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Thursday September 6, 2007

Thinking ahead: a reflective exercise

At a recent High Holy Days preparation course, Rabbi Katie Mizrahi encouraged adults to think seriously about the past year and their hopes for the coming year.

The thinking/journaling exercise can easily be done at home, said the spiritual leader of Congregation Or Shalom in San Francisco.

Mizrahi asked the 15 students to close their eyes and think of their lives in the kabbalist “Four Worlds” model, which identifies the physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual elements of a person’s life.

Then she asked students to consider four questions for each of the “four worlds”:

Where have you missed the mark this past year?

In what ways have you grown in the past year?

Identify at least one “success” or positive moment/experience/act that you feel good about.

Assign yourself “homework” of some kind — a new practice, breaking a habit, a tough conversation — something concrete and doable, which might mean something small.

Another option: Attend Selichot services Saturday, Sept. 8. Selichot (prayers for forgiveness) are also recited or sung during Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.

Check with your local synagogue for Selichot service start times.

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