Religious Leadership #
Rebas are the religious leaders of the Avodai community, in charge of teaching and studying Avodai law. We often have a Rosh (Head) and Associate Reba. A Rebzi is a Reba’s spouse. The Rebzis often have an informal communal role and take care of religious matters specific to their gender that may be embarrassing to discuss with the Reba. To be honest, Rebzi Gilya provides more spiritual leadership than her husband, Rosh Reba Nakum, who can be said to specialize in appropriate living.
Historically, the Rebas in Kahal provided religious leadership for both the Avodai communities of Kahal and Terida.
Recently, the Terida Avodai community hired their own Reba from the prestigious Orim Seminary in Tsiri. The hiring of the Reba was their first major organizational break from the Kahal political structure. Some Kahal residents think that it was a pretentious move only about status and that the Terida Avodai community cares more about appearance than the pursuit of wisdom.
Current Kahal Rebas #
Current Terida Reba #
Kahal Council #
The Kahal Council consists of five respected scholars and elders in the community. They meet twice a week to mediate conflicts and legal matters between members of the Avodai community of Kahal and Terida, including business disputes and divorces.
There has been talk about creating a separate Terida Council. Some Terida Avodai are frustrated that the Council does not understand the intricacies of city life and their religious scholars overrule business folks leading to illogical decisions. Others believe it is important to retain community unity in governance.
Current Council Members #
- Councilor Rakel bet Lea v’ Atar
- Councilor Naftali bet Ofra v’ Mayan
- Councillor Rafa Deva bet Havi v’ Oved
- Councilor Boaz bet Tova v’ Uri
- Councilor Doran bet Yael v’ Noam
Rosh Kahal and Rosh Terida #
The Rosh Kahal and Rosh Terida are in charge of the nuts and bolts of their communities’ business, including maintaining communal buildings, organizing council meetings and other committees, and collecting donations for community needs.
Current Rosh Communities
The Society of Rafa #
The Society of Rafa is a religious order that provides healing to the community. Rafa are experts in the energy healing, apothecary, and spirits. In relation to the Rebas, the Rafa are seen as taking care of the Body and the Soul, while Rebas take care of the Way.
Traditionally, Rafa are the only members of the Avodai community allowed to manipulate nature’s energies because magic is seen as distributing the Light’s Will unless performed to save a life. The lines have been blurring between acceptable and forbidden uses of Rafa knowledge, and more Avodai outside of the Society study and apply pieces of Rafa practice.
The Society not only serves the Avodai community, but whoever asks for help. The Society of Rafa has even cared for the Governor. They are seen as essential to building more positive relationships with the surrounding communities. The main House of Healing is located in Kahal, but the Society also maintains the Terida Rafa House.
The Rosh Rafa leads the Society of Rafa.
Current Rosh Rafa
The Loving Kindness Committee #
The Loving Kindness Committee provides for the material and companionship needs of the poor, sick, and disabled, including food, clothing, and money. There is a separate Loving Kindness Committee in Kahal and Terida, led by the Rosh Kahal and Rosh Terida respectively.
The Mourning Committee #
In charge of preparing the body for burial and organizing funeral rites in the community. They also often take care of the surviving family, organizing food deliveries and other things to ease the grieving period.
The New Avodai Society #
The New Avodai Society, based in Terida, seeks to modernize Avodai practices and integrate Avodai and Rafa principles and techniques into modern engineering to improve the lives and well-being of the community. They are quite controversial because they wish to use energy bending techniques beyond the realms of traditional healing. They argue that energy bending’s use to improve infrastructure—including transportation, lighting, heating, and building—help safeguard the health of the community and improve the lives of disabled members of the community. They also believe that Avodai must be part of the surge of technological innovation to bring moderation and a focus on the safeguarding of life to the work.