When bringing forth Jewish wisdom teachings from primary text sources 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
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
Begin with line 1. Study partner #1 reads line 1 in Hebrew (if Hebrew is known), then study partner #2 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.
For each line, pause and discuss - circle or highlight words that refer to the body on any level of Pardes. (Body parts, elements, movements, hints to bodily movements, etc.)
Write in the space after each line what you see.
Move on to line 2, and repeat.
Begin with line 1. Study partner #1 reads line 1 in Hebrew (if Hebrew is known), then study partner #2 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.
For each line, pause and discuss - circle or highlight words that refer to the body on any level of Pardes. (Body parts, elements, movements, hints to bodily movements, etc.)
Write in the space after each line what you see.
Move on to line 2, and repeat.
(א) וּמֹשֶׁ֗ה הָיָ֥ה רֹעֶ֛ה אֶת־צֹ֛אן יִתְר֥וֹ חֹתְנ֖וֹ כֹּהֵ֣ן מִדְיָ֑ן וַיִּנְהַ֤ג אֶת־הַצֹּאן֙ אַחַ֣ר הַמִּדְבָּ֔ר וַיָּבֹ֛א אֶל־הַ֥ר הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים חֹרֵֽבָה׃
(1) Now Moses, tending the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian, drove the flock into the wilderness, and came to Horeb, the mountain of God.
Key words in this line:
Where they appear in the body/movement:
Where they appear in the body/movement:
(ב) וַ֠יֵּרָא מַלְאַ֨ךְ יְהֹוָ֥ה אֵלָ֛יו בְּלַבַּת־אֵ֖שׁ מִתּ֣וֹךְ הַסְּנֶ֑ה וַיַּ֗רְא וְהִנֵּ֤ה הַסְּנֶה֙ בֹּעֵ֣ר בָּאֵ֔שׁ וְהַסְּנֶ֖ה אֵינֶ֥נּוּ אֻכָּֽל׃
(2) An angel of the LORD appeared to him in a blazing fire out of a bush. He gazed, and there was a bush all aflame, yet the bush was not consumed.
Key words in this line:
Where they appear in the body/movement:
Where they appear in the body/movement:
(ג) וַיֹּ֣אמֶר מֹשֶׁ֔ה אָסֻֽרָה־נָּ֣א וְאֶרְאֶ֔ה אֶת־הַמַּרְאֶ֥ה הַגָּדֹ֖ל הַזֶּ֑ה מַדּ֖וּעַ לֹא־יִבְעַ֥ר הַסְּנֶֽה׃
(3) Moses said, “I must turn aside to look at this marvelous sight; why doesn’t the bush burn up?”
Key words in this line:
Where they appear in the body/movement:
Where they appear in the body/movement:
(ד) וַיַּ֥רְא יְהוָ֖ה כִּ֣י סָ֣ר לִרְא֑וֹת וַיִּקְרָא֩ אֵלָ֨יו אֱלֹהִ֜ים מִתּ֣וֹךְ הַסְּנֶ֗ה וַיֹּ֛אמֶר מֹשֶׁ֥ה מֹשֶׁ֖ה וַיֹּ֥אמֶר הִנֵּֽנִי׃
(4) When the LORD saw that he had turned aside to look, God called to him out of the bush: “Moses! Moses!” He answered, “Here I am.”
Key words in this line:
Where they appear in the body/movement:
Where they appear in the body/movement:
(ה) וַיֹּ֖אמֶר אַל־תִּקְרַ֣ב הֲלֹ֑ם שַׁל־נְעָלֶ֙יךָ֙ מֵעַ֣ל רַגְלֶ֔יךָ כִּ֣י הַמָּק֗וֹם אֲשֶׁ֤ר אַתָּה֙ עוֹמֵ֣ד עָלָ֔יו אַדְמַת־קֹ֖דֶשׁ הֽוּא׃
(5) And He said, “Do not come closer. Remove your sandals from your feet, for the place on which you stand is holy ground.
Key words in this line:
Where they appear in the body/movement:
Where they appear in the body/movement:
(ו) וַיֹּ֗אמֶר אָנֹכִי֙ אֱלֹהֵ֣י אָבִ֔יךָ אֱלֹהֵ֧י אַבְרָהָ֛ם אֱלֹהֵ֥י יִצְחָ֖ק וֵאלֹהֵ֣י יַעֲקֹ֑ב וַיַּסְתֵּ֤ר מֹשֶׁה֙ פָּנָ֔יו כִּ֣י יָרֵ֔א מֵהַבִּ֖יט אֶל־הָאֱלֹהִֽים׃
(6) I am,” He said, “the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.
Key words in this line:
Where they appear in the body/movement:
Where they appear in the body/movement:
(ז) וַיֹּ֣אמֶר יְהוָ֔ה רָאֹ֥ה רָאִ֛יתִי אֶת־עֳנִ֥י עַמִּ֖י אֲשֶׁ֣ר בְּמִצְרָ֑יִם וְאֶת־צַעֲקָתָ֤ם שָׁמַ֙עְתִּי֙ מִפְּנֵ֣י נֹֽגְשָׂ֔יו כִּ֥י יָדַ֖עְתִּי אֶת־מַכְאֹבָֽיו׃
(7) And the LORD continued, “I have marked well the plight of My people in Egypt and have heeded their outcry because of their taskmasters; yes, I am mindful of their sufferings.
Key words in this line:
Where they appear in the body/movement:
Where they appear in the body/movement:
(ח) וָאֵרֵ֞ד לְהַצִּיל֣וֹ ׀ מִיַּ֣ד מִצְרַ֗יִם וּֽלְהַעֲלֹתוֹ֮ מִן־הָאָ֣רֶץ הַהִוא֒ אֶל־אֶ֤רֶץ טוֹבָה֙ וּרְחָבָ֔ה אֶל־אֶ֛רֶץ זָבַ֥ת חָלָ֖ב וּדְבָ֑שׁ אֶל־מְק֤וֹם הַֽכְּנַעֲנִי֙ וְהַ֣חִתִּ֔י וְהָֽאֱמֹרִי֙ וְהַפְּרִזִּ֔י וְהַחִוִּ֖י וְהַיְבוּסִֽי׃
(8) I have come down to rescue them from the Egyptians and to bring them out of that land to a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey, the region of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites.
Key words in this line:
Where they appear in the body/movement:
Where they appear in the body/movement:
(ט) וְעַתָּ֕ה הִנֵּ֛ה צַעֲקַ֥ת בְּנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל בָּ֣אָה אֵלָ֑י וְגַם־רָאִ֙יתִי֙ אֶת־הַלַּ֔חַץ אֲשֶׁ֥ר מִצְרַ֖יִם לֹחֲצִ֥ים אֹתָֽם׃
(9) Now the cry of the Israelites has reached Me; moreover, I have seen how the Egyptians oppress them.
Key words in this line:
Where they appear in the body/movement:
Where they appear in the body/movement:
(י) וְעַתָּ֣ה לְכָ֔ה וְאֶֽשְׁלָחֲךָ֖ אֶל־פַּרְעֹ֑ה וְהוֹצֵ֛א אֶת־עַמִּ֥י בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל מִמִּצְרָֽיִם׃
(10) Come, therefore, I will send you to Pharaoh, and you shall free My people, the Israelites, from Egypt.”
Key words in this line:
Where they appear in the body/movement:
Where they appear in the body/movement:
(יא) וַיֹּ֤אמֶר מֹשֶׁה֙ אֶל־הָ֣אֱלֹהִ֔ים מִ֣י אָנֹ֔כִי כִּ֥י אֵלֵ֖ךְ אֶל־פַּרְעֹ֑ה וְכִ֥י אוֹצִ֛יא אֶת־בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל מִמִּצְרָֽיִם׃
(11) But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and free the Israelites from Egypt?”
Key words in this line:
Where they appear in the body/movement:
Where they appear in the body/movement:
(יב) וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ כִּֽי־אֶֽהְיֶ֣ה עִמָּ֔ךְ וְזֶה־לְּךָ֣ הָא֔וֹת כִּ֥י אָנֹכִ֖י שְׁלַחְתִּ֑יךָ בְּהוֹצִֽיאֲךָ֤ אֶת־הָעָם֙ מִמִּצְרַ֔יִם תַּֽעַבְדוּן֙ אֶת־הָ֣אֱלֹהִ֔ים עַ֖ל הָהָ֥ר הַזֶּֽה׃
(12) And He said, “I will be with you; that shall be your sign that it was I who sent you. And when you have freed the people from Egypt, you shall worship God at this mountain.”
Key words in this line:
Where they appear in the body/movement:
Where they appear in the body/movement:
STEP 2: Choose One of These Words to Explore in Movement
Review your words circled on the sheet and select one or two key words to experience via a movement modality of your choice together with your partner. Take yourselves into movements or shapes that express this word or guide one another through an entire movement sequence (dance, yoga, breema, pilates, or other modality) 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 Exodus story or of 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.
Review your words circled on the sheet and select one or two key words to experience via a movement modality of your choice together with your partner. Take yourselves into movements or shapes that express this word or guide one another through an entire movement sequence (dance, yoga, breema, pilates, or other modality) 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 Exodus story or of 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.
STEP 3: Capture New Insights and Reflect Upon the Text
What did you discover?
How did including the body and movement in your study affect your understanding of the story?
What new insights do you have about the story? What new insights do you have about yourself?
What new questions do you have?
How did your exploration of any of the words/elements in this story shed light on these same words/elements elsewhere in Torah?
What did you discover?
How did including the body and movement in your study affect your understanding of the story?
What new insights do you have about the story? What new insights do you have about yourself?
What new questions do you have?
How did your exploration of any of the words/elements in this story shed light on these same words/elements elsewhere in Torah?