Virtual Programs
About this Program
ALEPH: Alliance for Jewish Renewal’s virtual programming includes our Tikshoret Program and Renewing Our Collective Soul: A Virtual Program For Our Times, which was created in March 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Teachers and leaders from all over the globe have hosted sessions on meditation, embodied movement, spiritual direction, and so much more – gently guiding us to spaces where we can connect with our deepest selves.
Most programs are pay-what-you-wish. Donations will directly support the work of ALEPH and Jewish Renewal programming (unless otherwise noted), and we are thankful for any amount you can donate. If you’re unable to make a donation at this time, that’s okay too. We welcome you.
New offerings will continue to be added, so be sure to check back here often.
Upcoming Programs
- Dancing the Omer: Collective Healing in the Forest of Re-Creation
- Our Fractured Planet: Reflections on Climate Change and the Environment
- Festschrift for Eve Ilsen’s 75th Birthday
- Desert Wind, live play reading
- GPS for Your Inner Landscape: The Shore
Continual Programs
- Nechamah Minyan (daily)
- Silence is Praise (weekly)
Session Descriptions
Dancing the Omer: Collective Healing in the Forest of Re-Creation with physical therapist Rachael R. Resch
DATE: Tuesdays, April 23 – June 4
TIME: 7pm-8pm ET / 4pm-5pm PT
LOCATION: Zoom (register below)
COST: $72
Come embody the Kabbalah Tree of Life through Counting the Omer – from the liberation of Passover to the revelation of Shavuot. We’ll explore the seven archetypes (or sephirot) of the Divine that also comprise the sacred anatomy of the human body.
Each one-hour session will include gentle movement, guided meditation, journaling and group dialogue to organically grow the Forest of Creation Ongoing in our bodies and in our lives.
We’ll move through the Tree of Life one week at a time so that the whole, holy human body can blossom from the root of the Divine. Please join us in bringing physical and spiritual healing to your body, the Body of Humanity and the Body of the World.
All ages and physical abilities are welcome. No previous movement background is needed. If possible, please plan to attend all seven sessions. (Due to music licensing regulations, sessions will not be recorded.)
Items to Bring:
Festschrift for Eve Ilsen’s 75th Birthday
DATE: Sunday, June 2
TIME: 4pm ET / 3pm CT / 2pm MT / 1pm PT
LOCATION: Zoom (register below)
Eve Ilsen is a powerful person and mystic. She was Reb Zalman’s beloved and influenced Jewish Renewal behind the scenes.
Over the last year, Rich Heiberger and Gina Cooke, each of whom has known Eve for more than fifty years, have gathered pages of compelling stories, photos, and anecdotes from dozens of people about their extraordinary experiences with Eve. This event is the Book Launch for the volume they have compiled from that material.
On June 2, Aleph Virtual Programs, hosted by Reb Geela Rayzel, will present a memorable portrait of Eve’s life, replete with memories, songs in her honor, songs by her, photographs, and videos. Please join us!
"Desert Wind," a Live Play Reading from the American Jewish Theatre
DATE: Sunday, June 2
TIME: 7pm ET / 4pm PT
LOCATION: Zoom (register below)
The American Jewish Theatre and ALEPH present a live reading of Desert Wind, a powerful new play by Stephanie Liss. Follow the journey of a family shattered by tragedy and persecution as they brave the harsh desert in search of safety and freedom.
When the patriarch of the family is brutally slain by the Houthis, accused of espionage, his wife, mother, and infant daughter are left with no choice but to flee. With danger lurking at every turn, they embark on a perilous trek across the desert, determined to reach the sanctuary of Eretz Yisrael.
Join us as we bear witness to the untold stories of those who risked everything for a chance at a better life.
Desert Wind is part of The Right of Return, a five part series of one act plays telling the deeply personal stories of Jews expelled from Arab countries. Each story is emotionally raw in its telling, reaching into the previous Jewish life in each country, and moving through the impact of the radical Islamist regimes on the lives of the Jews, and the changes that forced them to leave.
GPS for Your Inner Landscape: The Shore
DATE: Monday, June 24
TIME: 7:30pm ET / 4:30pm PT
LOCATION: Zoom
Join Rabbi Julie Hilton Danan to connect to your soul by connecting to the beauty of the natural world and Jewish wisdom about nature. Just as the earth has her seas, gardens, rivers, and mountains, inside each of us is our sea of the unconscious, our garden of toil and pleasure, our streams of flow, and our peak experiences. Our inner world is a reflection of the planet and of ancient teachings left for us by our ancestors.
In this interactive class, we will explore “the shore” in nature, Jewish wisdom, and your own life; from sea caves to sand, seashells, and life on the edge of mystery. We will experience media including stunning original nature photography, text discussion, ritual, guided meditation and mitzvah ideas. The practices we will learn may lead not only to a richer inner life and a heightened sense of awe, but to a deepened commitment to stewardship of the Earth and its inhabitants as the dwelling place of Shechinah.
This session will be led by Rabbi Julie Hilton Danan, learn more about her here.
Nechamah Minyan - FULL DETAILS
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.
If you would like to register, please reach out to Rabbi Geela Rayzel Raphael at rrayzel@shechinah.com.
Silence is Praise - FULL DETAILS
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.
Our Session Leaders
We are thankful for so many incredible leaders who are stepping up to provide space for us to virtually connect. Our leaders are sure to excite, grow, and inspire you – learn more about them below!
FAQ
When is this event taking place?
Where is this event taking place?
Do I need an internet connection to participate?
What if I have never done video conferencing before?
How long is each session? How often do they meet?
The views, information, or opinions expressed during this event are solely those of the individuals involved and do not necessarily represent those of ALEPH and its members.
