Returning Anew
Shevet’s 3rd Annual Silent Jewish Meditation Retreatfor Younger Adults (20s & 30s)
August 19 - 23, 2026
Trinity Retreat Center, West Cornwall, CT
Meet the Teachers
Pause. Breathe. Begin again.
The world feels heavy right now. Between the pace of your newsfeed, the demands of your career, and the weight of global uncertainty, finding space for genuine quiet can renew us at the deepest levels. Retreats offer a period of sustained spiritual practice that can help us move through these times with wisdom, clarity, and compassion.
This August, we’re heading to the woods of West Cornwall, Connecticut, for our third annual silent retreat designed specifically for folks under 40. This isn't just a getaway; it’s a dedicated space to slow down, put down your phone, silence your notifications, and return to yourself.
Return, return anew
To the breath that is moving through
To the repair you are called to do
To the healing that's ripe for you
– Rena Branson, Return Anew
The Theme: Returning Anew
We are gathering at the start of Elul, the Jewish month of awakening that prepares us for the High Holidays. It is a season traditionally dedicated to Teshuva (return) and Hidchadshut (genuine renewal). Even when the world feels like it's spinning out of control, Elul reminds us that we possess the radical power to start over.
This is an opportunity to reflect on the messiness of the past year with compassion, set down the bags we’ve been carrying, and prepare to move into the new year with a heart that is open and ready. An opportunity for deep renewal, healing and transformation. We’re making space to literally touch grass and feel the raw, cool earth beneath our feet, remembering that we are part of the landscape, not just observers of it.
Renewal isn't just about fixing what’s broken, but about beginning again from a place of wholeness. Elul becomes our container for this transformation, reminding us that no matter how far we’ve wandered, the path back to our center is always open.
Whether you’re an experienced practitioner or have never sat in silence for five minutes, there is a seat for you here.
What to Expect
This retreat is held mostly in silence—a rare gift that allows your nervous system to finally settle. We use silence not to disconnect, but to connect more deeply. Through a blend of Jewish spiritual wisdom and modern mindfulness, we will explore:
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- Mindfulness Guidance: Learn tools and practices to reconnect to your authentic inner knowing.
- Embodied Practice: Nurture and enliven your physical self through movement and breath.
- Sacred Song & Prayer: Use melody and ancient text to access the heart and spirit.
- Radical Rest: Give your mind the space to process, heal, and decompress.
- Wisdom Teachings: Learn how to turn mindfulness into "wise action" for a world that needs it.
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The fine print: We’ll break the silence for opening and closing meals and activities, Q&A sessions, daily song and prayer, and small-group check-ins with our instructors.
I’m so grateful to the Institute for Jewish Spirituality for curating this magical, profound, invigorating experience for young adults.
This was really a gift. And really helped me understand how mediation is connected to the rest of what’s going on in my life. So it was a great capstone and transition moment in otherwise just a starting point.
Teachers
Guiding you on this journey will be a team of instructors who truly "get" the specific pressures of being a younger adult in this uncertain world. Once again we welcome IJS Core Faculty Kohenet Keshira haLev Five and Rebecca Schisler, and Adjunct Faculty Jes Golden and Yael Shy. They aren't distant figures on a pedestal; they are soulful, grounded mentors who will hold the space with a mix of warmth, humor, and ancient wisdom, ensuring you feel seen and supported as you navigate your own process of returning.
Schedule
Participants should plan to arrive at Trinity Retreat Center in West Cornwall, CT between 3:00 – 5:00 PM ET on Wednesday, August 19 to register and get settled. The retreat will begin with dinner at 5:30 ET and an opening session at 6:30 ET.
The retreat will end at noon on Sunday, August 23. Participants are welcome to stay through lunch.
Accessible to All
We know that financial stress shouldn't be a barrier to mental and spiritual well-being. Because we believe this work is essential right now, this four-day retreat is offered at a "Pay-What-You-Can" rate. We want you there, exactly as you are.
"In the midst of chaos, find the place that is settled. From that stillness, we can move with intention."
Ready to come home to yourself?
Space is limited to keep the container intimate and supportive. Don't wait to give yourself the gift of renewal.
West Cornwall, CT | Open to all adults under 40
This in-person retreat is open to folks under 40. No experience with mindfulness and/or Judaism is necessary. This retreat will be held mostly in silence, except for opening and closing meals, Q&A, communal prayer, and check-in sessions with instructors.
Retreat Costs and Financial Support
We want to ensure that this retreat is accessible to everyone. To help make sure that costs will not be a barrier to participation, we will ask you to pay what you can.
The four-day program is a $1,500 value. Choose an amount below that’s affordable for you.
Pay What You Can:
$500
$900
$1,200
$1,500
All rooms have private bathrooms. Most rooms are double occupancy, but there are a limited number of private rooms available. There is one ADA accessible room on the first floor.
FINANCIAL SUPPORT: If you need to request additional financial assistance, we ask that you complete the registration form no later than June 15, 2026. On the registration form, you will see a section called “Retreat Costs and Financial Support” that includes questions for those requesting financial support. Please supply the requested information. We will review all requests for support in mid-June and let you know as soon as possible how much we are able to offer you.
If you have the means to pay full tuition, we invite you to also consider making an additional donation to help other participants attend.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this retreat for me?
Short answer: Yes. Whether you’re a daily meditator or don't know the difference between mindfulness and a nap, you belong here. Our guidance is designed to be both deep and accessible. No "expert" status required and no judgement throughout our time together.
We’re committed to making this space inclusive for everyone, providing gender-neutral bathrooms and accessible seating. If there is anything specific you need to feel like you truly belong, just reach out.
Note: Intensive meditation can sometimes be challenging for certain mental health conditions. If you’re unsure if a silent retreat is the right move for you right now, drop us a line at support@jewishspirituality.org
What does "Social Silence" really mean?
Think of it as a deep digital and social detox. After our opening session, we’ll step into collective silence. That means we are inviting you not to speak socially with other participants, no "quick" texts or emails, and no scrolling or otherwise “exiting” the silence for the duration of each day.
By pausing social interaction, you allow your nervous system to finally decompress and give yourself the gift of turning within. Don’t worry, you won't be isolated. You’ll have specific times to ask questions, check in with teachers in small groups, and join in communal chanting and song each morning.
We find the gift of silence enables you to slow down, sink deeply into the practices, and truly “re-source” yourself in the spaciousness of the quiet.
How are we holding the weight of the world right now?
We come together in a tumultuous and deeply challenging time in the US and the world. Each of us has a different experience and different relationships and proximity to current domestic and foreign political developments, and the resulting violence, ongoing devastation, and tremendous loss of life. Acknowledging the diversity of our community, our practice is to notice the closing and othering that can naturally arise in our hearts in response to this moment, and to cultivate openness and understanding.
We believe that our spiritual practice can be profoundly supportive for us to navigate the ever-changing circumstances of our world, and nurture our capacity for resiliency, clear perception, healing, and wise response. Coming on retreat isn’t about "bypassing" the news or ignoring suffering. Instead, we sit in silence to build the internal resilience and clarity in service of building the world we wish to live in, beginning in our own hearts and minds.
Click here to read our full guidance for practicing in a time of war
How "Jewish" is this going to be?
The retreat is deeply rooted in Jewish tradition, but you don't need to know Hebrew or have a certain level of observance to be here. We translate and explain everything.
Expect a Jewish practice that is inclusive, egalitarian, heart-centered, embodied, and deep. We’ll celebrate a soulful Shabbat together (with instruments!), and there will be daily space for the Mourner’s Kaddish and personal prayer.
What kind of meditation are we doing?
We practice Mindfulness: the art of paying attention to the present moment with a non-judgmental, loving and kind awareness. While mindfulness is inherent and central to Jewish tradition, our methods for deepening mindfulness on retreat have been learned from the Buddhist tradition. Here at IJS, we integrate mindfulness with Jewish wisdom and contemplative Jewish practice.
What does a typical day look like?
The Flow: Days start early (6:30 AM) to catch the morning stillness and wrap up by 9:30 PM. Our week of practice will culminate with a beautiful celebration of Shabbat.
The schedule is structured to help you stay grounded. It’s a mix of:
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- Seated & Walking Meditation: Alternating stillness with mindful movement.
- Morning Chanting and Prayer: Using song to wake up the spirit.
- Teachings: Guided sessions to integrate practice with Jewish wisdom.
- Small Groups: Periodic check-ins with teachers to process your experience.
- Nourishment: Three intentional meals a day and plenty of rest.
- Mindful Movement: Daily yoga sessions to enliven and nourish the body.
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Meet the Teachers
Kohenet Keshira haLev Fife
Kohenet Keshira haLev Fife (she/they) sprinkles sparkles, disrupts expectations, and offers blessings wherever she goes. She serves as Founding Kohenet of Kesher Pittsburgh and is a Core Faculty Member with the Institute for Jewish Spirituality; she also enjoys working with Jewish Studio Project and Kirva among other national Jewish organisations. Additionally, she delights in serving as a facilitator, teacher, life spiral ceremony/ritual creatrix, shlichat tzibbur, liturgist and songstress. Her work in these realms is informed by her lived experience as a queer, bi-racial, child-free Jewish person living with chronic illness, her belief that Book, Body and Earth are equal sources of wisdom, the quandaries she has encountered as a scholar of the Orphan Wisdom School, and her deep commitment to a thriving, liberatory Jewish future.
Keshira received Kohenet smicha in 2017 and earned her BS (2000) and MS (2001) at Carnegie Mellon University. Though both the lands of the Osage & Haudenosaunee people (aka Pittsburgh, PA) and the Gadigal people (Sydney, AUS) feel like home, Keshira and her beloved have been in an extended period of travel since January 2023.
Rebecca Schisler
Rebecca Schisler (she/her) is a core faculty member at IJS, where she directs young adult programming and created and steers the Shevet Jewish Mindfulness Community, a space for folks in or near their twenties and thirties to dive deep into Jewish spirituality and mindfulness practice in online and virtual spaces. Additionally, she creates and curates content for IJS social media and frequently teaches on retreats and multi-week online programs.
Rebecca is honored to serve on this faculty after years of leading groups and teaching classes and retreats with Or HaLev, Pardes, Wilderness Torah, Stanford School of Medicine, Hillel at Stanford, Urban Adamah, Hamakom, and the Awakened Heart Project. A student rabbi at ALEPH, Rebecca is passionate about integrating ancestral wisdom traditions with innovative approaches to personal and collective healing and liberation. She teaches Jewish spirituality as an embodied, holistic, and accessible path, with relevant and timely wisdom for all.
Jes Golden
Jes Golden (they/she—formerly Jes Heppler) is a meditation teacher and researcher who focuses on embodied experience in Jewish and Buddhist meditation. Grounded in their Sephardi and Ashkenazi lineages, Jes’ teaching weaves Jewish and earth-based spirituality with philosophical and neuroscientific insights. Jes teaches regularly for the Institute for Jewish Spirituality (IJS): they host the IJS LGBTQ+ Monthly Sit, guide the IJS Daily Sit, and lead both online and in-person programming for the IJS young adult community, Shevet. Jes has also taught for Or HaLev’s Ground & Center series.
They are a graduate of Or HaLev and IJS’s Meditation Teacher Training Program. Jes holds a PhD in Philosophy from UC Berkeley and is currently a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Center for Possible Minds at Indiana University, where they are researching bodily awareness in Buddhist and Jewish meditation.
Yael Shy
Yael Shy (she/her) has been using the transformative power of mindfulness, rooted in her 20+ years of study in Judaism and Zen Buddhism, to support herself and others through the pressures of life. It is her life’s purpose to support individuals and collectives uncover their inherent worth and capacity for deep joy.
Yael is the Founder and CEO of Sefira Wellness, where she teaches and consults on mindfulness for universities, corporations, and private clients around the world. She is the author of the award-winning book, What Now? Meditation for Your Twenties and Beyond (Parallax, 2017), and the founder of Mindful NYU, the largest campus-based mindfulness initiative in the US.
Yael is a graduate of the IJS Jewish Mindfulness Teacher Training Certification. She teaches for New York University, Columbia School of Law, the Institute for Jewish Spirituality and Or HaLev. She has been featured on Good Morning America, CBS, Fox 5 News, and in Time Magazine and the Harvard Business Review.