The Aleph & the Architecture of the Soul

On Wednesday, April 8, 2026, Oriya Pollak delivered a lecture and experiential workshop at Berry College titled The Aleph and the Architecture of the Soul. The event was held at the Berry College Interfaith Center, located in the East Mary Senior Living Room of the Ford Complex, in Rome, Georgia.

The program was organized and hosted by Professor Jeffrey S. Lidke, Professor of Religion at Berry College, and was co-sponsored by the Interfaith Council and the Buddhist Studies Group. Continuing Education (C.E.) credit was offered, and the event was open to the public.

In this lecture and experiential workshop, Oriya Pollak explored the Hebrew letter Aleph not as a linguistic symbol, but as a map of human consciousness. Participants discovered how the Divine Name is architecturally encoded within the shape of the letter — and within their own bodies.

The session used ancient Jewish meditative techniques to explore internal awareness. The session emphasized direct recognition rather than conceptual learning.

Oriya Pollak delivered this lecture at the Berry College Interfaith Center, located in the East Mary Senior Living Room of the Ford Complex on Berry College's campus in Rome, Georgia.

Oriya was invited by Professor Jeffrey S. Lidke, Professor of Religion at Berry College. The event was co-sponsored by Berry College's Interfaith Council and Buddhist Studies Group.

Oriya Pollak is a spiritual educator born into a strict Ultra-Orthodox lineage. His immersive education spanned the traditional Yeshivas of Israel and concluded locally at Yeshiva Atlanta, where he was trained in Talmud and the scribal arts.

Raised by parents involved in the modern Kabbalah movement, Oriya bridges the gap between ancient tradition and modern life. He translates the deep internal frameworks of his upbringing into accessible tools for grounded self-inquiry.

Learn more at oriya.com