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
Begins April 6, 2026
Cultivate your ability to respond to the world in a more grounded, skillful, and compassionate way, growing more conscious of habitual reactivity and learning to respond instead with wise words and actions. Engage in tikkun middot practice in the context of our warm and welcoming young adult Shevet community.
Begins April 13, 2026
Join us as we count the Omer using the ancient tradition of studying Pirkei Avot. We will draw on the wisdom of this text—with Chasidic commentaries––to guide us in exploring how we might make our days count. This six-week text study is designed for all seekers, including clergy, educators, and seasoned learners.
Wednesday, May 20, 2026
In conversation with Rabbi Josh Feigelson, Rabbi Caryn Aviv will reflect on the spiritual practices and ethical commitments that shape a life of presence and purpose. Together, they will explore how Jewish wisdom can help us meet today’s social and spiritual challenges with clarity, compassion, and hope.
Upcoming Events
Text Study 5786
Sacred Response-Ability: Mindfulness and Middot for the Omer (20s and 30s)
Online Jewish Yoga Studio
Daily Online Meditation Sit
Cultivating the Soul: Advanced Hasidic Text Study of Pirkei Avot
Shevet: A Jewish Mindfulness Community for Young Adults
Shalem: A Monthly Mindfulness Affinity Space for People with Disabilities
Welcome
For over 25 years, the Institute for Jewish Spirituality has helped thousands of people every year to slow down, reconnect with themselves and the world, and discover 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, peaceful, compassionate, and resilient — all grounded in 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
Home (In)Security (Shemini 5786)
In a normal week, I typically send these reflections to Andrew, our wonderful senior operations associate here at IJS, on Wednesdays. Andrew formats them and gets them all set to arrive in your inbox Friday morning (hence the name, “Josh’s Friday Reflections”)....
Gametime (Shabbat Hagadol 5786)
My youngest child recently celebrated his bar mitzvah and thereby became an adult in the eyes of Jewish tradition. And, right on cue, he has also hit his developmental stride as a teenager: he is much more interested in hanging out with his friends than with his...
What Sustains Us?
What sustains us during periods of transition? Rabbi Jordan Bendat-Appell's teaching on the meaning of the matzah during Passover invites us to explore these questions as we move out of the narrow place in search of liberation.
Check Out Our Podcasts
Weekly Meditation with Rabbi Angela Buchdahl
Soulful Jewish Living
A production of Unpacked, a division of OpenDor Media, and the Institute for Jewish Spirituality.