Virtual Programs

Voices For Peace – קולות לשלום
a Virtual Cabaret to benefit ALEPH

DATE: Sunday, July 28
TIME: 4-6pm ET / 1-3pm PT
LOCATION: Zoom

A stellar lineup of performers will lift us up in song, connect with us through words, and bring us all together—beyond our Zoom screens—as one collective soul.

Date: Wednesday, July 31

Time: 1pm ET / 10am PT

Location: Zoom

Join us as we come together for a powerful conversation with May Pundak and Dr. Rula Hardal, the Israeli and Palestinian co-executive directors of the rapidly growing “A Land for All” peace movement. At this time of grief, anger, pain, and despair, May and Rula will share their vision and discuss the compelling and practical solutions they offer for the thorniest sticking points in the Israel-Palestine conflict.

A Land for All brings together, under one roof, Israelis and Palestinians who recognize that two peoples share a deep connection to the exact same homeland, and that only a partnership-based approach can create a better future for all. Their movement’s creative “two states in one homeland” plan has been featured recently on CNN, in the New York Times, and elsewhere.

Learn more about May, Rula, and A Land for All here.

An Elul Journey: Navigating Powerful Emotions with R.A.I.N.

Dates: September 4, 11, 18, 25

Time: 8-9:15 pm ET (5-6:15pm PT)

Location: Live on Zoom

Popularized by renowned meditation teacher and psychologist Dr. Tara Brach, the R.A.I.N. process for navigating powerful emotions–Recognize, Allow, Investigate, Nurture–can noticeably improve and transform how we relate to ourselves and to others, especially amidst all that is unfolding in the world today. 

Offered by certified mindfulness instructor and Jewish educator Alison Cohen, this four-week R.A.I.N. course is a unique opportunity to explore this profound, timely practice for strengthening emotional awareness, responsiveness, and compassion. It is being offered during the month of Elul, a period of the Jewish calendar that invites us to prioritize inner and interpersonal work prior to Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.

The experiential class sessions will be a step-by-step journey through the four components of the R.A.I.N. process. Session 1 will hone in on strengthening our capacity to Recognize what we’re feeling when we’re feeling it, Session 2 will center on the Allowance process, and so forth. Each session will include:

• Guided meditation and reflection
• optional writing prompts
• Discussion
• Jewish wisdom that illuminates R.A.I.N. 

No previous knowledge of meditation, R.A.I.N, or Judaism necessary: All that’s required is your presence, interest, and curiosity! If you’re already familiar with R.A.I.N., this will be a meaningful refresher and may offer new insights into how to apply this practice to your life and relationships. 

“Often the moment when we most need to pause is exactly when it feels most intolerable to do so…Through the sacred art of pausing, we develop the capacity to stop hiding, to stop running away from our experience. We begin to trust in our natural intelligence, in our naturally wise heart, in our capacity to open to whatever arises.” ~ Tara Brach

This four-week course is led by certified mindfulness instructor and Jewish educator Alison Cohen, learn more about her here.

Experiencing the Way of David and the Prophets: An Introduction

Date: Sunday, September 8

Time: 7:30pm ET (4:30pm PT)

Location: Live on Zoom

The Way of David and the Prophets is a sacred Way of Visions, Revelation, Prophesy, and Mystery. It is a Way of the “Unseen” revealing itself to be “seen,” and of the unknowable and inconceivable being realized in the Creation. This Way is beyond belief, and lies both beyond cause and effect, and as fully grounded as the infinite manifestation of the Creation in this world.  It is a Way of “Inspiration,” and thus is a Way of Music, Song, Poetry, and Art. Access is through the Grace of the Holy One.

In this introductory class, we will be guided by the spirit of Aryeh Kaplan’s extraordinary book, “Meditation and the Bible” which reveals many hidden teachings of Judaism through an exploration of Jewish “meditation,” the visionary experience, revelation, and the Way of the Prophets.  We will explore the wisdom of David and the Prophets through Song, Poetry, and Art as well as through Meditation and Invocation of the Holy One.

We will reflect on some short readings from “Meditation and the Bible.”  We will sing the Names and prayers of the Holy One, and through sharing, singing, journaling, drawing or other creative activities we will humbly sit and commune with the Heart of Ruach Hakodesh and the Holy Mystery. This introductory class is part of a more extensive training on the experience of the Way of David and the Prophets. Bring a journal to write in and have a comfortable place to sit or lay down for some of the explorations.

This class is led by Jeff “KD” Meyers, learn more about him here.

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.