For the Tender Heart

What do we place upon our hearts
To help us serve with dignity, in harmony and truth? (Exodus 28:2)

What do we place upon our hearts
To help us remember who and what we serve? (Exodus 28:12)

What do we place upon our hearts
When our hearts are broken,
Weary,
Anguished,
In despair?

We place upon our hearts
Names of those we love,
Names of those we care for.

We place upon our hearts
Names of those who have loved us,
Names of those whose challenges, joys, pain and achievements we carry.

We place upon our hearts
The gifts of the ancestors and hopes for the children

And we place upon our hearts
Qualities we yearn to live by,
Ideals we seek to uphold.

I place upon my heart:
Trust and faith,
Strength and Courage,
Love and truth.

I place upon my heart
The intention to be present,
Even as the heart is broken open by grief.

I place upon my heart the intention
To seek the ner tamid,
The always light
Hidden within the brokenness,
Shining.

Shalom,
Rabbi Yael Levy

This Week's Audio Teachings

We sit together in the light of the ner tamid, the always light, and open to solace and connection, strength and healing. Listen to the recording of today's Meditation Sit with Rabbi Yael Levy on Soundcloud or on the A Way In website. Listen to the recording of this week's Torah Study on the A Way In website or on Soundcloud.