- Choshvei Shemo links to a free PDF from Artscroll with the nusach of Birkat HaChamah, and also has a nice warning. An excerpt of his longer post:
L'havdil, any service - which I've heard some may be performing, involving a "salute to the sun" - i.e. in Yoga, or any other prayer or action directed at the sun is completely contrary to Judaism and The Torah. The blessing is to HaShem (G-d) with respect to His Creation of the Sun. Praying to the Sun, whether through word/s or action/s is idolatrous, a great sin, and absolutely an abomination and repugnant to Judaism.
- From the CRC, a statement about Medicines and Cosmetics which are fine for Pesach.
- Perhaps in contrast {??}, see at Life In Israel a psak to taste your deodorant to determine if it is problematic for Pesach.
- Hirhurim addresses Rav Bar-Haim's take on being matir kitniyot for Ashkenazim in Israel (and perhaps as well abroad).
- The Mukata has a post about an interesting archaeological find, and כל המקום אשר תדרך כף רגלכם בו –לכם יהיה, from Yehoshua 1:3
- Slashdot links to an article about doctors believing in medical treatments that don't work
- Little Green Footballs about how Bush bowed too. See my previous post about how Obama takes a bow
- Life In Israel about the vandalizing of an eruv in Kiryat HaYovel, and the chareidization of secular neighborhoods
Wednesday, April 08, 2009
Interesting Posts and Articles #138
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4 comments:
Yoga sun-salutations (at least in the forms that i've seen them) are about saluting, i.e., saying "hi" to the sun, not worshipping it. Choshvei Shemo might as well object to much of קידוש לבנה in which we speak to the moon.
to play devil's advocate, it is not just worship but also direction. in terms of kiddush hachama, it is certainly not directed at the sun (and this is perhaps the concern of Rabbi Yehuda that it is derech acheret); in terms of kiddush levana, I am not so certain -- it is God-directed in the Bracha, and is asking that Hashem instruct the sun; the only question is *perhaps* keshem sheAni roked kenegdeich.
In terms of yoga, it does not seem so clear. See these three Wikipedia articles on the true purpose behind this sun-salute:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surya_Namaskara
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surya_namaskara_chapter
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surya_Namaskar_Origins
"Surya Namaskara (IAST: Sūrya namaskāra) or Sun Salutation (lit. "salute to the sun"), is a common sequence of Hatha yoga asanas. Its origins lie in a worship of Surya, the Hindu solar deity. This sequence of movements and poses can be practised on varying levels of awareness, ranging from that of physical exercise in various styles, to a complete sadhana which incorporates asana, pranayama, mantra and chakra meditation..."
It might have been "koshered" up for secular or Jewish audiences...
kt,
josh
what i find interesting in terms of this and the moon is ברוך יוצרך etc which is clearly both directed AT the moon as well as ABOUT God.
ah. baruch yotzrech is a good point. i'm not sure how i would read the direction. it certainly seems directly directed at the moon, but is a way of addressing, and blessing God the creator...
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