Wise-Hearted Parsha Vayakhel

Feb 24

Feb 24 Wise-Hearted: Parsha Vayakhel

“Let all those wise of heart come and do”—Exodus 35:10. What does it mean to be wise hearted ?

Our heart is a full being, abundant with its own wisdom. Yes it feels deeply. It also the source of our stream of guidance . Kabbalah teaches that the heart is rooted in the Shehina (feminine divine presence ) , connecting our heart tunes us into the pulsation of the entire world .

Ways to tap into your heart

ask your heart questions and listen to the response . This takes patience and quietude.
Bring your hands to your chest and breathe into the abodes of the heart . Feel the back of the heart (your support) the sides of your heart (your expansiveness) and the front of your heart (your gift of love forward)
Pray from “below your collarbones” drop down from the mind into your beating heart

Our heart is a complete being, abundant with its own wisdom. Yes, it feels deeply. It is also the source of our stream of guidance. Kabbalah teaches that the heart is rooted in the Shehina (feminine divine presence), connecting our heart tunes us into the pulsation of the entire world.

Here are some ways I’ve found helpful to tap into the wisdom of the heart:

- Ask your heart questions and listen to the response. This takes patience and quietude.

- Bring your hands to your chest and breathe into the abodes of the heart. Feel the back of the heart (your support), the sides of your heart (your expansiveness), and the front of your heart (your gift of love forward).

- Pray from "below your collarbones," dropping down from the mind into your beating heart.

The Ishbitzer Rebbe taught that each element of the tabernacle symbolizes a different aspect of the human body. Parsha Vayakhel provides guidance on constructing God’s dwelling place, the Mishkan. Among all the vessels in the Tabernacle, only two were made of pure gold: the lid of the Ark and the Candelabrum.

The Lid of the Ark symbolizes the physical heart, while the Candelabrum represents the physical eyes.

These two elements are considered the most sensitive and pure in the body. The Torah emphasizes the importance of safeguarding what we see and feel, suggesting that emotional intelligence is more significant than mere intellectual intelligence. We are endowed with the freedom to direct our gaze towards positive, sacred, and uplifting sights and images. What we perceive profoundly affects us and stirs our hearts. Perhaps this is why the Torah describes men and women as "wise-hearted." Our emotional intelligence is refined when we protect our eyes and thoughts to nurture a healthy heart-space.

“And all the women that were wise-hearted did spin with their hands, and brought that which they had spun, the blue, and the purple, the scarlet, and the fine linen.” (Exodus 35:25)

Meditation:

These wise-hearted women spun cloths for the tabernacle, the portable sanctuary in the desert. Close your eyes and place both hands on your heart. Visualize your heart-space as adorned with rich, luxurious colors of blue, purple, or scarlet. Hold your heart in your hands as you imagine it as a sanctuary, an altar.

What does it mean to be wise-hearted? This week, practice listening to the wisdom of your heart. Where is your heart leading you? How can you transform your heart into an altar?

Yoga on the mat provides us with an opportunity to reset our gaze and thoughts, allowing us to tap into the wisdom of the heart, our heart of Pure Gold.

Become wise-hearted by subscribing to our online Jewish Yoga & Meditation Portal:

4-minute Parsha Song & Animation on being “Wise-Hearted”

Would love to hear from you! Please offer your thoughts or questions below:

Let’s Connect!

Intentful and Inventive teacher, Jenna Zadaka, MA: CF-SLP, RYT, blends Jewish ancient wisdom and modern mindfulness and movement practices into a feminine, rejuvenative practice. She crafts innovative somatic sequencing to harmonize with the energetic teachings of the Jewish cyclical calendar. Jenna offers specialized prenatal and postpartum yoga classes, as well as energizing Vinyasa flow classes for women. In 2015, Jenna completed her 200-hour certification in Jerusalem with Kinneret Yoga and is RYT-200 certified. Since then, she has taught weekly yoga in many communities including Jerusalem, New York, Minneapolis, and Boulder,CO, as well as at holiday retreats, festivals, events, and schools. Jenna leads workshops, classes, women circles, and meditation series delving into Jewish mysticism, Jewish Chassidic thought, and the inner teachings of the month or holiday.

Contact