Mindfulness and MBSR: Halachic Concerns Every Jew Should Know
In today’s culture of constant stress and overstimulation, many people, Jews included, are turning to mindfulness and related therapies for...
We all feel frazzled between constant notifications, endless to-do lists, and mounting pressure. While meditation offers proven benefits, most practices don’t align with Jewish law.
That’s where Kosher Meditation comes in.
Your body has two opposing systems: the stress response and the relaxation response. While the stress response prepares you for danger, triggering hormones that increase heart rate and blood pressure, the relaxation response does the opposite. It’s your body’s natural healing mode.
The Lubavitcher Rebbe’s Meditation Guidelines
The Lubavitcher Rebbe offered clear and practical guidance on the use of meditation—not as a spiritual discipline, but as a therapeutic tool for individuals facing specific challenges. His approach framed meditation as a temporary aid for managing stress-related difficulties, rather than a path toward mystical or spiritual transcendence.
Meditation may be helpful for individuals experiencing:
The Rebbe emphasized that meditation should be approached like a medical intervention: used intentionally, temporarily, and only as needed.
Time per Session: 15 to 20 minutes
This duration is generally sufficient to activate the body’s natural relaxation response. Too little may be ineffective; too much can be counterproductive. If this length causes discomfort, try shorter sessions. If discomfort persists, pause the practice.
Frequency: Twice daily
Ideally, once in the morning and once later in the day—preferably before meals. Allow about 8–10 hours between sessions.
Duration of Use: Temporary
Meditation should be practiced only as long as the symptoms persist. Once resolved, the regular practice should be discontinued. If symptoms return, meditation can be resumed until relief is again achieved.
Safety:
If meditation creates discomfort or emotional unease, stop and reassess before continuing.
What’s Omitted in Kosher Meditation
To maintain a halachically safe and religiously appropriate framework, kosher meditation excludes:
Practical Guidelines for Kosher Meditation
Kosher meditation uses the silent repetition of a chosen focus word to help trigger the body’s natural relaxation response.
Rabbi Aryeh Siegel’s five-decade exploration of meditation benefits from his academic background in research and his spiritual path. A former senior executive in the Transcendental Meditation (TM) organization, he left in 1980 over concerns about its Hindu religious elements being marketed as a secular practice.
The turning point in Rabbi Siegel’s journey came when he learned of Rabbi Menachem Schneerson’s revolutionary vision: meditation could align with Jewish law and be therapeutically potent. The Rebbe’s insight inspired Siegel to explore meditation techniques harmonizing with Jewish law while preserving their stress-reduction benefits.
Today, Rabbi Siegel, author of “Transcendental Deception” and a federal court expert witness on TM in public schools, continues to teach and write about meditation’s role in health and healing through a Jewish lens. His work reflects the Rebbe’s wisdom that meditation can serve both body and soul without compromising religious principles.
Kosher Meditation serves as your spiritual GPS, offering a way to find tranquility. We provide Jewish-aligned techniques for finding your center without compromising on halacha.
Also available in all Jewish bookstores and online book-sellers.
Research shows that meditation consistently triggers this response, leading to:
Customers
Kosher Calm seamlessly merges meditation with science while maintaining deep respect for Jewish tradition. For our ZAKA volunteers, who confront trauma almost daily, we needed a meditation program that understood them and honored their values. Kosher Calm delivers exactly that.
Head of ZAKA's Resilience Division
I thought this book was extremely informative while written in an easy going style. I had no idea this type of therapeutic meditation was available in Judaism. This is a “how to” book that delivers. The animation was very helpful and I have watched it several times. I also appreciated the review of non- kosher practices.
Customers
Reb Aryeh Siegel has answered the Rebbe's call and created a profound book to alleviate stress. The Rebbe asked medical professionals to develop effective kosher meditation practices. This book embodies that vision.
Rosh Kollel of IYYUN
I wasn’t sure what to expect when I picked up Kosher Calm, but it turned out to be one of the most useful books I’ve read in quite a while. What impressed me most is that it’s not mystical or over the top—just solid, practical advice rooted in Jewish traditions for managing stress effectively.
Customers
In an era of extreme anxiety and global upheaval, Kosher Calm provides essential resources for finding peace while remaining true to tradition.
Author of The Positivity Bias
I always had the impression that intention determined if yoga was a religious practice or not. Aryeh Siegel opened my eyes to the fact that actions alone matter. Most yoga instructors are, in fact, leading a devotional practice to Hindu gods.
Customers
Rabbi Siegel speaks with authority from decades of experience in both Hindu Transcendental Meditation and orthodox Judaism. Kosher Calm presents meditation practices accessible to practitioners of any faith.
Religious Studies, Indiana University
Very grateful this book was recommended to me. It’s helped me begin the practice of meditation I had been wanting to try for so long and although I just started, I can already feel positive shifts in how I feel.
Customers
As a Rabbi who has seen thousands of Jewish travelers seeking spirituality in India, I strongly recommend Kosher Calm. It offers an effective technique for managing stress without religious conflicts.
Emissary of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Dharamsala, India
Rabbi Siegel presents evidence-based stress management tools that align with Jewish law and tradition, skillfully combining the Lubavitcher Rebbe's wisdom with contemporary research.
Board-Certified Psychiatrist
“I’d given up on meditation until I found this.”
father of 4, Lakewood, NJ
“Finally, a technique I can use without worrying about avodah zarah.”
seminary teacher, Jerusalem
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Kosher Calm is not only very well written—it’s incredibly eye-opening. While its primary focus is on teaching a kosher form of meditation, the chapters on mindfulness, yoga, and especially Hindu-based meditations like Transcendental Meditation stood out most to me.