Participants will be introduced to mindfulness meditation through a Jewish lens. I will discuss the spiritual practice of ""being in the moment"", how we become the witness of our lives so as to cultivate healthy mind states. I will explain what mindfulness meditation is, its spiritual and health benefits and then lead two meditation sessions to bring them into the state of focused attention and relaxation. Meditation allows us to open our hearts and connect with God. We will also chant prayers to reach that loving state.Music and art are part of this presentation.
In a perfect world we would like to support every important cause and work for every issue close to our hearts. In reality, while we may have unlimited passion, we only have so much time and money. Join me for a fun, interactive workshop for teens and adults, through which we will explore our Tikkun Olam priorities and set personal tzedakah goals using activities from the new AJWS tzedakah curriculum, Where Do You Give. (T)
"Dancing Sephirot is a meditative body movement practice using ecstatic dance & world music as a spititual practice, integrating body, mind, heart, soul and spirit. This session will introduce participants to embody the four letter divine name, YHVH, thru the music and dance of the ten Sephirot, focusing on the energy and characteristics of Chesed." (T)
In this session, we will cover the history, possibilities and resources of the Science of Religion movement. We will use an actual example of its use in a Jewish organization. During the session, we will practice these methods and appy them to our own organizations and thereby increasings our personal effectiveness. This session is appropriate for mid-teens and adults. (T)
This is a one-hour workshop for teens and tweens on writing comics and
graphic novels. Graphic novelist Trina Robbins will go through all the stages of creating a
comic script, She will cover synopsis, character description, establishing shots, action scenes, and
dialogue. Short exerices will accompany the lession. If there’s time, participants will script a one-page comic, to be drawn by themselves on their own time. (T)
A conversation on the values and principles that guide and inspire our everyday decisions. If there is time, we will start writing our own personal ethical wills
Joy and a fuller capacity to love and be loved are the natural outcomes of spiritual practice and of psychological healing from trauma. In this workshop we will examine some of the Jewish tools and teachings for healing and practice, such as the mikvah, Jewish meditation, and Hassidic teachings. We will also experience a blessings practice and a heart-opening meditation.
Participants will be introduced to mindfulness meditation through a Jewish lens. I will discuss the spiritual practice of "being in the moment", how we become the witness of our lives so as to cultivate healthy mind states. I will explain what mindfulness meditation is, its spiritual and health benefits and then lead two meditation sessions to bring them into the state of focused attention and relaxation. Meditation allows us to open our hearts and connect with God. We will also chant prayers to reach that loving state. Music and art are part of this presentation.
Organizing is hard work, and organizers do it because we want to make a difference. The best tool we have to make that difference is ourselves. This training will help you uncover the self awareness that you need to change in order to make more of a difference in the world. It's about how you work with others in community, how you understand your own role and how you lead others to correct injustice. It will challenge you to be honest about the attitudes and behavior that comprise your strengths, as well as those that make you less effective, and less powerful, than you could be. (T)
This workshop is for those who want to compose their own prayers for a refuah shlemah, a complete healing of body, mind and spirit. We will look at the role and structure of healing prayer from past to present and how creative prayer can be joined closely or stand free from traditional Jewish prayer. Together we will discuss and describe the many ways that we as contemporary Jews understand G-d and therefore how we might each approach the One. Participants will then have the opportunity to create their own prayers as an expression of the heart.
The way we learn Torah can influence how we relate to our "internal Torah"; that is, our inner world. The qualities and assumptions that we bring to Torah study reflect how we discern meaning through paying attention to what arises in the mind and body. One element of life in which this is particularly true is in how we experience love. In this session, we will weave together short periods of meditation and text study in an exploration of how Jewish textual wisdom about love is a reflection for how we might study the inner texts of love.
In story and song we’ll explore how some Holocaust victims found the love, determination and human connection to help them survive, and why we all must continue to work against hatred, bigotry and racism. (T)
Brisket, Kugel, Bagels and Cream Cheese, Falafel, Hummus, Pickles, Kohlrabi? What makes food Jewish? Jews have lived in nearly every country around the world, incorporating the local cuisine into their Jewish identities. But now in a world of 24-hour supermarkets, global cuisine, and year-round access to food, how can we maintain our cultural identity? How do we overcome the challenges of eating locally and ethically at our Shabbat tables during Chicago winters? Lead by Jewish changemaker and double chi award recipient Gan Project Founder Jill Zenoff, changing the landscape of Chicago's Jewish community one shovel full at a time. (T)
This highly interactive, PowerPoint-enhanced, discussion session will explore the ups and downs, twists and turns of Brian's own Eastern European family of origin (19 generations) and the participants Jewish, European families of origins. All attendees are encouraged to bring any/all family histories and photo documents to share! Our focus will be on all our respective, significant ancestors and descendents, starting from the early modern era (mid 1500's) to present, with awareness of the impact on our ancestors of their diverse, multi-ethnic/religious neigbors, and visa versa. (T)
