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Embodying Prayer
Elaine Pollack
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Think about it: from the beginning to the end of our Shabbat morning service we are engaged in a fair amount of standing and sitting, bending and bowing, touching and kissing (and not just because our friend is sitting next to us!). At a certain point, we even go up on our toes three times in succession.
These are moments when the physical meets the spiritual, and we are given a special “choreographed” enhancement which we may choose to “dance” – or not. The why and how of what we do is not my topic (though that interests me greatly). Rather I ask you to ponder: what am I embodying when I do this motion at this moment in the service? To answer that question you will want to look to a translation of the prayer text, and discovering numerous possibilities for the action, make your own determination for why you bow, bend, or kiss. If it feels right, make it personal and meaningful to you.
I may bow to acknowledge or connect to the word I am bowing on; I may wrap and kiss my tzitzit during the Sh’ma, and touch the Torah and kiss my tzitzit, to connect very personally and lovingly to words of Torah; or I may prostrate bodily during the Aleinu blessing on Yom Kippur to acknowledge that there is something greater than I can even imagine, that is the Source of Creation. All of these movements connect me to the prayer, helping me to feel that I’ve embodied its message.
Our Sages of the Mishnah and Talmud, called Hazal (ח”זל), added most of the suggested rising, stepping, bowing, kissing and wrapping at certain junctures where we do them. Perhaps acknowledging and connecting to words of prayer with movement is a form of blessing in itself.
Tue, June 28 2022
29 Sivan 5782
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Tuesday ,
JunJune 28 , 2022Mindful Mornings
Tuesday, Jun 28th 8:30a to 9:15a
This twice-weekly gathering combines guided and silent meditation to develop our capacity for mindful awareness and to cultivate qualities of patience, gratitude, and compassion. -
Thursday ,
JunJune 30 , 2022Mindful Mornings
Thursday, Jun 30th 8:30a to 9:15a
This twice-weekly gathering combines guided and silent meditation to develop our capacity for mindful awareness and to cultivate qualities of patience, gratitude, and compassion. -
Saturday ,
JulJuly 2 , 2022
Shabbat, Jul 2nd (All day)
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Monday ,
JulJuly 4 , 2022
Monday, Jul 4th (All day)
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Tuesday ,
JulJuly 5 , 2022Mindful Mornings
Tuesday, Jul 5th 8:30a to 9:15a
This twice-weekly gathering combines guided and silent meditation to develop our capacity for mindful awareness and to cultivate qualities of patience, gratitude, and compassion. -
Thursday ,
JulJuly 7 , 2022Mindful Mornings
Thursday, Jul 7th 8:30a to 9:15a
This twice-weekly gathering combines guided and silent meditation to develop our capacity for mindful awareness and to cultivate qualities of patience, gratitude, and compassion. -
Saturday ,
JulJuly 9 , 2022Unplugged Shabbat Morning Services
Shabbat, Jul 9th 10:00a to 12:00p
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Tuesday ,
JulJuly 12 , 2022Mindful Mornings
Tuesday, Jul 12th 8:30a to 9:15a
This twice-weekly gathering combines guided and silent meditation to develop our capacity for mindful awareness and to cultivate qualities of patience, gratitude, and compassion. -
Thursday ,
JulJuly 14 , 2022Mindful Mornings
Thursday, Jul 14th 8:30a to 9:15a
This twice-weekly gathering combines guided and silent meditation to develop our capacity for mindful awareness and to cultivate qualities of patience, gratitude, and compassion. -
Saturday ,
JulJuly 16 , 2022
Shabbat, Jul 16th (All day)
Zmanim
Alot Hashachar | 3:15am |
Earliest Tallit | 4:05am |
Netz (Sunrise) | 5:10am |
Latest Shema | 8:59am |
Zman Tefillah | 10:15am |
Chatzot (Midday) | 12:48pm |
Mincha Gedola | 1:26pm |
Mincha Ketana | 5:15pm |
Plag HaMincha | 6:50pm |
Shkiah (Sunset) | 8:26pm |
Tzeit Hakochavim | 9:18pm |
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