A new yoga and Jewish meditation program connects Eastern religious practices with Judaism. The program, which is held at the Hillel Foundation, features traditional benefits of yoga and meditation such as stress relief while also incorporating spiritual lessons. Rabbi Yitzchak Berman, who created the yoga and Jewish meditation program, is also the instructor. The program is a part of the “Jewish Meditation Center,” a series of programs running at the Hillel as part of a Jewish renewal effort.Berman said the spiritual ideas that make meditation important to Hinduism and Buddhism have a place in Judaism. He also said he takes all Buddhist and Hindu references out of his meditation and yoga routine.The program mixes traditional yoga positions and breathing meditation with Jewish spiritual ideas. “It’s a very unique thing you probably won’t have another five people in the country doing this,” Berman said.Berman has his participants, who are mostly Ohio State students, form yoga positions that resemble Hebrew letters. “I know some of the ideas that surround the letters, the numerical values and the spiritual dimension of the letters, so while we’re in the position I’ll give a little talk on each letter,” Berman said.During the breathing meditation Berman speaks about breathing using Hebrew words. “The Hebrew word for breath is neshima and the Hebrew word for soul is nashama,” Berman said. “I’ll say different things, with breath [neshima] were able to connect with our souls [nashama].”James Sulzer, a junior in mechanical engineering, said he has attended eight sessions of yoga and meditation since it began in September. “I’m pretty stressed out with classes and this is a real nice break ,” Sulzer said. “It gets your mind to focus on something else other than school and your social life.”Yoga and meditation can be stress relieving to people when they need to get away from the day-to-day grind, Berman said.The program has a core group of people that come and it is continuing to grow, Berman said. Yoga and Jewish meditation will continue at the Hillel throughout the year. The program is held Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7:30 P.M.