BODY/SOUL TRANSFORMATION

by Beth Bracha

"Tehillim opens the gates of Teshuva." Student/teacher Devorah read this to us as we sat in the Beit Midrash. Elul is the time for this. It comes easier during this time of year, preceding the High Holidays. Not simple reading of Tehillim will do. It is to live with it , not to let it go. To breath it in and out, and to meditate on it. This is what Rebbe Nachman has to say and this is what we say.
Later, in a meditative movement class, we learn further instruction on the ever deepening process of Teshuva. Not only are we advised to say Tehillim, but we are conditioning our bodies and building the temple of our souls with breath and relaxing body movements. Both Tehillim and body movements are some of our powers to reach Hashem and impact the world, to touch our selves and our souls in positive ways.
Moving with the flow of the approaching Jewish New Year while living in Eretz israel, radical Teshuva and transformation of myself and the world feel possible.