Walking to Sinai: Spiritual Practices to Get Us Up the Mountain April 13, 2007

“Free yourselves from mental slavery, none but ourselves can free our minds.”

So said Bob Marley, but it could have been a description of this period between Passover and Shavuot. After leaving Egypt on Passover, we now are invited to take an inner journey, clarifying our vision, truly freeing our inner selves before we can receive our own Torah on the holiday of Shavuot, 50 days after Passover.

This class will explore the depth of the ancient practice of counting the Omer, and using each day as an opportunity for tikkun – repairing one aspect of our souls and personalities. Traditionally, this is a time when one studies Pirkei Avot, the ethical sayings of the Sages. We will delve into these and other texts to help free ourselves from whatever may hold us back from opening up to our purpose, our joy and our creativity.

Teachers

Natan Margalit has been a leader in seeking new approaches to Jewish texts. He has created an enriching dialogue between contemporary life and ancient texts, especially in the areas of gender, ecology, spirituality and inner psychology. He teaches at the Hebrew College Rabbinical School and lives in Boston with his wife Ilana and son Nadav.

Minna Bromberg is a singer, songwriter, voice teacher, Jewish meditation teacher, and sociologist. She received her PhD in sociology from Northwestern University, completed Chochmat HaLev's Jewish Meditation Teacher certification program, and is currently a rabbinical student at Hebrew College in Boston.

Official Website: http://elatchayyim.org/walkingtosinai/