+ tikkun middot @ bnai keshet. + seder: 5774 application and program constructed with lay leaders...
TRANSCRIPT
+Seder: 5774
Application and Program constructed with lay leaders
First Vaad Was By Invitation: Interested Seekers & Representing Multiple Cohorts and Circles at BK. Included past, current and incoming Presidents.
Co-Facilitated by Beth Sandweiss JMTT and Rabbi Elliott Tepperman
Signing on to initial vaad meant commitment to practice and to help with implementation for the synagogue.
+Seder: 5775
Rosh Hashanah – Sermon on Israel & Hitlamdut
Devarlettes – On Practice
Personal Invitations to Specific Cohorts
Open Classes on Hitlamdut & Behira Points
+ Seder: 5775
Mondays 6-7:45 PM Rabbi Elliott & 2 Vaad Grads
Mondays 8-9:45 PM Rabbi Ariann & 1 Vaad Grad
Wed. 8-9:45 PM Beth Sandweiss & 1 Vaad Grad
60 Members Enrolled in Vaads
20% of households
Initial Vaad taking on leadership roles
3 New Vaads Launched
+Hesed
Emails to entire congregation with short writings by Vaad members
Divrey Torah Shabbat
Teachings at Board & Committee Meetings
Saturday Morning Drop In Once a month 30-40 people half from Vaads and half not.
Congregant and Vaad Leader Nancy Star reflecting on the instruction is to pick a small routine practice from which to learn each day. Sent to congregation as intro to Hitlamdut material.
Day One:
I waste a minute or so trying to come up with a more creative idea for what practice to notice and then I decide, brushing teeth is perfect. It’s so hard to remember to practice something, and since I do brush my teeth every morning I am optimistic that I will be able train myself for one week to remember to pay attention to that. And, Wow: This is how I brush my teeth? I have a sense of awe. I was completely unaware at the pace and the harshness of my brushing. There is no way my teeth need to be brushed this hard. It’s as if I’m trying to brush them down to stubs. And why so fast? Is there an emergency I have to get to? This is not only unnecessary. It’s counterproductive. My dentist would no be pleased. But good that I noticed. Okay, now I’m slowing down. I’m softening my grip. I’m brushing softly. And slowly. Wow again! My teeth are just as clean. My teeth are clean and probably much happier now that I am not brushing them as if I was at war with them. And the bonus? It’s a more pleasant experience. What an improvement. I’m surprised it feels so good to brush teeth gently. I had no idea. I’ve been paying attention for less than a minute and look: it’s paid off! Already I see how my rote behavior was not doing me any good.
Then, third Wow: I suddenly see brushing teeth is a metaphor. Because, yes, sometimes it’s necessary to move fast and be harsh (sometimes you have to brush hard to get the stuck food out). But what about all the times it’s not necessary. What about when I’m harsh for no reason other than that’s my habit. What if I’m harsh just because I’m not paying any attention. Imagine, I think, what it would be like to live life more gently. Imagine if the attention I gave to people was more gentle, slower, kinder. My guess is I could still accomplish everything I need to, and, as a wonderful bonus, it would be more pleasant. I feel wise to have figured this out on Day One.
Day Two:
I am brushing my teeth and I remember to pay attention and then I remember that yesterday when I paid attention I had an epiphany. I recall that epiphany and play it through my mind again, how I connected brushing teeth with life. I really like that epiphany. I think it’s a good one. I want to share it. I start to think about sharing it. I am feeling kind of good. Until I notice, I am not paying any attention at all to brushing my teeth. This practice is supposed to be about learning something from a routine practice but I’m pretty sure the intention is not to learn one thing and then stop paying attention all together. I’m giving all my attention to my epiphany of yesterday and my teeth are, once again, completely ignored. For all I know I have no teeth.
I am humbled and feel very human.
+Hitlamdut
Cultivating Interest
Meditation Minyan
Years of Micro-Retreats
55 participants Elul
Shabbat Sits
Shabbat Chanting
Introduction to Meditation Classes
+Kabbalot
One practice technology per class
Anavah: Hevruta – Study Partners
Savlanut: Heshbon – Journaling
Hesed: Blessing and Metta Practice
Bitachon: Hitbodedut
Breathing Meditation – TBD
Emunah - Insight Dialogue
+Kabbalot: Insight Dialogue
Pause – Relax – Open – establishes the mind state for being fully present in the mutual, emergent moment. IN this aware moment, we communicate; we Listen Deeply and we Speak the Truth. Our fifth meditation instruction focuses on Listen Deeply. Link to Insight Dialogue Description
3 Parts
1) Speaker responds to question or shares experience.
Listener paying attention not only to words but to pitch, tone, body language and other underlying meaning
2) Listener reflects back what they heard and the perceived meaning
3) Speaker responds to how it feels to receive this feedback
+Behira Points
What to do with Vaad 1 – many ready to continue and bonded
Planning Next Year With Lay FacilitatorPart 2 ClassLay Facilitators Leading New Vaad(s)