A Way In: Jewish Mindfulness Organization

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A Way In: Jewish Mindfulness Organization

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All teachings and interpretive scripture translations are by Rabbi Yael Levy, founder of A Way In.

For more on Jewish Mindfulness, see our website: http://awayin.org A Way In blends Jewish tradition and wisdom with mindfulness, offering services, celebrations and retreats as well as web-based programs, practices and resources.

10/15/2026

Who Will We Be in These Times?

Dear Friends,

The waters were rough, the skies were threatening, but I had been waiting all day to paddle so I thought, why not just go? I packed a hot drink and some snacks and set off in my kayak across the lake. The current was with me and I moved quickly over the waters.

Astounded by the layers of clouds I took a few photos, ignoring what their dark colors might indicate, until I heard some rumblings in the sky. A plane over head, I hoped. The intermittent booms made it clear that thunder was rolling toward me.

Realizing I was much farther from camp than I had originally thought, I paddled hard into the rising waves. I was the only one on the lake—even the birds had departed—but lifting my eyes I saw a rainbow. The colors were muted but its presence was sure and it inspired me on.

I made it back to camp with 5 minutes to spare before the skies unleashed a torrent of rain and lightning flashed across the lake. I was very grateful.

In this week’s Torah portion, Noach, a rainbow appears in the sky;
a sign from the Holy One telling us
that the fate of creation is on our hands.
How we live, who we are
will determine how life goes on.

There is so much that can discourage us right now.
Literal storms are raging
and human cruelty, arrogance and corruption
seem to know no bounds.

And there is so much good.
Right now someone is sharing food,
someone is offering support,
creating art, making music, dancing,
writing postcards, registering voters.

Right now someone is holding a friend who weeps,
someone is caring for a child,
teaching a person new skills,
going out of their way to help someone they do not know.

And right now underground
roots are intertwined,
seeds are being nourished
and new life awaits.

Without denying the storms
we must look to the signs
that offer encouragement and support.

Who we are in these times
will determine how life goes on.

May we be grand in our vision
and audacious in our conviction that acts of love,
devotion, generosity, courage, kindness and care
will guide us through the storms
and provide the foundation for new possibilities to emerge.

Love and blessings,
Rabbi Yael

http://awayin.org

10/08/2026

Beginning Again

We open the Torah scroll and begin again.

The heavens and earth are coming to be.
A riot of chaos and turmoil.
An unfolding of goodness,
harmony,
possibility.

In the image of all creation
humankind is made.
Infused with the spirit of the Infinite.
Blessed and sent forth.

Let us remember that we humans are of earth, sky and waters,
galaxies, trees and stars.
Let us remember
that nothing is separate.
Everything is in relationship
with everything else.

May we humans shine.
May we be vast in our perspective.
Courageous in our actions.
Humble in our goings.
Fierce in our love.

Let us begin again,
newly devoted to living well
for the benefit of all life.

http://awayin.org

10/01/2026

For Endurance, For Vision, For Strength

Dear Friends,

A prayer as we move toward Shemini Azeret and Simchat Torah and the close of the 5787 yamim noraim holy days.

To the Composer of Eternity, a Psalm, a Song

May the Source of All be gracious with us,
and may we be blessed.
May the Divine Presence shine through us, Selah
so paths of sacred goodness are known by all throughout the land.

Let it be, that all people will offer praise.
We will offer such thanks and praise.

We will sing with joy, filled with delight,
for justice will fill the land;
steadfast clarity will guide us all. Selah

Let it be, that all people will offer praise.
We will offer such thanks and praise.

The earth will nourish us with abundance
and blessings will flow from the Source of All.

May we be blessed to the ends of the earth
with wonder, with amazement, with awe.

Psalm 67

http://awayin.org

09/24/2026

Sukkot in Our Trembling World

Dear Friends,

Having traveled through the awe of Rosh Hashanah and the rachamim (compassion) of Yom Kippur, we land in Sukkot-zeman simchatanu—the time of our rejoicing.

Sukkot calls:
Rejoice in life’s blessings.
Delight in the earth’s abundance.
Sing, celebrate and give thanks.

It can feel deeply challenging to lift up joy in these times—and the call of Sukkot is clear:

In a world broken and beautiful—Rejoice.
In a life that is fragile, vulnerable and precious—Celebrate.
In a time when so much feels lost—Create Beauty.
Sukkot commands us to declare:

Here I am in this trembling, frightening world and … I will not give up hope.

I will celebrate and share moments of joy.
I will marvel at life’s gifts.
I will delight in the earth’s generosity.
I will sing and give thanks.

Let us harvest joy, wonder, beauty and gratitude so that we have the strength and courage to walk into 5787 and —
squar
Be a sign for goodness.
Those that hate will see and turn back in shame.
Infinite help and comfort will come to all.
Psalm 86:17

Much Love and Blessing.
Shalom,
Rabbi Yael

http://awayin.org

09/17/2026

A Prayer for Yom Kippur

Dear Friends,
Blessings to all as we walk from Rosh Hashanah toward Yom Kippur.
May the songs and silences, the prayers and echoes of the shofar hold and guide us as we awaken again and again to this beautiful, mysterious, precious and fragile gift that is our life.
Much love,
Rabbi Yael

A Prayer for Yom Kippur

As we enter Yom Kippur
we call on the heavens and earth.
We call on the ancestors,
and on the generations to come.
We call on the Great Mystery that holds and fills us all –
Please,
guide us as we step into the holy light of this day.
Help us be present to the beauty and fragility of life.
Be with us as we experience life’s passing.

Help us open to the compassion that flows from on high.
Let this mighty love take root in our tender hearts
and give us the courage to face the ways we as a people
and we as human beings have gone so far astray.
Please guide us in returning.
Help us make amends.

Release us from all that keeps us separate and afraid,
Let shame and regret unwind from our souls.

Help us stand into this day open and willing.
Let us be vessels through which compassion and healing
flow into the world. Amen.

http://awayin.org

09/03/2026

We Stand Here Today

As we come toward the threshold of the New Year,
the Torah calls:
You stand here with everyone,
with all who came before you,
and with all who will come after.

You stand here with those you love,
and with those with whom you deeply disagree.
You stand here with earth and all creation,
preparing to cross over into a renewed relationship
with the Unfolding Mystery of All Life.
Deut. 29:9-14

How do we cross?
How do we enter into this New Year of possibility?

The Infinite Life Force commands:
Go with Love.
Love with all your heart, with all your soul,
and walk in the ways of love.
Deut. 30:16

The soul trembles, it cries,
Love –
in the face of all this horror and pain?
Love –
as violence and cruelty rage?
Love –
as the heart constricts in hatred and fear?

This is the covenant, the Infinite replies,
This is why you are here.

And it is not too great a task for you.
It is in your mouth and heart to do.
Deut. 30:14

Choose love.
Love those you love with all your heart, soul and strength.
Love the trees, sky, rivers and rocks.
Love the birds, turtles, dragonflies and frogs.

Practice loving where it is easy,
for there will be times
when love feels impossible to reach.

Let that be.
Love where you can, as best you can.
Love will make you strong.

I place before you all of life, the Infinite calls,
good, evil,
devastation and blessing
malice and generosity –

Choose.

May our hearts be strong and filled with courage.
Psalm 27: 14

We will rebuild this shattered and beautiful world with love.
Psalm 89:3

Rabbi Yael
http://awayin.org

08/27/2026

As You Enter

In this week’s Torah portion, Ki Tavo,
the Mystery calls:
As you enter the new land,
as you enter the New Year,
bring the fruits of your efforts, your devotion, your practice.
Bring all you have become
through time, circumstance and choice.

Take special note of the goodness
you have brought into the world
through acts of generosity, kindness and care.

Enter and take your place as creatures,
here in relationship with all.
The world needs your gifts, your offerings.
Enter and share the abundance that you are.

Out of fear or habit,
despair or grief,
the soul hesitates,
and cries:

There is too much damage,
too much pain,
there is nothing I can do.

I will wait, the Mystery responds.
I will wait for you to awaken,
I will wait for you to remember
that you are part of this mysterious unfolding of creation
and the world needs you.

Rabbi Yael

http://awayin.org

08/13/2026

The Elul Journey Begins

Dear Friends,

Tradition teaches that as we enter the month of Elul
the Divine Mystery reaches for us with love
and calls, Return.

Return to awareness.
Return to relationship.
Return to the wisdom of your heart,
to the truths of your soul.

Return to the willingness to begin again,
to enter fully into this endeavor of life
and be part of a new creation waiting to take form.

I can feel my soul respond with an anguished cry.
Return?
Return to what?
There is so much pain,
so much chaos,
so much to grieve.

The call continues,
Return.
The deep sadness, the aching pain,
rises from what you love,
from what you value and care about so deeply.

Return.
Turn toward the love that is under the pain.
Turn toward relationship.
Turn toward the soul’s capacity to care.

This turning doesn’t make the sadness disappear,
It doesn’t negate the turmoil or nullify the pain,
but it does bring us into connection
and help open the way forward.

Joy and beauty, sadness and pain,
are all here
and we are made stronger when we locate their roots in love.

May Elul guide us with gentle care.
May this season renew our hope and devotion.
May our hearts be strong and filled with courage.
Psalm 27:14

Much love,
Rabbi Yael

http://awayin.org

07/30/2026

Because

Dear Friends,
As the season continues to gently turn us, the Torah calls:

Because.
Deut. 7:12

Because everything comes on the heel of everything else,
because every action has consequences,
because all is connected,

because we are not the source
because we are not all powerful,
because we are not the center,

because we are here together with all life,
participants in the Infinite Unfolding,

This is what is asked of us:
To be in awe of the Infinite Unfolding Mystery.
To walk in paths of truths.
To love into the Unfolding Mystery
and be of service with full hearts and souls,
for the well-being of all life.
Deut. 10:12

May the calls of the season guide us with gentle care.

Blessings and love to all
Shalom,
Rabbi Yael

http://awayin.org

07/23/2026

Psalms for Tisha B'Av

A prayer for this day of Tisha b’Av

Divine Presence, do not be silent,
do not be still,
for brutality rages
and hatred lifts up its head. Psalm 83:2-3

Please do not let our hearts turn to evil.
Keep us from acting with hatred and scorn.
We are surrounded by those bent on cruelty.
Help us not feast on these ways. Psalm 141:4

The world is filled with so much contempt.
Have mercy on us Source of All.
Have mercy. Psalm 123:3

Justice and fairness are your foundation.
Steadfast love and truth stand before you. Psalm 89:15

Do good, Divine Presence, through seekers of good.
Come through our directed hearts. Psalm 125:4

With hearts supported by the Infinite
we will not be afraid.
In time we will see tyrants fall. Psalm 112:8

Those seeking justice will rejoice.
We will celebrate in the presence of the Source.
We will be filled with delight and jubilation. Psalm 68:4

We will build this world with love. Psalm 89:3

Rabbi Yael
http://awayin.org

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Philadelphia, PA
19147

Website

http://awayin.org/

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