Meditation from the Heart of Judaism

Techniques explained by the masters—for today’s spiritual seeker

Meditation is designed to give you direct access to the spiritual. Whether it’s through deep breathing during a busy day, listening to the quiet after turning off the car radio, chanting in prayer, or ten minutes of visualization exercises each morning, meditation takes many forms. But it is always a personal method of centering our spiritual self.

Meditation has long been practiced in the Jewish community as a powerful tool to transcend words, personality, and ego and to directly experience the divine. Inspiring yet practical, this introduction to meditation from a Jewish perspective approaches it in a new and illuminating way: As it is personally practiced by today’s most experienced Jewish meditators from around the world.

A “how to” guide for both beginning and experienced meditators, Meditation from the Heart of Judaism will help you start meditating or help you enhance your practice. Meditation is a Jewish spiritual resource for today that can benefit people of all faiths and backgrounds—and help us add spiritual energy to our lives. Contributors include:

Techniques explained by the masters—for today’s spiritual seeker

Meditation is designed to give you direct access to the spiritual. Whether it’s through deep breathing during a busy day, listening to the quiet after turning off the car radio, chanting in prayer, or ten minutes of visualization exercises each morning, meditation takes many forms. But it is always a personal method of centering our spiritual self.

Meditation has long been practiced in the Jewish community as a powerful tool to transcend words, personality, and ego and to directly experience the divine. Inspiring yet practical, this introduction to meditation from a Jewish perspective approaches it in a new and illuminating way: As it is personally practiced by today’s most experienced Jewish meditators from around the world.

A “how to” guide for both beginning and experienced meditators, Meditation from the Heart of Judaism will help you start meditating or help you enhance your practice. Meditation is a Jewish spiritual resource for today that can benefit people of all faiths and backgrounds—and help us add spiritual energy to our lives. Contributors include:

Introduction: The Heart of Jewish Meditation AVRAM DAVIS The Teaching and Practice of Reb Yerachmiel ben Yisrael RABBI RAMI M SHAPIRO Silencing the Inner Voice(s) RABBI LAWRENCE KUSHNER It Doesn't Matter What You Call It: If It Works, It Works RABBI ALAN LEW Study as Meditation SUSIE SCHNEIDER Keeping God Before Me Always MINDY RIBNER Noble Boredom: How to View Meditation RABBI JONATHAN OMER-MAN Jewish Meditation Today and Its Obstacles AVRAM DAVIS The Hierarchy of Jewish Meditation RABBI ALAN BRILL Opening the Inner Gates EDWARD HOFFMAN A Splendid Way to Live RABBI DAVID ZELLER On Mindfulness SYLVIA BOORSTEIN Meditation as Our Own Jacob's Ladder RABBI STEVE FISDEL MEDITATION FROM THE HEART OF JUDAISM That This Song May Be a Witness: The Power of Chant RABBI SHEFA GOLD Meditating as a Practicing Jew RABBI SHEILA PELTZ WEINBERG Meditation and the Art of Growing Your Neshamah RABBI LAIBL WOLF Healing and Meditation RABBI SHOHAMA WIENER Why Meditate? DANIEL C MATT The Promise of Jewish Meditation RABBI DAVID COOPER Go to Your Self ANDREA COHEN-KIENER Meditation and Women’s Kabbalah RABBI LYNN GOTTLEIB Piety Before Ecstasy SHAUL MAGID Notes from a Beginning Meditation Teacher NAN FINK Best Practices: A Distillation of Techniques and Outlook AVRAM DAVIS Notes Glossary Suggested Readings and Materials About the Editor About Jewish Lights Publishing