Courses, retreats, and offerings
Grounded in mindfulness. Guided by wisdom.
Jewish Mindfulness Meditation
Cultivating Innate Sacred Character Traits
Mindful Torah Study
Embodied Practices
Contemplative Prayer
Upcoming Programs
Nov 13 – Dec 18, 2024
Have you wondered what’s Jewish about mindfulness? Have you meditated before, but wanted to add a Jewish dimension to your practice? Explore a uniquely Jewish approach to meditation and spirituality during this five-week online course.
Nov 18 – Dec 9, 2024
Join us for Wounds into Wisdom: Healing Intergenerational Jewish Trauma, a four-week introduction to healing the wounds of intergenerational Jewish trauma, offered by renowned author and teacher, Rabbi Tirzah Firestone, Ph.D.
Year-Long Program
Bring the transformative light of Torah and Hasidic wisdom into your daily life. Explore two brand-new text study streams led by extraordinary Torah teachers, Rabba Dr. Mira Neshama Niculescu and Rabbi Sam Feinsmith. These programs will support you in expanding your spiritual awareness and deepening your mindfulness practice.
Wednesday, Nov 13 at 8:00 PM ET
How can sacred Jewish texts help us tap into our own inherent creativity? Join IJS President & CEO, Rabbi Josh Feigelson for a conversation with Rabbi Adina Allen. Together, they will discuss the ways in which the Torah can be viewed as a creativity guidebook, and the role of Jewish spirituality in inspiring one’s creative practice.
Sunday, Nov 17 at 2:00 PM ET
In preparation for the Transgender Day of Remembrance, author, poet, and activist, Dr. Joy Ladin will present selections from two of her newly published books that highlight what living between and beyond gender categories can teach us about becoming, loving, losing, mourning and otherwise being human.
Join Our Online Program
Discover the Jewish practice that wakes you up to the magic and meaning of your life. Led by Rabbis Sam Feinsmith and Jordan Bendat-Appell.
Upcoming Events
Shevet: A Jewish Mindfulness Community for Young Adults
Shevet: A Jewish Mindfulness Community for Young Adults
Sharing Our Torah: Jews of Color Mindfulness Affinity Space
Sharing Our Torah: Jews of Color Mindfulness Affinity Space
Awaken: Essential Jewish Mindfulness
Awaken: Essential Jewish Mindfulness
Welcome
For over 20 years, the Institute for Jewish Spirituality has helped thousands of people every year to slow down, reconnect with themselves and the world, and rediscover their sense of sacred purpose. We invite you to explore our website where you will find teachings, inspiration, guided meditations, and retreat opportunities to become more mindful, more peaceful, more compassionate, and more resilient, all through the rich wisdom of Jewish tradition. Wherever you are on your journey, whether you are just beginning or you have practiced mindfulness for years, we welcome you.
Reflections & Practice
Confronting Chaos with Silence: Noach 5785
Here’s a historical tidbit I love to recite: Benjamin Franklin was born in 1706. Rabbi Israel ben Eliezer, the founder of Hasidism better known as the Ba’al Shem Tov, was born eight years earlier, in 1698. Which is to say, Franklin and the Besht were contemporaries. I...
Three-Day Yontif: Bereshit 5785
In the part of the Jewish world I live in, we are approaching the third and final cycle of what are lovingly (well, maybe not entirely lovingly) referred to as "Three-Day Yontifs." An explanation: Since ancient times, Jewish communities outside the land of Israel have...
All the World’s a Stage: Sukkot 5785
Last week I wrote about Yom Kippur as a quintessentially adult holiday. This week we arrive at Sukkot, a holiday very much made for children. Aside from the assembly and decoration of the sukkah itself, which many kids love to do, there's the basic notion of the...
Check Out Our Podcasts
Weekly Meditation with Rabbi Angela Buchdahl
Join IJS for a weekly podcast featuring a brief, accessible teaching and meditation based on the weekly Torah portion, an upcoming Jewish holiday, or wisdom from Jewish tradition. In just a few minutes each week, Rabbi Angela Buchdahl, Senior Rabbi of Central Synagogue in New York City, will help you pause, breathe, and find balance and clarity to weather today’s storms and meet our personal and collective challenges with Jewish wisdom. Whether you are in your car, on a walk, or at home, join us to learn, nourish your spirit, and deepen your practice.
Soulful Jewish Living
Overstressed, overworked, overstimulated? Close your eyes, take a deep breath and tune in. In each episode Rabbi Josh Feigelson will guide with ancient wisdom and modern mindfulness practices to help center your soul and ease you into your week.
A production of Unpacked, a division of OpenDor Media, and the Institute for Jewish Spirituality.
Jewish Meditation for Everyone
Pause in the midst of your busy day to renew your body, heart, mind and spirit with a Jewishly-framed mindfulness meditation from the Institute for Jewish Spirituality. In each episode, hosted by Rabbi Marc Margolius, an expert Jewish meditation instructor guides you through a brief teaching and meditation for relaxing your body, reconnecting with your authentic self, and connecting you with deep Jewish wisdom.