Elevator Meditation

By Hebrew Seminary President Rabbi Dr. Douglas Goldhamer

Here is a short meditation to rid ourselves of anxiety. We have all been going though an anxious time recently, worrying about COVID-19.  

  1.  Close your eyes.  Breathe in through your nose, and out through your nostrils three times.  
  2. Join me in saying this: “TRUST IN HASHEM WITH ALL YOUR HEART. DON’T DEPEND ON YOUR OWN UNDERSTANDING.  ACKNOWLEDGE HIM IN ALL YOUR WAYS. THEN HE WILL DIRECT YOUR PATHS.’
  3. Now put both your hands on your heart and say to yourself silently, as a mantra, again: “TRUST IN HASHEM WITH ALL YOUR HEART. DON’T DEPEND ON YOUR OWN UNDERSTANDING.  ACKNOWLEDGE HIM IN ALL YOUR WAYS. THEN HE WILL DIRECT YOUR PATHS.”
  4. What does this mean?  Don’t worry:  Acknowledge Him means Praise Him. Say blessings. If I trust in Hashem, He will direct my paths.
  5. Now, see yourself entering an ELEVATOR at the 15th floor.
  6. Press the button G for ground floor.  
  7. Visualize the doors closing, and the elevator begins to descend.  See the panel of numbers on the wall of the elevator.
  8. As you pass each floor , the floor numbers light up – 14, 13, 12, 11…..
  9. Visualize and feel the elevator reach the ground floor. The doors open and you emerge from the elevator –your anxiety is gone.  You are anxiety free.
  10. Breathe in through your nostrils and out through your mouth three times.  When you are ready, open your eyes.