Sway
Posted by Yeshiva Guy | Posted in Poetry, Shockeling, Shuckeling, Swaying | Posted on 15-09-2009
4
Hostage to Doublethought "It's too hard", he complains plaintively. "He, G-d, will understand. My son, he is a Rabbi. In Brooklyn. He is Lubavitch. (Here, he serenades me with the first few bars of...
An Open Letter to Seminary Girls In a tradition dating back to the opening of the doors of the first seminary way back when in the fifties, the second week of Elul is host to an ingathering of exiles, so...
Holiness in Haifa Being a yeshiva student in Jerusalem is a wonderful experience. Aside from the learning, obviously, the people, places, and things to do never end. Indeed, I've fallen in...
Goodbye, But Not For Long
I and quite few other bochurim will be returning to Chutz La'aretz in just a few days. I can't wait for that flight. Not. I suppose I should be thankful though; Boruch...
The Old Candy Man and The Candy Store "Who can take tomorrow, dip it in a dream
Separate the sorrow and collect up all the cream
The Candy Man can, oh the Candy Man can
The Candy Man can 'cause he mixes...
I have a degree in, ahem, English literature, shall I'll take a swing (a sway?)…
The swaying is pretty interesting. I think it helps you focus, right? I think it's a bit like a form of meditation, in a way. I wonder if there's any research on the physiology of it all.
On another note, and not to interfere with your Shmirat Machshava… but as a scholar I would really be emphasizing the swinging element here. The element of going both ways, possibly being tempted by things on the sides, swaying between the two worlds, that kind of thing.
I heard a mashal about the soul being like a flame that flickers.
Anyway, nice poem. I'm glad you got to join them
-IsraeliMom
It does; hopefully. In fact, although during prayer some would say that it isn't allowed (one is supposed to stand, motionless, like a slave before his master), our sources permit the swaying if/because it arouses greater concentration.
Interesting idea re the swaying. Hadn't thought of it that way. Thanks for the chiddush!
-lvnsm
Thanks for the compliment and the sentiment.
I've also heard that moshel- I'm looking for a source for it. Will update here if I end up finding it.