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 August 11
In the Jewish annual cycle, each month is intrinsically connected to the elements—and so are we. Join Kohenet Keshira haLev Fife for a journey through the Jewish year. In each monthly session, we’ll explore the “spiralinear” nature of time as a way to enliven our experience of Judaism and make meaning of the changing nature of life.
Begins August 12
It’s time for a spiritual reset – join the IJS community to “wake up” together in preparation for the Jewish New Year! Join IJS faculty members throughout Elul for a FREE four-week program to immerse in key themes of the upcoming High Holidays, preparing your inner life for the New Year.
Begins August 17
The shofar blasts through all of Elul, the final month of the Jewish year, like a cosmic alarm clock awakening us from spiritual autopilot and nudging us toward reflection and honest soul-accounting. Once again, the IJS Shofar Project will help us prepare our inner lives for the upcoming Jewish New Year. Join other seekers in their 20s and 30s for this special month-long program.
Begins September 9
Enhance your holiday experience through a Jewish mindfulness lens. In this new, rolling series of workshops on the Jewish holidays, we will learn about the traditional and contemporary rituals and practices associated with Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and Sukkot. Accessible to all backgrounds with no Hebrew required.
Begins October 4
This year, we bring you two new text study streams, both of which provide rich material for contemplative study. Our text study stream for all learners is taught by Rabbi Rachel Barenblat and our advanced stream is led by Rabbi Daniel Raphael Silverstein.
Begins October 14
This four-session course with Rabbi Jordan Bendat-Appell explores the spiritual foundations of Shabbat, including candle lighting, blessings, and Havdalah. Accessible to all observance levels, this series offers practical tools to cultivate deep presence, calm, and a weekly sanctuary for human thriving.
Upcoming Events
Earth, Moon, Mindfulness: A Sacred Year of Embodied Practice
Josh’s Friday Reflections
Daily Online Meditation Sit
Online Jewish Yoga Studio
Shevet: A Jewish Mindfulness Community for Young Adults
Call of the Shofar 5786: A Study and Practice Group for Younger Adults
Returning Anew
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
Holding Lightly (Shoftim 5786)
Before anything else, I want to say thank you to the many readers who wrote last week to offer their condolences on the loss of my cousin Julian. My family and I have been surrounded in love and support. It means the world to all of us. Thank you. Among the reasons I...
For My Cousin Julian z”l (Re’eh 5786)
My cousin Julian Newman died tragically last week after a long battle with depression. He was a young 30 years old. Julian and his sibling Rena Yehuda are the two children of my first cousin Heidi and her husband Dave. As a child, I remember my mom talking to her...
IJS Day of Practice – Meditation Session Recordings
Below, you can find audio recordings of the meditation and text study sessions from our annual day of practice in the Berkshires.
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.