Institute for Jewish Spirituality

What is Jewish Spirituality, and Why is it Vital for the Jewish Present and Future? Even before the Covid-19 pandemic, Jewish spiritual practices like Jewish meditation, Jewish yoga, and contemplative Torah study were becoming increasingly mainstream. The pandemic only accelerated these trends, as record numbers of people sought out meaningful Jewish spiritual practices in which to engage alongside others while still remaining at home. How is this boom impacting the present and future of Jewish life? Explore these questions and more with IJS President & CEO, Rabbi Josh Feigelson, tomorrow, September 19, from 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm ET. Register here: https://bit.ly/4gv2FNt

As Jews of Color, it can be particularly difficult to find moments of rest, slowness, and renewal. And yet dwelling in stillness grows our potential capacity to express greater liberation in body, mind, and soul. In this monthly collective space, we come together with Jews of Color to be in a community of practice enabling us to to slow down together and take a mindful pause. Dedicated to JoC, in the month of Iyar, the space will be led by Dr. Imani Romney-Rosa Chapman, the founder and director of imani strategies, llc, and hosts Kohenet Keshira haLev Fife and Yoshi Silverstein. We are thrilled to be joined by Dr. Chapman, a powerful, dynamic, faith-filled, compassionate change leader for equity. Dr. Chapman has more than 30 years of experience developing curriculum, organizing, and educating for social justice. As her name suggests, Imani/Emunah [faith], her faith drives her to co-create brave and inclusive environments for learning, growth and justice. Her work with stakeholders in religious communities, secular communities, schools and non-profit organizations has helped root their efforts for sustained change. Registration is at no cost to participants. This space will be one part inspiration, one part meditation, one part community connection — we hope you’ll join us next Wednesday, May 8 at 12 PM ET LIVE on ZOOM! Register HERE #jewsofcolor #jewishspirituality #jewishmeditation #passovermeditation #kohenet #freemeditation #jewishmindfulness #liberation

"I write about this line virtually every year. Yet quite honestly I usually dodge the challenge presented by that very last clause, the one about striking the whole land with utter destruction. Too hard, not relevant,?I tell myself. In this year, however, that simply isn't and cannot be the case. There is literal destruction in the land and, with it, enormous destruction that has occurred in our language, our relationships, our people, our families, our hearts. And it's the fear of seeing that destruction reflected at the Seder table that is freaking me out."

Preparing for an upcoming Passover Seder with guests of varying perspectives? ?? Equip yourself with valuable insights and strategies by listening to the newest episode of Soulful Jewish Living with @Rabbi Josh Feigelson, President and CEO of IJS at:https://bit.ly/3BL8lje or wherever you get your podcasts. #SoulfulJewishLiving #Passover #Podcast

What does the Jewish faith, animated by the concept of love, have to say about social justice and injustice? About the responsibilities to the people in our lives? About faith and practice? In his book, Judaism is About Love, Rabbi Shai Held, President and Dean at the @Hadar Institute, argues that a long-standing misinterpretation of Jewish tradition has resulted in a false binary: that Christianity is about love, while Judaism is about law. He posits that the fact of this misrepresentation calls out for a correction: to restore the concept of Judaism as profoundly focused on love. In his conversation with IJS President and CEO, Rabbi @JoshFeigelson, Rabbi Held explored questions generated by his intellectual and theological discoveries. Their discussion dug into the ways in which love is a radical and moving center of Judaism, and how this truth can illuminate the heart of the tradition for us in our everyday lives. Listen HERE

Nearly twenty years ago my family and I moved to Evanston, Illinois. I had just been ordained a month earlier, our son Micah had just been born two weeks prior, and we moved into an empty condo apartment two blocks from the Northwestern University Hillel, where I had taken a job as the campus rabbi. Natalie and I had rented apartments in New York up until then, and this was the first place we owned. I remember that the confluence of all these changes made it felt different, like we had arrived at this new, officially more grown up stage of life. That was especially true on our first Shabbat. Up until then, we had always eaten on a small Ikea table and sat on folding chairs. But here was a big new walnut dining room table and eight chairs, one we had paid good money for and that would be with us for a long time (it still is). I remember feeling overwhelmed as I sat there and took it in. For the first time, I really felt like we were truly, deeply at home. In our preparations for Passover (and, perhaps, our aversion to the less narrative-driven nature of Leviticus), we can miss the fact that Parashat Shemini marks the moment when the Divine and the Israelites are, for the first time, sitting at their dining room table together--truly, deeply at home. After weeks and weeks of reading about the construction of the Mishkan in the latter half of Exodus, and then more Torah portions devoted to instructions about the sacrifices at the beginning of Leviticus, the opening chapter of Shemini marks the moment when it all finally comes together. The Mishkan is set up, the priests are consecrated and purified, they perform the required offerings, Moses and Aaron bless the people, and finally the presence of God appears, "and all the people saw, and shouted joyously, and fell on their faces" (Lev. 9:24) God is at home in the world. But, of course, that moment is fleeting. In the very next verse it all goes terribly, horribly wrong...(Continue reading here)

#parashattzav #jewishspirituality #jewishwisdom #leviticus

In this episode of his Soulful Jewish Living podcast,Rabbi Josh Feigelson looks at the story behind the holiday of Purim to understand the masks we wear and the courage it takes to reveal our true selves and live authentically. https://lnkd.in/emWtdMPU

After October 7th, the story of the Megillah feels especially real and relevant. In the opening chapters, Jews face an existential threat, and by the end, Jews kill their enemies on a massive scale. What can the Megillah teach us about both realities of violence against Jews and violence by Jews? We’re joining with the #Hadar Institute for “Reading the #Megillah After October 7th,” an online day of learning, prayer, and reflection on this important question. https://bit.ly/3v9eWEM or find a clickable link in our bio. #Purim #PurimLearning #HadarInstitute #JewishLearning #JewishHolidays #Megillah #JewishHistory #JewishValues

Join us for 30 minutes of Jewish mindfulness on Monday evening, led by Akiva Nelson! Akiva Nelson is a 4th year rabbinical student at Hebrew College, and the rabbinic intern at Congregation Dorshei Tzedek in Newton, MA. He’s an accomplished multi-denominational prayer leader and educator, focused on creating inclusive and accessible spaces where Jews and all people (especially those without formal Jewish educational backgrounds) can successfully navigate Jewish prayer, theology, and texts. Akiva regularly leads meditation and chanting, and is pursuing certification as a Jewish meditation teacher through the Institute for Jewish Spirituality and Or HaLev. See more about his work at JewishDeepening.org. Hosted by @beckyschisler, Akiva will be leading us in 30 minutes of Jewish mindfulness meditation practice. Each session includes an optional 15 minutes of Q&A and sharing. Participants will gain access to recordings from each week, and are invited to join an ongoing Whatsapp group to continue sharing, learning, and exploring Jewish spirituality and mindfulness. All folks in their 20s and 30s are warmly welcome. Join our growing young adult community. ????♀?????? https://tr.ee/3rTmXnYX7e #jewishmindfulness #jewishmeditation #jewishspirituality #spiritualcommunity #jewishlearning