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The Rabbis On Yoga
N
' oted Torah commentator Moses ben iMaimon
(Maimonides) interpreted God's laws as directing Jews
not only elevate themselves spiritually, but physically as
well. He interpreted the following liturgical quote: "and you shall
guard your soul," to mean that people should "physically take care
of themselves."
"In order to pursue spiritual pursuits, you have to be healthy,"
explains Rabbi Yechiel Morris, of Young Israel of Southfield.
Although Maimonides did not prescribe a specific kind of exer-
cise as Torah-approved, almost any form of physical workout, if
the intent is to maintain health and strength, is OK by God. Even
yoga, which has its roots in Eastern philosophy.
A few years ago, Aish HaTorah started a program in New York
called Aish HaYoga. It was copied locally two years ago and is now
offered several times a week in private homes.
"Yoga enables the practitioner to reach full mental and physical
potential," says Leah Gella Tolwin, Aish rebbetzin. "It's just an
amazing way of personal growth and development."
Yoga is not idolatrous, insist local rabbis. Rabbi Arnie Sleutelberg,
of Congregation Shir Tikvah in Troy, is teaching a SAJE class this
winter on "The Aleph-Bet of Jewish Yoga," and Rabbi Elimelech
Goldberg utilizes the mind-body connection that yoga depends on
in his Kids Kicking Cancer program.
— Lynne Meredith Schreiber
STYLE AT THE JN • MARCH 2 0 0 3 •
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