Rebbe Nachman and other Jewish mystical masters knew that the patterns of prayer could easily become rote and mechanical. They urged those seeking to pray to find ever new and renewed ways of connecting to the Holy One.

Bal Tashchit, the prohibition against waste, is a commandment against wasting or destroying anything needlessly. The prohibition is found in Deuteronomy (20:19-20),

When in your war against a city you have to besiege it for a long time in order to capture it, you must not destroy (bal tashchit) its fruit trees ... You may eat them but you must not destroy the fruit trees.

Later Jewish thinkers explained that bal tashchit applies to every person all of the time, encompassing the prohibitions against using more of something than is necessary, using something in a way it is not intended to be used and using something of greater value when something of lesser value could be used.

On this Shabbat we will honor mother nature and celebrate her bounties! Join us at 6:00 for a potluck and a short practice on mindfulness of eating/food appreciation. Come explore dance as prayer and prayer as dance as we re-imagine the Kabbalat Shabbat service incorporating movement, singing and improvisation. Anna Brady Marcus, BHA member and contemporary dancer will guide the group through circle dances, simple improvisations, and movement meditations. Terri Pahucki from the Universalist Unitarian Church will speak about Green Faith, an international interfaith environmental movement.  All ages are welcome. Children under age six will need close supervision from a parent.