There are many approaches to Torah study. My favorites are Remez–finding hints to meaning and Sod (samech daled in Hebrew, pronounced Sohd)–when the text becomes a portal of expanded, seemingly mystical, awareness.
When we hear someone has died, we need a way to express ourselves. Jewish tradition provides a very powerful and brief sacred phrase: baruch dayan ha'emet (pronounced bah-rukh, dah-yahn, hah'eh-meht). This phrase seems to be the bare minimum of a blessing, truncated from our usual blessing form, as many as twelve terms short*; cut down, as has been a life.
The following visualization that reveals the Godliness of each person, is a form of prayer, of Jewish meditation, that was learned in person from Tzeitl Locher of Ameland, The Netherlands:
Tefillin are a set of two leather boxes filled with parchments on which a scribe has written specific verses from the Torah, then attached the boxes to leather straps, each knotted so that one can go around your head and one around your weaker [non-dominant] arm. It is quite complex to make Tefiillin, and one is best served by buying good quality ones made by a scribe. The term tefillin (Aramaic) shares the root of tefillah, prayer.
Focusing, a technique developed by Dr. Gene Gendlin, synergizes beautifully with many forms of Jewish spiritual practice and allows us to amplify our spiritual authenticity and depth of experience. This paper cites some of the traditional texts and teachers that seem to have a felt-sense in their spiritual practice and teaching and also two examples of the application of focusing in Judaism.
At many times in Jewish history the repetition of sacred phrases has been recognized as helpful to a meaningful prayer experience. In my case I resisted a long time before trying any of this - some sort of fear kept me from it, as though I would die or something like that. Instead once I plunged in, each time the practice grew on me....like cultivating a taste for olives only much more special and valuable (forgive me, any olives that are reading this).
Note: The Torah portion known as Vayeitzei, includes Gen 31:19 contains a word the meaning of which scholars continue to puzzle over, "teraphaim." That is one of two mysteries we ponder in this piece. The other is that Torah reveals Jacob to have one daughter, Dina, yet Gen.14:15 speaks of Jacob's "sons and daughters."
Giving over meaningful guidance on the Torah portion during a religious service is not so much a speech as it is a mitzvah, a sacred act called “giving a d’var Torah.” A d’var, “a word” of Torah, is a brief teaching where you connect your Torah portion with the heart, mind and spirit of those present. Israelis often refer to this practice as a derasha, or drash, an “explanation” of the Torah portion.
This live zoom concert honored groundbreaking composers giving Jewish feminist voice through song to the women of the Bible.Concert composers and performers:
The following visualization that reveals the Godliness of each person, is a form of prayer, of Jewish meditation, that was learned in person from Tzeitl Locher of Ameland, The Netherlands:
