For I give you good doctrine; forsake ye not my Law. It is a tree of life to them that grasp it, and of them that uphold it every one is rendered happy. Its ways are ways of pleasantness, and all its paths are peace.
--Eitz Hayim/Tree of Life; Adapted from Proverbs 3:17
Dates and Time: Five consecutive two-hour sessions on Tuesday evenings from October 12 through November 9; 7 PM to 9 PM. This series is cumulative in nature, and it is important to commit to all five sessions. However, missing one session will not be fatal. For those with prior meditation experience or who cannot commit to all five sessions, but would like to attend the last session specifically on Jewish Yoga Meditation, that is available as a stand-alone session.
Location: Temple Sinai, 5645 Dupree Drive, Atlanta, GA 30327. Please call or email to pre-register: Judy Thomas, 404-252-3073 x 330; jthomas@templesinaiatlanta.org.
Cost: $50.00 for the series of five sessions, or $15.00 for the last session alone.
Description: The great spiritual traditions of both East and West have throughout the ages promoted various forms of meditation as important practices to foster spiritual awakening and development. As an independent practice, to supplement other spiritual or religious practices, for stress management and relaxation, or all of the above, this course will provide the theoretical framework and practical technique for a traditional yoga-based practice derived from an ancient and time-honored Himalayan tradition. Included will be basic breathing and stress reduction techniques. They lay the foundation for access to avenues leading to the stillness within. Connections will also be made throughout to similar principles found in Jewish mysticism. The final session will cover Jewish meditation utilizing Hebrew phrases in place of yoga mantras and a Jewish healing meditation practice called Ruach El Shaddai/Breath of Balance, employing the practical application of Hebrew Kabalistic concepts in an advanced healing meditation. The class consists of 5 two-hour sessions meeting once a week for 5 consecutive weeks.
Teacher: Steven J. Gold, BA Antioch College, Philosophy and Religion; JD Emory Law School, is the founder/director of the Yoga and Judaism Center in Atlanta, GA and the author of Yoga and Judaism (2007) and Ivri: The Essence of Hebrew Spirituality (2010). He has been an initiate, student, practitioner and teacher in a Himalayan meditation tradition for over 30 years and a student of Kabala and Jewish Spirituality for several years. He developed a hybrid Jewish Yoga Meditation and Healing Meditation which is covered in the culmination of these sessions.
A good number of the most influential classical Judaic philosophers and Kabbalists clearly stated that meditation was the most important of all disciplines required to attain enlightenment and prophecy.
--from Meditation and the Bible, by Aryeh Kaplan
“When the prophet reaches this level, his ego is totally nullified and all sensation is hushed. He then reaches the level of the Chashmal, which is identical with the ‘small still voice’ of Elijah. The Talmud states that the word Chashmal is made up of two words, Chash, meaning silence, and Mal, indicating speech. At this level, the prophet experiences the ‘speaking silence.’ This is the level of silence through which he can hear the word of God or see a true divine vision.”
--from Meditation and the Bible, by Aryeh Kaplan, p. 41
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