Rabbi Carl M. Perkins
Cantor Jamie Gloth 
David A. Farbman, President
WE ARE ONE WITH NATURE
by Wendy Bornstein
On Sunday, March 11 th , seventeen members of Temple Aliyah left their busy lives and journeyed close to 120 miles for a two-day yoga retreat at the Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health, located in the tranquil Berkshire Mountains in Stockbridge. 

We checked in and quickly went to an orientation led by our group organizer Alan Teperow, TA’s Director of Engagement.
As an ice-breaker, we each introduced ourselves and were challenged to several questions as we moved seat positions after each to get to know several group members. 
Questions revolved around our relationships with spirituality, community, Judaism and nature. 
These became the themes we would explore during the retreat. 
Throughout the afternoon we could choose from a variety of R&R programs, including Yoga Dance, massage, healing arts and “Deep Unwind for Body and Mind” - a class that taught breathing exercises, mild meditation and journalizing our free flowing ideas. As the afternoon progressed we were invited to participate in various levels of yoga according to each person’s ability and background.  
At our group’s private dinner, Rabbi Perkins shared a reading from Psalms and an historic perspective on Judaism’s relationship to nature. He explained that many of our holidays are related to the seasons and most of our rituals express gratitude for the gifts from nature of the food we eat. The significance of bread throughout our practice is fascinating and ties into many of our traditions today.  
Following dinner we had a program on Meditation and Mindfulness. Through guided exercises we were introduced into a method of meditation that allowed us to slow down physically and get into a space where we could meditate. 
We gathered after this program for a reception and conversation, enabling us to strengthen old friendships and develop new ones.
We began to develop deeper bonds and spirituality together through heightened awareness of our common interests. 
On Monday, those who were adventurous attended early morning yoga classes at 6:30 am followed by a silent breakfast. Embracing silence was an amazing opportunity to observe the environment around us and appreciate our food through enhanced mindfulness.
During a Shacharit Gathering group circle we shared morning prayers and personal readings reflecting our relationship with nature. This was accompanied by vocal and recorded music, moments of silence, and the haunting sound of a native American flute, offered by Suzanne Hanser.
We were invited to further explore our oneness with nature as we participated in a group hike around the wooded 400 acres of the Kripalu complex later that morning.
We were given snowshoes and hiked along the snow driven trails and surrounding terrain.
During the hike we had opportunity for silent meditation and observance, thus continuing the theme of our being one with nature.
Following lunch we had one last structured session with a talk led by Micah Mortali, a senior scholar at Kripalu. Micah lead a conversation with Rabbi Perkins on the “Eastern and Western Perspectives on the Spiritual Benefits of Nature.” Micah shared some of his recent research on “Nature Deficit Disorder,” offering a slide showing common causes of this disorder, many of its symptoms correlating with our daily lives. 
Rabbi Perkins complemented this perspective by sharing Psalm 23, “The Lord is My Shepard,” that ties Judaism and our worship to the importance of nature and the earth we walk on. This session heightened our awareness to the importance of stepping back and looking at how we can improve our daily routines to better embrace nature.  

As we came to the end of our program, we moved outdoors for closing thoughts amidst the natural beauty of the Berkshires and one last opportunity for a closing blessing. We were encouraged to go around the circle and share our final reflections on our experience. 

We arrived to Kripalu as individuals but left with a new sense of community. Although I speak only for myself, I believe each member of our group left feeling a much stronger connection with our faith, our spiritualism and appreciation for the world surrounding us.  
It is with much gratitude to our group organizers that we were able to participate in this program at Kripalu, and hope that we can return again next year. If you have never been to Kripalu please feel free to email Alan Teperow to learn more about how you can become a part of our group next year.