Meditations for the Days of Awe: Reflections, Guided Imagery and Other Creative Exercises to Enrich Your Spiritual Life

By Dov Peretz Elkins

Dov Peretz Elkins, rabbi emeritus of The Jewish Center of Princeton, NJ, is well-known as a prominent rabbi and innovative Jewish educator. Dr. Elkins has been a pioneer in interactive, affective, and humanistic learning models for half a century.

He was one of the first Jewish educators to promote family education in Jewish schools and in synagogue and other Jewish communal settings.

Trained in human resource development by University Associates, the Gestalt Institute, NTL Institute, Esalen Institute of Big Sur, CA, the Hypnosis Institute, and many other prominent growth and learning centers in North America, his fifty pioneering books can be found on the shelf of every Jewish communal service worker, educator, and rabbi. He founded Growth Associates Educational Consultants in 1976.

His website is www.JewishGrowth.org.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Jun 28, 2018
• ISBN: 9781546248170

Dov Peretz Elkins

DOV PERETZ ELKINS, rabbi emeritus of The Jewish Center of Princeton, New Jersey, is the author of numerous books on spiritual renewal, experiential learning, and self-esteem.

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© 2018 Dov Peretz Elkins. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 06/27/2018

ISBN: 978-1-5462-4818-7 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5462-4817-0 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2018907437

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Contents

Acknowledgments

Suggestions For Using This Book

MEDITATIONS FOR ROSH HASHANAH

Apples And Honey

The Cleansing Lights

The White Kittel

Our Family Dinner

Three Books Are Opened

A Time To Forgive

Avinu Malkenu

The Shofar’s Many Messages

The Birthday Of The World

Teshuvah, Tefilah & Tzedakah

Ve-Ye-E-Tayu

Ve-ye-e-tayu

Alenu

Tashlikh

MEDITATIONS FOR YOM KIPPUR

Kol Nidre

Recall Your Covenant, Not Our Faults

Sh’ma Kolenu

Learning To Love And Care For Myself

Yizkor

Changing Your Self Image

One Place, One Day, One Person, One Word

Eleh Ezkerah

Jonah

N’eilah

Next Year In Jerusalem!

APPENDIX

Guidelines for Using Creative Guided Imagery

Techniques for Preparation

For a complete catalog of books contact:

E-mail: [e-mail]

Web Site: www.JewishGrowth.org

To Shira and Dany

Whoso loves, believes the impossible.

Elizabeth Barrett Browning

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I have sought to come near you, I have called to you with all my heart; and when I went out toward you I found you coming toward me.

Yehudah Halevi

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There is a law in psychology that if you form a picture in your mind of what you would like to be, and you keep and hold that picture there long enough, you will soon become exactly as you have been thinking.

William James (1842-1910)

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Your old shall dream dreams,

Your young shall see visions.

Joel 3:1

Books by Dov Peretz Elkins

http://www.jewishgrowth.org/cgi-bin/books.cgi?action=catalog

Simple Actions for Jews to Help Green the Planet

Jewish Stories From Heaven and Earth

Chicken Soup for the Jewish Soul

Sidrah Sparks: Talking Torah at the Table with Your Family

The Wisdom of Judaism: An Introduction to the Values of the Talmud

Rosh Hashanah Readings

Yom Kippur Readings

The Bible’s Top 50 Ideas (with Abigail Treu)

A Shabbat Reader

Moments of Transcendence: RH

Moments of Transcendence YK

Jewish Guided Imagery

Forty Days of Transformation

Meditations for the Days of Awe

Shepherd of Jerusalem

Moments of the Spirit: Quotations to Inspire, Inform & Involve

In the Spirit: Insights for Renewal in the 21st Century

Enveloped in Light: A Tallit Sourcebook

The Tallit

Rejoice With Jerusalem

A Treasury of Thoughts on Israel and Zionism

New and Old Prayers & Readings for High Holy Days

The Eulogy Book

For Those Left Behind: Jewish Anthology of Comfort

Four Rabbis At Lunch: Intimate Conversations Among American Clergy

So Young To Be A Rabbi

Prescription for a Long and Happy Life

A Tradition Reborn: Sermons and Essays

Humanizing Jewish Life

My Seventy-Two Friends: Encounters with Refuseniks in the USSR

God’s Warriors: Dramatic Adventures of Rabbis in Uniform

Clarifying Jewish Values

Jewish Consciousness Raising

Experiential Programs for Jewish Groups

Loving My Jewishness

Teaching People to Love Themselves

Glad To Be Me: Building Self-Esteem in Yourself and Others

Twelve Pathways to Feeling Better About Yourself

Self Concept Sourcebook

Translations

(original Hebrew books by Simcha Raz)

Hasidic Wisdom (with Jonathan Elkins)

Melodies From My Father's House

The Torah’s Seventy Faces

Tales of the Righteous

Heart and Scroll

Loving and Beloved: Tales of Rabbi Levi Yitzhak of Berdichev

The Holy Brothers: Rabbi Zusha and Rabbi Elimelekh of Lizhensk

Books for Teens

(both books with Azriel Eisenberg)

Worlds Lost and Found: Discoveries in Biblical Archeology

Treasures From the Dust: Biblical Archeology

Children’s Book

Seven Delightful Stories for Every Day (ages 3 to 6)

Acknowledgments

Several people were kind enough to read the manuscript in various stages of preparation. Some of their suggestions were incorporated and have enriched the volume, its design and content. Responsibility for mistakes or other imperfections lies solely with the author.

Special appreciation is extended to Wendy Young, Dr. Mel Silberman z"l, Rabbi Rami Shapiro, and Rabbi Goldie Milgram.

Suggestions For Using This Book

Spirituality is Subjective

In spiritual work, words like meditation, guided imagery, and reflection resonate differently in different minds and from different perspectives.

I have struggled to categorize the following pieces in separate categories - some as meditations, some as guided imagery exercises, and some as prayers or reflections. After consulting with colleagues, and re-reading the material many times, I have concluded that each reading/exercise can be used in a variety of ways, depending on the practitioner.

With minor modifications, a reading may be used alone at home or in a park, in a group or havurah, or in a formal worship setting. In other words, the readings can be utilized individually or in a group, in private or public venues. Each reader or leader may decide how best to maximize the effect of the experience.

The order of readings follows, as far as possible, the chronology of the High Holy Days, as well as the sequence of the Mahzor. This seemed to make the most sense for finding, using and arranging the pieces presented. Others might have made different choices, but spiritual work is very subjective, and what works for one rarely works exactly the same way for another.

It is my fervent hope and prayer that these reflections, in whatever way or form they may be used, will help the user to find deeper meaning and heightened spiritual renewal in their quest for a richer life, a stronger sense of community, and a closer connection to the Creator.

Suggestions for Use

1) Three dots means a brief pause; the word pause indicates a longer pause.

2) Any meditations, guided imagery or prayer is best experienced in a state of physical relaxation, emotional calm and spiritual tranquillity.

Don't be concerned if you can't achieve these states right away. They take time, and will be useful in whatever state you are in.

3) Some ways people have found to become more serene and receptive to the power of spiritual exercises are :

a) let your eyes close partly or completely

b) uncross your legs and arms

c) breathe slowly and deeply

d) take a minute to relax before you begin the experience.

e) sometimes soft music in the background aids the relaxation process and psychological receptivity.

4) The reading may be directed by a group leader (rabbi, teacher, facilitator) in a synagogue, school, or home setting, alone or in a group. It may also be used by recording it on a cassette recorder and play it, or by having a friend or family member read it aloud.

5) Relax. Don't judge yourself by thinking you may not be doing it right. There is no wrong way to use these meditations. Let your imagination be free.

Dov Peretz Elkins

Princeton, New Jersey

Iyyar, 5759 April, 1999

Meditations For Rosh Hashanah

Apples And Honey

A Rosh Hashanah Eve Meditation

Imagine a large blank screen suspended in the air in front of the black space before your closed eyes. On the screen there appears an apple. Look at the apple.

What kind of apple is it?…. How big or small is it? … What color is it? … Watch the apple get larger so that it fills more of the space on the movie screen… Notice all the tiny details about the apple. Are there any spots on it?

Imagine that the apple has a very lovely aroma coming from it - like steam emerging from all its sides…. Smelling the aroma, you find that it is very pleasing. Enjoy the pleasure of the smell of the apple… (pause)…

You are growing fond of the apple. Focus your attention on it, and see how beautiful and pleasing it is, smelling it, staring at it… (pause) …

Reach out your hand and touch the apple… Gently rub your fingers around the whole surface of the apple, and see how smooth, gentle and pleasant it is. It is just the right temperature…

Imagine that a new Hebrew year is about to begin, and you recite the following prayer, while you concentrate your eyes on the apple:

May it be Your will, Adonai our God, and God of our ancestors,

that You renew for us a good year, and a sweet year!

Blessed are you, Adonai our God, Ruler of the Universe,

Who brings forth fruit from the trees.

Imagine that some of the inside of the apple reaches your mouth so that you are tasting it, without disturbing the outside of the apple… See how good it tastes… (pause)…

Chew on the apple very slowly. Enjoy its sweetness and its luscious taste. Let each little piece of the apple slush around your mouth, and chew it very slowly so that as it goes down into your insides it brings vitamins, nutrients, and good health to your body…. Watch the apple going down into your body, bringing it lots of healing and strength… (pause)….

Let the tiny microscopic pieces of the apple travel throughout your body, bringing you good health for the year now beginning. Send some extra pieces to any parts of the body that you want to heal, or be stronger or more healthy…. (pause)…. Know that the healthier body which the apple brings you will remain with you for as long as you want it to. This apple brings health for weeks, and months, and sometimes even years….

Now let the apple become very big, and split itself in half, like two doorways opening up. Inside the apple is a spacious Relaxation Room, with a soft lounge chair, and the aroma and sweetness of the apple are filling the space all around the apple, including the cushy, comfortable, long chair. Watch the room and see how inviting it looks. See yourself sitting in the lounge chair, very comfortably… You feel wonderful sitting inside the sweet, delicious, beautifully smelling Apple Relaxation Room…. (pause)….

Everything is very comfortable. You feel very confident, secure, and protected. You may get up and walk around the room, or outside the room, and return to the comfortable chair to lie down, and find fresh energy and new strength and courage… Enjoy the wonderful feeling that sitting there brings you… (pause)…

The temperature in the Apple Relaxation Room is just right, just the way you like it. You are wearing very light and comfortable clothing, and don’t feel cold at all. Everything is just perfect… (pause)….

Take in the healing smell of the apple, and let the parts that are floating around your body bring you more calm, security, healing, and a sense of peace… (pause).…

In a moment, it will begin to rain, soft, tasty and sweet drops of dew, that will not bother you or disturb you. There will be no need for an umbrella or any cover. The dew will be cleansing and soothing, and you will want more of it to fall gently on your body, on your clothing, on your soft lounge chair, and all