Rooting Ourselves in the Infinite: Establishing a Spiritual Practice AM Classes Rabbi Shefa Gold Rabbi Shefa Gold As we attempt to do the work (and play) that we have been given to do in this life, using the fullness of our strength and inspiration and potential, it's so easy to get lost in that work, or be dragged down by it, or lose our wide perspective. Having a daily spiritual practice is a way of rooting ourselves in the infinite. It gives us access to our divine source, and a method for remembering the big picture. A spiritual practice is designed to create a spacious calm center from which to live and act in the world. During this workshop we will learn methods of awareness that can build the bridges between moments of deep silent being... and the busy doing of our lives. Through study, chant, meditation and self-examination, we will help each other to establish a daily practice that can nurture our connection to God.
AM Classes
Rabbi Shefa Gold
As we attempt to do the work (and play) that we have been given to do in this life, using the fullness of our strength and inspiration and potential, it's so easy to get lost in that work, or be dragged down by it, or lose our wide perspective. Having a daily spiritual practice is a way of rooting ourselves in the infinite. It gives us access to our divine source, and a method for remembering the big picture. A spiritual practice is designed to create a spacious calm center from which to live and act in the world. During this workshop we will learn methods of awareness that can build the bridges between moments of deep silent being... and the busy doing of our lives. Through study, chant, meditation and self-examination, we will help each other to establish a daily practice that can nurture our connection to God.
Awakening the Inner Artist Shonna Husbands-Hankin Step into the sacred circle of colors, vision and spirit as we access the internal River of Light and Wisdom that flows within. This class will be a fun and playful journey through the forest of colors/textures and design. We will search our inner voices and visions to find a place of nurturance that seeks to be rekindled. Explore the joys of creative, non-judgmental expression using art as a tool for personal reflection, healing and change. Calling forth images, dreams, personal stories, emotions and spirit, we will explore expressive pieces through drawing, acrylic painting, oil pastels and creating celebratory ritual bowls. For all levels of experience. Open studio space will be available to work/play outside of class time. Bring: sketchbook/journal, pencils, brushes, 3-4 small bottles of acrylic paint and a favorite poem, prayer or journal entry that speaks to you. Materials fee $20.
Step into the sacred circle of colors, vision and spirit as we access the internal River of Light and Wisdom that flows within. This class will be a fun and playful journey through the forest of colors/textures and design. We will search our inner voices and visions to find a place of nurturance that seeks to be rekindled. Explore the joys of creative, non-judgmental expression using art as a tool for personal reflection, healing and change. Calling forth images, dreams, personal stories, emotions and spirit, we will explore expressive pieces through drawing, acrylic painting, oil pastels and creating celebratory ritual bowls. For all levels of experience. Open studio space will be available to work/play outside of class time. Bring: sketchbook/journal, pencils, brushes, 3-4 small bottles of acrylic paint and a favorite poem, prayer or journal entry that speaks to you. Materials fee $20.
Jewish Sacred Dance- Becoming a Divine Dwelling Place Latifa Kropf Latifa Kropf Praise God with drum and dance...Let every breath of life praise Yah, Halleluyah! Using these lines from Psalm 150 as our inspiration, we will use Jewish Sacred Dance and other spiritual practices to create a mishkan, a vessel, for the Divine Presence. Through the dances, which combine simple movements with sacred phrases, we access joy, peace, love, majesty and other Divine qualities, becoming vehicles for manifesting them in this world. In liturgical settings these dances are potent tools which bring the whole self into the davvenning experience. Weaving and layering movement and stillness, prayer and silence, we will find our awareness expanding outward to the majesty of the world around us and tuning inward to the subtlety of our inner experiences. This class is intended to provide a deep experience and encounter with the Divine in the moment and sufficient depth and practice for the participants to lead dances in their home communities.
Latifa Kropf
Praise God with drum and dance...Let every breath of life praise Yah, Halleluyah! Using these lines from Psalm 150 as our inspiration, we will use Jewish Sacred Dance and other spiritual practices to create a mishkan, a vessel, for the Divine Presence. Through the dances, which combine simple movements with sacred phrases, we access joy, peace, love, majesty and other Divine qualities, becoming vehicles for manifesting them in this world. In liturgical settings these dances are potent tools which bring the whole self into the davvenning experience. Weaving and layering movement and stillness, prayer and silence, we will find our awareness expanding outward to the majesty of the world around us and tuning inward to the subtlety of our inner experiences. This class is intended to provide a deep experience and encounter with the Divine in the moment and sufficient depth and practice for the participants to lead dances in their home communities.
Building a New Foundation: Fault Lines of Religious Renewal Rabbi Shaul Magid For a religious community to grow it must periodically question the motives that underlie its religious decisions. In this class, we will study a series of texts that serve as foundations for religious renewal in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. We will read from Pirke Avot, the Ba'al Shem Tov, Sufi master Ibn Arabi, Abraham Joshua Heschel, Zalman Schacter-Shalomi, and the Rule of St. Benedict (the foundational text of monastic Christianity). In attempting to renew their respective religions, the authors of these texts showcase deficiencies in existing practices and suggest ways of overcoming them. But these texts, too, have their fault lines, or gaps in thinking, that require repair. Shaul will guide the class through a process of critical reading that will allow participants to see the fault lines in renewal texts so that we can use the texts while building responsibly around and not on, the fault lines.
For a religious community to grow it must periodically question the motives that underlie its religious decisions. In this class, we will study a series of texts that serve as foundations for religious renewal in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. We will read from Pirke Avot, the Ba'al Shem Tov, Sufi master Ibn Arabi, Abraham Joshua Heschel, Zalman Schacter-Shalomi, and the Rule of St. Benedict (the foundational text of monastic Christianity). In attempting to renew their respective religions, the authors of these texts showcase deficiencies in existing practices and suggest ways of overcoming them. But these texts, too, have their fault lines, or gaps in thinking, that require repair. Shaul will guide the class through a process of critical reading that will allow participants to see the fault lines in renewal texts so that we can use the texts while building responsibly around and not on, the fault lines.
Be Still and Know that I am God. (Psalm # 46) An Experiential Workshop in Meditative Kabbalah Mindy Ribner . . Devekut, cleaving to God is the goal of all Jewish spiritual and meditative practice. When we make a God connection, we are happier and have more love in our hearts for all of creation, including ourselves. We are able to let go of limiting concepts of self, and are given direct insight into the deeper questions of life. Jewish meditation is an ancient tradition thousands of years old. Within Kabbalah are powerful teachings, which will heighten your spiritual awareness and transform your life. In this week, we will draw on the meditative practices of Rabbis Isaac Luria, Abraham Abulafia, Joseph Gikatilla, Nachman of Breslov, Ibn Paquada, the Alter Rebbe of Lubavitch, and others. We will use powerful breathing and visualization techniques along with chanting, and dyad and group process. Previous meditative experience recommended.
. . Devekut, cleaving to God is the goal of all Jewish spiritual and meditative practice. When we make a God connection, we are happier and have more love in our hearts for all of creation, including ourselves. We are able to let go of limiting concepts of self, and are given direct insight into the deeper questions of life. Jewish meditation is an ancient tradition thousands of years old. Within Kabbalah are powerful teachings, which will heighten your spiritual awareness and transform your life. In this week, we will draw on the meditative practices of Rabbis Isaac Luria, Abraham Abulafia, Joseph Gikatilla, Nachman of Breslov, Ibn Paquada, the Alter Rebbe of Lubavitch, and others. We will use powerful breathing and visualization techniques along with chanting, and dyad and group process. Previous meditative experience recommended.
Becoming Compassionate: Self-Knowledge for Transforming Yourself and the World Rabbi David Zeller The wisdom of the Jewish sages about the nature of the soul offers us profound possibilities to change our relationship to our sense of Self, to others, and to our global environment. Understanding the Divine architecture of the universe as expressed through the Sefirot, the ten Divine qualities that form the Kabbalistic Tree of Life, we can see ourselves in a different light. These attributes guide and nurture us through the stages of our psycho-spiritual development. In this course we will study and participate in practices derived from Hasidic texts. We will experience their meditative and psychological exercises as well as their insights on personality and life. Story telling and song will enhance these teachings, and through this deep exploration of self, we will each enrich our soul-based identity.
The wisdom of the Jewish sages about the nature of the soul offers us profound possibilities to change our relationship to our sense of Self, to others, and to our global environment. Understanding the Divine architecture of the universe as expressed through the Sefirot, the ten Divine qualities that form the Kabbalistic Tree of Life, we can see ourselves in a different light. These attributes guide and nurture us through the stages of our psycho-spiritual development. In this course we will study and participate in practices derived from Hasidic texts. We will experience their meditative and psychological exercises as well as their insights on personality and life. Story telling and song will enhance these teachings, and through this deep exploration of self, we will each enrich our soul-based identity.
The Ebb and Flow of the Spiritual Journey Rabbi Elliot Ginsburg PM Classes Barbara Breitman & Rabbi Elliot Ginsburg Barbara Breitman The challenge of being on the spiritual path for a lifetime is how to sustain ourselves through the ebb and flow of Divine Vitality in our lives. How do we work with a practice when we are feeling dry and exhausted? How do we cultivate glimpses of the Eternal at times when we have forgotten? How can we do deep remembering? How can we see the important relationships in our daily life as part of the spiritual path? How do we find the well-springs even in the desert? In this course, we will explore faith and doubt, the broken heart that is also the open heart, feeling dry and feeling irrigated, the dark night of the soul, spiritual friendship and spiritual direction. We will draw on teachings from the Jewish mystical and midrashic traditions and bring them together with the narratives of our own journeys. Our method of exploration with be rooted in text study, meditation, chant and movement, and improvisational and experiential exercises. We hope to create an openhearted community and to learn together about the journey of our souls.
Rabbi Elliot Ginsburg
PM Classes
Barbara Breitman
The challenge of being on the spiritual path for a lifetime is how to sustain ourselves through the ebb and flow of Divine Vitality in our lives. How do we work with a practice when we are feeling dry and exhausted? How do we cultivate glimpses of the Eternal at times when we have forgotten? How can we do deep remembering? How can we see the important relationships in our daily life as part of the spiritual path? How do we find the well-springs even in the desert? In this course, we will explore faith and doubt, the broken heart that is also the open heart, feeling dry and feeling irrigated, the dark night of the soul, spiritual friendship and spiritual direction. We will draw on teachings from the Jewish mystical and midrashic traditions and bring them together with the narratives of our own journeys. Our method of exploration with be rooted in text study, meditation, chant and movement, and improvisational and experiential exercises. We hope to create an openhearted community and to learn together about the journey of our souls.
In Sight of the Divine David Friedman This course will begin with an intimate look at the Supernal Faces (Partzufim) of the Kabbalah. The Partzufim comprise a Divine Family grandparents, parents, and children - whose faces are seen in prophetic visions described in some of the deepest and most beautiful parts of the Zohar, our primary Kabbalistic text. These profound passages, filled with mystical imagery, can help us become more aware of how we too are reflections of the Divine. As we confront the faces, some mature and unconditional, others immature and demanding, we will take time to look inside of our selves and meditate. Then we will use our own faces, courageously allowing creative expressions to emerge from our inner depths. We will describe these manifestations of ourselves as words or images, written or drawn on paper using pens, pencils, crayons or markers. Bring a small mirror and any other art supplies that you may wish to use to capture your own unique Divine reflection.
This course will begin with an intimate look at the Supernal Faces (Partzufim) of the Kabbalah. The Partzufim comprise a Divine Family grandparents, parents, and children - whose faces are seen in prophetic visions described in some of the deepest and most beautiful parts of the Zohar, our primary Kabbalistic text. These profound passages, filled with mystical imagery, can help us become more aware of how we too are reflections of the Divine. As we confront the faces, some mature and unconditional, others immature and demanding, we will take time to look inside of our selves and meditate. Then we will use our own faces, courageously allowing creative expressions to emerge from our inner depths. We will describe these manifestations of ourselves as words or images, written or drawn on paper using pens, pencils, crayons or markers. Bring a small mirror and any other art supplies that you may wish to use to capture your own unique Divine reflection.
The Heart of Peace in the Heart of Darkness Rabbi Lynn Gottlieb Rabbi Lynn Gottlieb The Torah teaches: Remember to blot out the name of Amalek. We also learn: Love your neighbor as yourself. These two Biblical voices represent the shadow and light of our tradition and our own souls. Our hope for a peaceful world and a viable peace with Palestinians demands that we transform Jewish fear into Jewish love. Share a week of ceremony, guided meditation, storytelling, drumming and text study as we move through a healing journey toward compassion. We will spend each afternoon following the trail of compassion in our tradition through biblical, rabbinic, kabbalistic and current Jewish responses to suffering and transformation. The week will end with a guest from the Palestinian community who will share a vision of a viable peace. This class is open to teens as well as adults.
Rabbi Lynn Gottlieb
The Torah teaches: Remember to blot out the name of Amalek. We also learn: Love your neighbor as yourself. These two Biblical voices represent the shadow and light of our tradition and our own souls. Our hope for a peaceful world and a viable peace with Palestinians demands that we transform Jewish fear into Jewish love. Share a week of ceremony, guided meditation, storytelling, drumming and text study as we move through a healing journey toward compassion. We will spend each afternoon following the trail of compassion in our tradition through biblical, rabbinic, kabbalistic and current Jewish responses to suffering and transformation. The week will end with a guest from the Palestinian community who will share a vision of a viable peace. This class is open to teens as well as adults.
Panim el Panim - Face to Face: A Mask-Making Workshop Carol Kestler Masks have been used since the beginning of human history in healing, rites of passage, myth-making, and transformational celebrations, to help disclose basic realities of human experience. In Kabbalistic texts and teachings, images of face are central. Yet Jewish tradition includes diametrically opposite attitudes towards masks from masquerading at Purim to absolute prohibition. In this class we will create our own masks of transformation. In building our masks, we will give them voice and movement and discover their relationships to our inner beings, finding the courage to stand face to face with ourselves and others and then face our personal challenges unmasked. Participants should wear easy, washable clothing or an old shirt or smock. Please also bring personal items to decorate your mask or to trade, including bits of paper or fabric, trims, badges, medals, amulets, buttons, sequins, etc.
Masks have been used since the beginning of human history in healing, rites of passage, myth-making, and transformational celebrations, to help disclose basic realities of human experience. In Kabbalistic texts and teachings, images of face are central. Yet Jewish tradition includes diametrically opposite attitudes towards masks from masquerading at Purim to absolute prohibition. In this class we will create our own masks of transformation. In building our masks, we will give them voice and movement and discover their relationships to our inner beings, finding the courage to stand face to face with ourselves and others and then face our personal challenges unmasked. Participants should wear easy, washable clothing or an old shirt or smock. Please also bring personal items to decorate your mask or to trade, including bits of paper or fabric, trims, badges, medals, amulets, buttons, sequins, etc.
The Beat of the Heart: A Drumming Workshop Steve Schwartz Music is crucial to Jewish culture and spirituality because it can take us out of the intellectual, the worldly, the tangible. And, in music, there is nothing quite as primal as the drum. Before we ever become conscious beings, we have been hearing the rhythm of our mothers' hearts. The rhythms we carry with us can be elegantly simple or extraordinarily complex. They are already present in us, and drumming brings them out. In this workshop, we'll address our intellectual, emotional, and spiritual selves on the path to playing our instruments with clear thought and total abandon. We'll shut out the noise from outside and let out the joyful noise from inside. Drumming experience is not necessary. Participants must supply their own drum.
Music is crucial to Jewish culture and spirituality because it can take us out of the intellectual, the worldly, the tangible. And, in music, there is nothing quite as primal as the drum. Before we ever become conscious beings, we have been hearing the rhythm of our mothers' hearts. The rhythms we carry with us can be elegantly simple or extraordinarily complex. They are already present in us, and drumming brings them out. In this workshop, we'll address our intellectual, emotional, and spiritual selves on the path to playing our instruments with clear thought and total abandon. We'll shut out the noise from outside and let out the joyful noise from inside. Drumming experience is not necessary. Participants must supply their own drum.
Way of the Sacred Journey: An Introduction to the Thirty-Two Paths of Mystery Wisdom Rabbi Gershon Winkler Within thirty two paths of mystery wisdom did the Single Mover of the Many Forces carve out the universe. Sefer Yetsirah 1:1 The God Name Elo-heem is mentioned 32 times in the Creation story told in the first chapters of the Torah. The ancient Kabbalists taught that these repetitions correspond to thirty two paths of personal self-unfolding, planes of consciousness that parallel thirty two phases of primordial manifestation of Creator in Creation. These paths correspond also to the attributes of thirty-two animals highlighted in the ancient Hebrew oral and textual traditions. Through the sacred rites of deep-belly humor, passionate chanting, and meditation, you will explore a dimension of the Kabbalah barely touched in modern times, by a teacher who has dared to venture beyond the norms of conventional mystical knowledge and practice.
Within thirty two paths of mystery wisdom did the Single Mover of the Many Forces carve out the universe. Sefer Yetsirah 1:1 The God Name Elo-heem is mentioned 32 times in the Creation story told in the first chapters of the Torah. The ancient Kabbalists taught that these repetitions correspond to thirty two paths of personal self-unfolding, planes of consciousness that parallel thirty two phases of primordial manifestation of Creator in Creation. These paths correspond also to the attributes of thirty-two animals highlighted in the ancient Hebrew oral and textual traditions. Through the sacred rites of deep-belly humor, passionate chanting, and meditation, you will explore a dimension of the Kabbalah barely touched in modern times, by a teacher who has dared to venture beyond the norms of conventional mystical knowledge and practice.