When bringing forth Jewish wisdom teachings from primary text sources, at Embodied Jewish Learning we employ a method we call Embodied Pardes. We take one moment or line in Torah, liturgy or other source texts and apply the Pardes פרדס method, a traditional method of Torah Study where each letter of the word Pardes (orchard) represents a layer of Torah.
We employ this method through the lens of the body and kinesthetics:
Pey= Pshat =פשט Simple body parts or actions
Resh = Remez =רמז Hints at body elements or movements
Dalet = Drash = דרש Interpretations that can relate to the body's structure, functions, or movements
Samech = Sod =סוד Secret readings that reflect or relate to embodied practices
STEP 1: Identify key words
One person reads line 1 in Hebrew (if Hebrew is known), then second person reads line 1 in English. Or alternate reading lines in English, one line at a time.
Slowly take your time and pay attention to each word.
Discuss and circle or highlight words that refer to the body on any level of Pardes. (Body parts, elements, movements, or hints to bodily movements)
Write in the space after each line what you see.
Move on to line 2, and repeat this method.
STEP 2: Choose one or two of these words and move your body
Review your words circled on the sheet and select one or two key words to experience, play with, practice with movement modality of your choice together with your partner. Take yourselves through an entire movement sequence- movement-related, dance-related, yoga-related, breema, pilates, or other, and keep this concept in mind the entire time. Talk and share about what you notice in the body as you are moving - allow your imagination to flow, connect to other parts of the creation story or Torah. Take notes, capture all that you discover about where this word/idea/theme shows up in your body, in the movements as you go.
(א) בְּרֵאשִׁ֖ית בָּרָ֣א אֱלֹהִ֑ים אֵ֥ת הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם וְאֵ֥ת הָאָֽרֶץ׃
(1) When God began to create heaven and earth—
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