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+ Tikkun Middot @ Bnai Keshet

+ Tikkun Middot @ Bnai Keshet. + Seder: 5774 Application and Program constructed with lay leaders First Vaad Was By Invitation: Interested Seekers & Representing

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+Tikkun Middot @ Bnai Keshet

+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

+Seder

Presenting Texts and Packets

Letters describing the terms, practices and technologies

+ HesedWidening the Circle

+Banners are placed in the lobby and in front of the building

+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

+Hitlamdut

Bet Midrash Staff

Mindfulness with Students

+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)

+Behira Points

Allowing Couples in Classes

Considering Couples Only or Other Themed Vaads