Meeting tomorrow

[Aaron Potek]

Hi everyone,

I hope you are all doing OK after a difficult week, and that you are ready to jump back into our session tomorrow night after our week-long hiatus (we hope to reschedule Yitz - stay tuned for more info on that). We will be meeting tomorrow at Ramat Orah at 6:30 for pizza, and we will be hearing from Erin Leib Smokler, the director of spiritual development at Yeshivat Maharat, at 7:00 pm.

See you then!

-Aaron

[Zachary Lebwohl]

Hello Everyone,

I just wanted to share an experience I had that I feel relates to the idea of people needing different settings to experience spiritual connection.

A year and a half ago I taught a lesson in a Hebrew School class made up of 12 year-olds.  I had the students wear full size talitot and spread out in the room.  I asked them to sit and led them in a guided meditation.  First I had them pull the talit over their heads and picture themselves alone in a field. I had them recite the Shema to themselves, concentrating on the words.  After a few moments I had them begin to drum and then sing while imagining that they were coming into a synagogue and as they entered they took the talitot off their heads and sang together.

I asked the students when we were finished which they preferred, praying alone or in a group.  The students were split down the middle.  Granted it was a small sample size (not statistically significant), but I think it shows that different people engage spiritually in different circumstances. (I also expect this changes for people at different points in our lives.)

Stay Warm,

Zach