About Rabbi Ted
Rabbi Ted Falcon, author of "A Journey of Awakening" and co-author of "Judaism For Dummies," has explored Jewish traditions of spirituality and meditation for almost 40 years.
Ordained as a Reform rabbi in 1968 at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, Rabbi Ted initially encountered meditation through his study of psychology and Eastern traditions. In 1975, he earned a doctorate in clinical psychology with research focused on the nature of meditative and mystical states of consciousness.
Since then, his work has bridged the psychological and the spiritual, encouraging deeper integration for greater freedom of personal action and understanding.
Rabbi Ted founded his first meditative synagogue in Los Angeles in 1976, after he and a small group gathered for High Holyday meditations. The desire to explore this form of Jewish worship was reflected in the increasing numbers from all over the Los Angeles area who were drawn to his services. In 1978, Makom Ohr Shalom, a Synagogue for Jewish Meditation, was officially formed. Today, Makom Ohr Shalom, which means "A Place for the Light of Wholeness," continues serve the spiritual needs of its community.
Rabbi Ted and his family moved to Seattle in 1993. Bet Alef Meditative Synagogue grew out of the High Holyday services he led there in the same year. Bringing new life to Jewish traditions of meditation and spirituality, Bet Alef has become a spiritual home to those seeking the spiritual essence of their identity.
His passion for "innerfaith" spirituality has led him to be active in creating and supporting interfaith programs in the Pacific Northwest. He, Brother Jamal Rahman and Pastor Don Mackenzie co-led an interfaith trip to Israel in 2005 and, for a year, were the hosts of Interfaith Talk Radio. They are currently working on their forthcoming book.
Rabbi Ted is Spiritual Director of Lev Shalom, and leads retreats and workshops in the United States, Israel, and Central Europe.