I was willing to acknowledge emotional growth from yoga, but still felt I would avoid the spiritual part. But we are not parts – we humans crave wholeness. Five years after that, I became a yoga teacher in the Iyengar tradition, and began having Jewish spiritual epiphanies during my yoga practice. The first was that while I was in trikonasana, the triangle pose, I was in the Aleph. I prayed that this knowledge of connections was just for me – after all with my background, of course my Jewish soul would inform my physical practice. But revelations kept coming – and I found a rabbi – and began studying Torah again and Kabbalah.

I learned from the texts that the Aleph is in fact a person reaching from earth to heaven making a connection between the two. This is instruction for the pose, trikonasana. I learned how the chakra system and the Tree of Life, both body maps, share essential truths. We Jews know Shabbat and in yoga there is Sava -sana – the pose of rest. Yoga is a tool for all religions as it makes the physical, spiritual. Fear not that you will lose yourself or your Jewishness with a practice. Find me – kosheryoga.net

1. Say the Ketoret – at least twice a week.
Say the full text of the Ketoret in the full “Sefarad” version.

2. Give Tzedakah to recognised charity in Israel

3. Mezuzot - Have you affixed a mezuzah on every doorway?
- Have you checked that all your mezuzot are kosher?

4. Kotel in Israel – in a group (and individually, if possible)

5. Bracha of a true Kohen/Cohen.

If a group can be arranged, this will be a greater mitzvah for everyone who joins. If you can go individually to the Kotel, in the meantime, before the group travel, this is also very good.

Check that:

(a) You have properly affixed a mezuzah on EVERY DOORWAY which needs a mezuzah. This includes archways, patio doors, folding doors, side doors to garden, garden doors.

(b) If any places in your home are lacking a mezuzah, purchase one as soon as possible from a qualilfied Sofer (Scribe), and put it up as soon as possible.

(c) Check that ALL your mezuzot are kosher, as soon as you can. These should be given to a qualified Sofer (scribe) for checking.

(d) Mezuzot should ideally be checked ONCE A YEAR.

1. Say the KETORET twice a week at least (Tefillah, prayer).

The Ketoret has great Kedushah, (holiness) and power to transform all negatives into positives. Say the full text of the Ketoret in the full “Sefarad” version.

If you can say it every day, including Shabbat, this is even better. You can say it as many times as you like during the day.

The Ketoret is said formally 3 times a day in total: twice in the Shacharit, and once during the Minchah prayer.

1. Do not go into any places of idolatry.

2. Discard and remove from your home all stone/wood sculptures e.g. sculptures of:
(a) the human form (“nudes.”)
(b) the human face
(c ) statues – of the human form in particular.

3. Books – discard and destroy all books relating to Avodah Zarah.

4. Photographs – discard and destroy all photographs of Avodah Zarah.

5. Discard any other items you have relating to Avodah Zarah e.g.jewellery.

If you have taken holiday photographs of e.g. Buddist temples, whether on the outside or inside, these are a source of Tumah, and should be discarded. Similarly for buddist celebrations. These places of AVODAH ZARAH completely DENY THE SOVREIGNTY OF HASHEM, the One and Only G-d, and Creator of the World. They should not be in your home.

The same applies to photographs of:
- Churches
- Hindu temples
- Sikh temples
- Greek temples
- Temples/buildings of any other kind of foreign worship.
- Freemasonry

Sort through your photographs, and discard those that relate to Avodah Zarah.

However attached you may feel to these photographs, they should be discarded, as they completely deny the Sovereignty of Hashem.

• Instead, place your EMUNAH (faith) in Hashem, that He will bless all your endeavours, and new, good things, will now be able to come into your life. You might start to feel better in yourself.

7. Discard any other items related in any way to Avodah Zarah. No matter how small and insignificant, or however large e.g. bookmarks with pictures of churches; jewellery and accessories.

(b) FAXES and LETTERS “SENT TO” Rabbi M. Schneersohn tz”l after he passed away in 1994 – at the Bet HaChaim (incorrectly referred to as the, “Ohel” by Lubavitch)

(c) Any other written “communications with” tzaddikim at the Bet HaChaim (cemetery), who are not physically alive.

These written requests should all be destroyed. However “nice” or “comforting” or “accurate” the “reply you received” was; or whatever “bracha you received;” or “whatever the date of the letter was;” – these writings should be destroyed. They are pure Avodah Zarah.

There should be NO MEDIATOR between a person’s tefillot (prayers) and Hashem.
If a person chooses to use intercession instead of praying directly to Hashem, this is completely Assur, and forbidden.

These are a strong source of TUMAH, and bring in a lot of negativity into the home. These books and magazines negatively affect those who live in that home.

Go through every book in your home very carefully, and check for the following. If it falls into one of these categories, or you have doubt about it – sort them out into a pile, and then DISPOSE of these books as soon as possible, and take them out of your home. Or at least take them out of your home and put them in a shed if you can.

It is a very great MITZVAH to remove such sources of Tumah from your home. If some of these books were expensive – discard them anyway, and put aside how much they cost. They are a form of Avodah Zarah, and should be removed immediately.

• Instead, place your EMUNAH (faith) in Hashem, that He will bless all your endeavours, and new, good things, will now be able to come into your life. You might start to feel better in yourself.

The following are some examples:

(a) ‘New Age’ books – (e.g. Indian authors, ‘Shambhala’ publications)

(b) Philosophical books (e.g. by Indian writers such as Deepak Chopra etc)

(c) Yoga/Tai Chi books (qi gong)/yoga magazines &leaflets; tai chi (qigong) magasines & leaflets – these physical exercises are based upon AVODAH ZARAH, and come from a SOURCE OF TUMAH. Practicing yoga or tai chi is harmful to a Jewish person – spiritually, and therefore physically.

Have Emunah (faith) in Hashem that He will help you to find another alternative form of exercise.

(d) Meditation books – by non-Jewish or unorthodox Jewish writers.

Buddism abounds with “meditation.”

Meditation is only for Prophets – it is not for the ordinary man or woman.

(e) Books that appear ok – but contain many idolatrous images and drawings e.g. mathematical or philosophical books interspersed with pictures of dragons; snakes; mandalas; crosses; ‘third eyes’; hindu gods; hindu goddesses; buddas; tibetan gods; egyptian gods; greek gods; stone/gold idols etc etc – THESE SHOULD ALL BE REMOVED IMMEDIATELY FROM YOUR HOME.

(a) There should be NO IMAGES whatsoever, inside any shul.

There should be NO IMAGES of
• ANY PERSON, or
• ANY ANIMAL or
• ANY OBJECT
inside any synagogue.

Any images of a person, animal or object should be REMOVED immediately, and ENTIRELY out of the synagogue or shteibl. No matter how large or small they may be. This is against the Halachah.

(b) When praying at home, a person should endeavour to pray in a room which does not contain any images or paintings of a person, animal or object.

These are graven images. They should IMMEDIATELY be removed from your home and discarded, no matter how much they might have cost, or the sentimental value attached to them. They are a strong source of Tumah.

Do not go into any of the following, as they are all places of idolatry, and AVODAH ZARAH (literally ‘strange worship’). They deny the Sovereignty of Hashem, the One G-d, and Creator of the World.

- Churches
- Buddist temples
- Hindu temples
- Sikh temples
- Greek temples
- Temples/buildings of any other kind of foreign worship.
- Freemasonry

There is a lot of TUMAH in them (spiritual ‘uncleanliness’ which can affect a person has veshalom, physically and spiritually in different ways). Always walk to the opposite side of the road rather than walk directly past one of these buildings e.g. a church.
If any Jew is a “Freemason,” this too is based upon Avodah Zarah. He/she must stop going to such a place, and associating with “freemasons.”

What should a person do to remove the sources of tumah and Avodah Zara from her/his home/life?

COMMANDMENT AGAINST IDOLATRY:

We are specifically commanded against idolatry, in the SECOND COMMANDMENT of the Asseret Hadibrot:

‘Do not have any other gods BEFORE ME.’

‘Lo yiheyeh lecha elohim acherim AL PANAI.’

And: ‘Do not represent (such gods) by any CARVED STATUE OR PICTURE of anything in the heaven above, or the earth below, or in the water below the land.
Do not bow down to (such gods) or worship them.

I am G-d your Lord, A JEALOUS G-D, who demands EXCLUSIVE WORSHIP.

Where My enemies are concerned, I keep in mind the sin of the fathers for (their) descendants, to the third and fourth (generation).
But for those who love Me and keep My Commandments, I show love for thousands (of generations.)’

‘Lo ta’aseh lecha PESEL…………. KI ANI HASHEM ELOKECHA, KEL KANAH, poked avon avot al banim, al shileshim, ve’al ribe’im, le’sonay.
Ve’osseh chessed la’alafim, le’ohavai, u’leshomrei mitzvotai.’

(Parsha of Yitro, Chapter 20, verses 3-6)

Hashem, our G-d, is a very “Jealous G-d” who demands “Exclusive worship.”

These physical exercises are based upon AVODAH ZARAH (idolatry), and come from a SOURCE OF TUMAH. (‘Tumah’ is spiritual ‘uncleanliness’, which is extremely damaging to a person’s home and life). Practicing yoga or tai chi is harmful to a Jewish person – spiritually, and therefore physically.

2. Many people today have been misled into avodah zarah, of one kind or another. Some people have been misled unknowingly. The sting of avodah zarah can cause terrible harm h”v.

Nevertheless, there is always great hope. And that is the great light of Teshuva (returning to Hashem, our G-d.) Hashem is calling out to us every day, to return to Him properly, with a pure heart:

“……shuvu Eilai ve’Ashuva aleichem amar Hashem Tzevakot…..” (Malachi 3:7)
“……return to Me and I will return to you, says Hashem, Master of Legions…..”

Teshuvah is very great and is regarded very highly in Shamayim. A person should seize the opportunity to do Teshuva to Hashem right now, while “the Gates of Teshuva are open”.

Teshuva is one of the greatest Gifts that Hashem, Our G-d, has given to us. So swallow your pride.

By doing a true and sincere Teshuva to Hashem, the brachot (blessings) from Hashem will come into a person’s life, and obstacles will begin to shift.

1. I will list below:
(a) what the sources of Tumah, and Avodah Zarah are. And

(b) what a person should do to remove the sources of tumah and Avodah Zara from her/his home/life.

2. I will then list a few mitzvot, and practical steps that a person can take, in order to do Teshuvah for any kind of involvement in avodah zara.

There will be a time when people will seek spiritual fulfillment, but will not be able to satisfy it with the words of God, and so to quench their thirst they will turn to other ways, ways they did not know.

Half of Jewish customs were incorporated from other traditions (the Pesach Seder was developed from Pagan and Hellenistic customs, e.g.). Judaism’s adaptability is a strength (or are you in the habit of sacrificing lambs and goats on Shabbas?), and incorporating meditation or yoga shouldn’t pose a spiritual or religious crisis unless you are in the regular habit of forfeiting your cognitive abilities to the Rebbe.

There is always another Jew MORE OBSERVANT than you (I have eaten Matza out of a bag with Lubavitchers just in case a crumb of matza touched a drop of water and managed to leaven), and all this ‘niggling’ (as the author calls it) probably accounts for the high level of neurosis and OCD behavior in the Ashkenazi community.

You don’t have to worship Ganesh to do yoga. Ever heard of Kavanah?

And you probably should be on SSRIs if you worry so much.

Shabbat Shalom everyone.

http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/496869/jewish/Is-Yoga-kosher.htm

she asks, is yoga avoda zara? uh, yes. helloooooo?!
it was good that she mentioned a frum teacher who removed all the names of the poses even in english. this may be safe. maybe.

but having statues in class, saying himdu words or chants, using sanskrit names for poses? can you spell i-d-o-l-a-t-r-y???

i’ve read several pieces by observant jews on yoga. some say don’t do it at all. some say if you must, then be sure to remove any and all religious elements.

the frum practitioner said if you do that, it’s just excercise.
let’s hope so.

there are books about ‘yoga’ with hebrew letters. but i don’t know if it is completely devoid of religious or ‘spiritual’ practice from hinduism. it might be okay, i don’t know.

the main thing is this: so many people today in the name of ‘peace, love and brotherhood’ try to extract jews from our roots and souls. it’s a way of saying ‘come let us be like the nations’, and anyone who knows torah at all knows this is an invitation to disaster spiritually and physically.

here’s a thought: if you’re trying to rationalize a practice that belongs to another religion or ‘spirituality’ then you’re on shaky ground.

the real call here is for the observant jewish world to take note and make things available that respond to the spiritual needs of jews who do not know their own traditions!

God says in His word not to follow the practises of idols? When why do you follow the ways of others?

Ask God for guidance to show you the err in your ways.
Regards

but TAFFY?? to paraphrase Tony Kushner, “What kind of Jewish name is Taffy??”

:-)

As the other poster said, it is quite true that “you can take the Hinduism out of Yoga but not the Yoga out of Hinduism”. If Yoga is truly some universal kind of practical spirituality then cooption by other religions will have little impact on the end result…which might be nothing more than loving thy neighbour as thyself.