As the days get shorter, and Winter season brings a diminishing of daylight, we turn again to the gentle refuge of our inner illumination – the candlelight of our conscious presence, nurtured through the practice of Jewish Meditation, and held in the container of community.

You need not have any previous experience or knowledge of either meditation or Jewish practice to join our weekly sitting groups.

Conversely, if you have been meditating for years, the approach we offer at HaMakom always opens up fresh ways to deepen and be met and supported in practice.

Particularly at this time of year, there is something so sustaining about coming together in the inclusivity of authentic community to sit, and to share in the power and presence of that light.

Drawing on the depth of Jewish wisdom every week, regular supported sittings allow the integration of a simple sitting practice into daily life, and the opportunity to enjoy the innumerable beneficial effects of Jewish Mindfulness Meditation in a powerful and sustainable way

This new series of sittings will run from early November until mid-December, including an opportunity to weave our practice into a mindful and meaningful honouring of the Channukah festival.

Both our Monday morning (Shachar) and Thursday evening (Erev) groups will be facilitated 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.

The Standard rate for all 6 sessions is £30. For those who are able, we also offer the opportunity to contribute to support HaMakom with these and other offerings into the future. As a charity, all that we offer depends solely on participant contributions. Please consider contributing at the Supporter rate of £45, or Benefactor rate of £60 if either of these are within your means. All contributions are so gratefully received and help us to continue doing all that we do.

We also try not to turn anyone away due to lack of funds, so if you are in a position where you would struggle to pay the basic rate please be in touch with Marc directly at marc@hamakom.community and we can consider options together.

Every week, our sitting will begin with some teaching and reflection, drawn directly from the rich wisdom and insight of the Jewish tradition and of direct practical relevance to our meditation, inner healing and self care.

Some more information and structure for the sittings:

• We will meet every week 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 sometimes ends with a recitation of the traditional “Kaddish” prayer, to support anyone who may be mourning.