As the cycle of seasons change and the days become ever shorter, we can take comfort in the coming together with conscious community as a sanctuary and support for our practice at this time of year. Whether beginner or seasoned meditator, all are welcomed with warmth to the guidance and holding space offered through our regular weekly sits. Joining together in this way can be such a beautiful and beneficial path to begin to integrate Jewish Mindfulness Meditation into our daily lives for greater stability, depth, peace, and numerous other measurable beneficial effects.

Meditation practice can often be difficult to sustain on our own. Sitting together and sharing together offers a bridge to bringing more ease and guidance to practice, and the heart-holding of nourishing community connection.

Our hearth will be open to warm yourselves by in the cold mornings, or long evenings, from Mid-November until Mid-December.

Our Monday morning (Shachar) group will once again be facilitated by Faculty member and Meditation Teacher Miri Cohen. Our Thursday evening (Erev) group by Community Manager and Meditation Teacher Marc Frank.

We ask each person who registers to commit to the full series of 6 weekly group meetings. If you are unable to attend any sessions in person, all sittings will be recorded and you are welcome to participate through watching or listening to the media instead.

Each week, our teachers will offer some teaching and reflection, setting our collective Kavannah (intention) prior to our time sitting together. This will be followed by an opportunity to share in the group. Some more information:

• We will meet on Zoom.
• We ask that, as much as is possible, everyone has their video on during the meeting, with a stable and quiet background. If you need to turn your video off temporarily for an unforeseen reason that is of course understood.
• The first 30 minutes will begin with welcoming, some teaching, reflection and the offering of an intention, followed by a period of meditation, which will generally include both guided and silent periods.
• The final 20 minutes will be a community space where each person will have a little time for sharing about their practice with the group. Everyone will be welcomed exactly as they are. If you don’t want to say much, you can just offer one word or phrase. It helps to build community when we give everyone the opportunity to be heard, and to listen. Our session then often ends with a recitation of the traditional “Kaddish” prayer, to support anyone who may be mourning.