The labyrinth on the Dell Jewish Community Campus. Credit: Allison Teegardin

Shalom Austin is grateful to Matthew and Lori Steinberg for their inspiration in creating the newest addition to the walking trail on the Dell Jewish Community Campus, a labyrinth. Inspired by Matthew and Lori, designed by Heather Ruggero in collaboration with Rabbi Amy B. Cohen and installed by Paul’s Lawn and Landscape LLC, the labyrinth was truly a collaborative effort.  

In Jewish tradition, a labyrinth has seven circuits. The number seven has multiple meaningful connections including the seven days of creation, the seven weeks of the counting of the omer, the sabbatical year and more. The seven circuits are inspired by the city of Jericho, which is the last city that stood between the Israelites as they entered the promised land in the book of Joshua. The textual source can be found in Joshua, chapter 6, verses 2-6.  

A labyrinth holds many lessons connected to one’s life, as the purpose of walking through a labyrinth is not to figure out where one is going, but rather to meditate and attune oneself to the journey, with all the twists and turns on the path. Many ask how a labyrinth is different from a maze? In a maze, one can find themselves at a dead end and lost as mazes are often designed to cause confusion. A labyrinth has no dead end, but rather a single path in and out, ideal for meditation, reflection and spiritual experiences.  

Cohen added an additional layer of meaning within the labyrinth at Shalom Austin JFS by having 11 stones inscribed with the sefirot, known in the Kabbalistic tradition as divine emanations of G-d that humans can feel and experience on earth. The sefirot are placed on the labyrinth in the design of the tree of life, as they are often depicted in Jewish tradition. As one walks the labyrinth, they are invited to meditate on the sefirot on their own, or using a meditation Cohen recorded specifically for the labyrinth. 

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To visit the new labyrinth on the Dell Jewish Community Campus, Dell Jewish Community Center members can access it from the Matthew & Lori Steinberg Healing Trail and non-members should call the front desk to request a visit.  

To learn more about labyrinths in Austin and around the world, visit labyrinthlocator.org