Joyce Schahter
Mindfulness meditation is simply lay language to describe relaxed states of mind available similarly through yoga, prayer, art, running, etc…  The question of how meditation can be “Jewish” comes up all the time.  You don’t have to be Jewish to breathe!  Focussing on the breath is a quintessential human practice and nondenominational, but we can use Hebrew mantras like “Sha-lom” (spoken silently) with the breath or focus on themes available through Torah, like “renewal” and “returning” post Rosh Hashana (taking a new breath: the next inhale, the metaphors are limitless…).  Contemplative practice is part of a Jewish spiritual life, whatever you want to name it!  Not to mention the benefits of meditation practice:  improved relaxation, increased self-knowledge, increased ability for self-care and stress management, improved empathy.