Blog - Mindful Judaism - Jewish Meditation and Contemplative Judaism

September 3, 2024September 3, 2024

REGISTER NOW: High Holidays 2024 – Jewish New Year Interfaith Zen Retreat in Burlingame, CA – September 14, 2024

I would like to take the opportunity to invite you to the daylong interfaith Zen retreat for the Jewish New Year coming up this September 14 in Burlingame, CA. You may register now!

As the summer winds down and we experience the cooler temperatures in the morning, we are reminded that the season is turning. Fall will soon be upon us. It is time for a New Year and new experiences.

July 12, 2023August 8, 2023

What is “Beginner’s Mind”? And Did Heschel Describe It?!

If you are anything like me and either enjoy reading books or grabbing a bargain, take a look! I noticed today that the kindle version of one of my favorite Zen books is on sale this month on Amazon – Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind by Shunryu Suzuki Roshi.

July 10, 2023August 8, 2023

REGISTER NOW: High Holidays 2023 – Jewish New Year Interfaith Zen Retreat in the Bay Area

Come celebrate Rosh Hashanah and the Jewish New Year on this contemplative interfaith Zen retreat in the Bay Area! You may register now!

Rosh Hashanah is a holiday of waking up. We awaken from the deep slumber of selfishness, conceit, and putting ourselves above others and awaken to something different. On Rosh Hashanah, the Divine calls out to wake us up from the darkness of ignorance and to open our eyes and hearts to the truth and awe that is always surrounding us and that which also makes up the very fabric of our ordinary life.

July 7, 2023July 4, 2023

Do I Need to Use a Prayerbook?

There are thousands and thousands of words of formal prayers and prayer books. There are so many words — too many words — yet there can never be enough words!

The most important words in prayer are your words! The most important prayerbook is your heart! Everything else is simply extra!

July 4, 2023July 5, 2023

How Do We Celebrate Freedom?

Freedom and liberty is so very precious and something for which I am eternally grateful and do not take for granted.

Yes, freedom can be “internal”. We all need to feel and experience this genuine liberation; yet, “external” freedom is no more unnecessary. It is this freedom — unfortunately, a rarity in the world in this day and age — that we celebrate and consecrate this Independence Day Holiday.

July 3, 2023July 4, 2023

What is “Jewish” Meditation? Is Meditation Even “Jewish”

What is Jewish Meditation - Is It Even Jewish

Sometimes questions are more simple than we know. Often times, questions are also more complicated than we hope.

One such question is “What makes meditation Jewish?” This question might just be simple AND complicated to answer?! I write about this elsewhere (here and here), though allow me to answer this question here as simply as possible, albeit with a complicated caveat.

June 30, 2023June 27, 2023

How Do I Pray?

Consider that you cannot do it alone.

Open your mouth.

Use your words.

Speak to God (or whomever or whatever is sacred or Divine to you).

June 28, 2023June 27, 2023

REGISTER NOW: High Holidays 2023 – Yom Kippur Zen Mindfulness Jewish Meditation Retreat

The Jewish High Holidays are a period of reflection and opportunity to renew our intentions for the coming year in a deeply personal and meaningful way.

Please join Rabbi Adam Fogel and Mindful Judaism on a Zen Mindfulness Jewish Meditation retreat this Yom Kippur! The Yom Kippur retreat will include periods of silent sitting and walking meditation, an abbreviated chant style service, time for speaking from the heart in hitbodedut, and sacred sharing in council to close the retreat.

June 25, 2023June 27, 2023