Virtual Programs

T’Shuva: A Return Through the Psalms

DATES: Thursdays, September 12, 19, 26

TIME: 7pm ET / 4pm PT

LOCATION: Zoom

COST: $50

The month of Elul, which leads into our High Holiday season, offers a unique opportunity for reflection and growth known as t’shuvah, returning. Our tradition guides us to return to wholeness in our relationships with self, G-d, and other through this potent and poignant time. Join us as we dive deep into this process of return, led by the wisdom and poetry of our sacred psalms. We will explore Psalm 27, traditionally prayed every day during the month of Elul, as well as other psalms and practices which will open our hearts, clear our minds, and ready us to journey through the transformative process of the High Holidays.

Rabbi Dr. Brielle Paige Rassler is a licensed psychologist, mashpiah ruchanit (spiritual director), author, and artist. She maintains a private practice and serves as Lead Chaplain of Integrative Wellness at Penn Medicine Princeton Health. She has released two albums of original liturgical music and has served with prayer leadership teams at various congregations, including Romemu in NYC and Mishkan Shalom in Philly. In addition to her emerging series of sacred text translations, R. Dr. Brielle has authored a reference guide to the Talmud and a manual for religiously integrated treatment of Jewish women with Eating Disorders. Her Psalms translations have been featured in multiple publications and her full translation, “Psalms: A Millennial’s Poetic Interpretation” was selected as a Gold Award winner of the 2023 Nautilus Book Awards. www.BriellePaigeRassler.com

DATE: Thursday, October 10
TIME: 7pm ET / 4pm PT
LOCATION: Zoom
COST: Free

This gathering will be a compassionate space for community members to come together, process emotions, grieve, and seek healing as we mark a year since the October 7 attack and the ongoing conflict. All are welcome to share, listen, and find comfort in community. This program will be led by Rabbi Leon Olenick.

DATE: Monday, October 21

TIME: 8pm ET / 5pm PT

LOCATION: Live on Zoom

Rabbi Akiva taught, “Had the Torah not been given, we could live our lives by the Song of Songs.”
He called this sacred text, “The Holy of Holies,” hinting to us that we must put love at the center.

For many years Rabbi Shefa Gold has been immersed in this holy text — learning its language, receiving its passion, and entering into the reality it describes: the giving and receiving of Love. Though the Song of Songs describes a very human relationship, it points us towards the refining of our relationship with God, the Great Mystery, a force that shines forth from within and beyond this world. When Love flows freely between us and that Great Mystery, the whole world is watered and nourished.

The main purpose of this app is to guide us on the Path of Love. Here, you will find a weekly reading from the Song of Songs, commentary, practices that help unlock the power of the holy text, questions to contemplate, a bridge to the Torah portion of the week, and many resources that can help us put Love at the Center.


DATES: Tuesdays, October 29, November 12, 19, and 26
TIME: 8-9:30pm ET / 5-6:30pm PT
LOCATION: Zoom
COST: $54

A four-part mini-series exploring Jewish afterlife texts spanning over 3000 years of Jewish history. As travelers through time, we shall enter the worlds of Torah, Talmud, Midrash, Zohar and Hasidic tales to investigate the diverse ways Jews have understood the mystery and enigma of death and the world beyond. We shall use these texts to discover contemporary spiritual meaning and guidelines for our own responses to the human encounter with death.

SESSION 1 – Afterlife in Biblical Tradition: Jacob’s Burial Cave and Samuel’s Presence in Sheol

SESSION 2 – Afterlife in Rabbinic Tradition: Olam Haba and Visions of the Angel of Death

SESSION 3 – Afterlife in Kabbalah: Journey of the Soul

SESSION 4 – From Ancient Philosophy to Contemporary Practice: Afterlife and the Renewal of Jewish Death Rituals

This course is led by Reb Simcha Raphael, PhD; learn more about him here.

DATE: Wednesdays, November 13, 20, December 4, 11, 18
TIME: 2pm ET / 11am PT
LOCATION: Zoom
COST: $50

DATE: Sunday, November 17
TIME: 4pm ET / 1pm PT
LOCATION: Zoom
COST: Donate what you wish

The Nechamah Minyan was started in January 2021 by Reb Geela Rayzel Raphael as a place to say kaddish (Jewish prayer for the dead) for her mom, Natalie Robinson, (Nechama Leah bat Elke v’Chayim). 

For Jews in mourning, it is traditional to say daily Kaddish in a minyan, which is a group of 10 or more persons. All who mourn, who are honoring yahrzeits, or who wish to participate in the mitzvah of making a minyan, are invited to join this important program.

If you would like to register, please reach out to Rabbi Geela Rayzel Raphael at rrayzel@shechinah.com.

If you are looking to attend a minyan taking place that evening, please contact Rabbi Geela Rayzel by 6 pm EDT.

If you’d like to be on the last-minute text list (to be contacted to participate in the mitzvah of making a minyan, in the case not enough are gathered) please reach out to Rabbi Geela Rayzel at the email above.

If you’d like to lead one of the evenings (creative, traditional, and all types of services are welcome!) please reach out to Rabbi Geela Rayzel at the email above.

If you would like to express your gratitude for this type of program, please feel free to make a donation HERE.

Date: Weekly on Wednesdays
Time: 11:30 am-12:30 pm ET (8:30-9:30 am PT) 
Cost: Pay-what-you-can 
Presenter: Rabbi Anne Brener

Description: Overwhelmed with stress from social distancing, quarantine, and COVID-19? Join Rabbi Anne Brener for a chanting and meditation service, using the structure of the morning service, to calm our bodies and connect our souls. There will be time for some check-in afterward.