legend

Teaser: There’s a Recipe At the end!!! A long time ago, a chief’s daughter became pregnant without warning.  The chief was furious when he learned of this and sought to punish the man who had brought dishonor upon his home.  But the daughter told him she had not...
Moonblood: A Yanomami Creation Myth

Moonblood: A Yanomami Creation Myth

The Yanomamo are an indigenous people living in the Amazon.  Like any other culture around the world, their myths and legends serve as a way to explain the world around them.  Amongst these stories comes a creation story of how mortal humans came to live...
The Symbolism of the First Master’s Labyrinth

The Symbolism of the First Master’s Labyrinth

If you have read the entries that explain the questions of the Master’s Labyrinth, then you know that it’s not just a simple trial.  Because this was our first, and because IJF doesn’t have several Knight Mystics, let alone Knights, in attendance to judge another for...
Master Trial: Question Four

Master Trial: Question Four

The final question of the Master Labyrinth is “How will you defend X, when you can no longer physically protect X?” Anything can happen that would prevent a Jedi from being able to pursue their journey.  Death is certainly one of the ways this can happen, but it’s...
Master Trial: Question Three

Master Trial: Question Three

“How do you plan to protect (answer to second question here)?” If the role of a Jedi, as Mace Windu put it in Matthew Stover’s Shatterpoint, is to protect civilization, then it should come as no surprise that our organization sees the Prowess section as being key to...
Master Trial: Question Two

Master Trial: Question Two

In one word, when you look at Star Wars’ example, how would you describe a Jedi?  Would it be “Hero”?  That certainly is the word I believe Lucas would associate with them, as he modeled the storyline after Joseph Campbell’s work “The Hero with a Thousand Faces”. The...