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One particularly helpful method of Torah study and teaching
is the Kabbalists' the Four Worlds model. This develops four dimensions of
mind-body-spirit exploration (i.e. safe, grounded mysticism) so we can expand the
meaning of a text for ourselves and experience its relevance to our lives. The
method that follows is my adaption of the model.
Dimension One: World of Assiyah (tachlis, basics, action)
Key question to explore: What is the actual text?
Read the text out loud in the language that works for you.
Look at the actual words and phrases, story line and characters very carefully, see it for
what it is.
What is happening in the text? Who is speaking? What did they say/do?
For individuals, if at all possible do as our tradition says, "take a friend
for yourself and go and study."
Using these methods in the context of a friendship helps to focus and deepen the study of
Torah and the
spiritual intimacy of your relationship. This is called "hevruta" (friendship
based study) in Hebrew.
In a group, I find it works best for the facilitator to read the text aloud dramatically.
Some groups prefer going around in a circle with everyone taking a line or paragraph.
Dimension Two:
World of
Yetzirah (kishkes)
Key question to explore: What are the actual feelings this
text brings up in you?
Express out loud with facial, body and hand motions if desired, the strongest emotion
the text brings up for you.
Suggested way to handle this in a group:
After reading a segment of text out loud (try, for example, the first 24 lines of
Parshat Emor in Leviticus).
Invite each person to identify through a word and a replicable motion of their
hands/face/body the most
powerful emotion the text brought up in them.
Go around. Let each person say the emotion and make the relevant symbolic moment.
The whole group repeats that person's emotion as one voice and also enacts the same
movement.
Then look at the speaker and say "shama-ti" and their name "
".
(Shama-ti means "I have listened", it comes from
the prayer which is found in Deuteronomy:
"Sh'ma Yisrael Adonai Eloheyu, Adonai Echad.")
It is very validating and expanding to have a group repeat your feeling and the motion
of your emotion....
it also feels bonding and wonderful to see all eyes upon you during the
"shamati" and to hear your name
recited as a giver-over of Torah to the group.
Dimension Three: Beriyah (Yiddishe Kup - thought - intellect)
Key question to ask: What are the questions we want to ask of this text, characters
and author(s)?
You might begin to write down your questions.
In a group, use the same method above.
Each person gets a turn to dramatically pose their most urgent question.
The group repeats the question with the asker's inflection, says "shama-ti" and
the person's name.
NO answers are given....the field of inquiry simply becomes much richer by
the sharing.
Dimension Four: Atzilut (Unification
with the Source - Becoming the text)
Key question to ask: Whose voices, issues and experience in the text could be mine?
Become the text by empathetically taking on the voice of one of the
characters or symbols.
Enter into dialogue with another of the characters or symbols.
Notice important relationships and characters who may not be present in this particular
section of texts,
invite them into the story. Become their voices.
If you are studying on your own, you might write down these dialogues.
The revelation/vision for the future and understanding of your own past through this
experience
will create an interpenetration of the metaphors and world the Torah with the Torah of
your
own life. This is a form of Yechidus, closeness to the One.
Notice your experience in all the dimensions we have covered.
It is more layered than linear as an experience,
all dimensions occurring simultaneously, yet enriched by the sequential focus on each....
like an opera of exploration and knowing.
(Important Note: Exploring on the Fourth Dimension is a very delicate thing to do in a
group (and on
one's own, this is powerful stuff.) For groups an experienced biblio-drama or psychodrama
facilitator is important.
I believe in a Torah study group one needs to keep boundaries at the level of raising
awareness and not push such an experience into the realm of therapy.) It can
be very wonderful!
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