One of the things I greatly value about the Institute for Jewish Spirituality is that we are a learning organization. We are constantly exploring how we can more skillfully nurture mindful leaders who can work with us to revitalize Jewish life. One way we do that is by evaluating our programs to investigate their effectiveness and challenge their assumptions.
As a result of this analysis, we are delighted to announce that our next clergy cohort, which will begin in January 2014, will be open to both cantors and rabbis. This brand new program will build on the foundation of previous rabbinic and cantorial cohorts, grounded in mindfulness practice and neo-Hasidic spirituality.
We will explore all five of the Institute’s core practices (prayer, Talmud Torah, mindfulness meditation, tikkun middot and embodied awareness through yoga,) with a special focus on prayer, both as a personal practice and as a practice of leading others. We will also consider how all these practices
can strengthen our leadership more generally within our communities.
At the Institute, we envision synagogues as sacred communities in which communal prayer and other aspects of traditional Jewish life are vibrant and spiritually engaging. We believe that Jewish leaders can lead with greater awareness, authenticity, courage and presence, with less burnout and greater satisfaction in their work. We have seen that spiritual practices can help leaders be more open and more resilient.
We are hopeful that this combined cohort will advance this vision by addressing the real needs of synagogues in creating more meaningful spiritual experiences, the changing role of the cantor in Jewish communal life and even the sometimes complicated relationships between clergy members. We are very excited to take this step in the ongoing evolution of the Institute as the pre-eminent venue for deep, transformative change in Jewish spiritual life.
Applications for the program will be available in the spring of 2013. For more information please contact Rabbi Jonathan Slater, at jonathan@jewishspirituality.org.
[February 2013 email newsletter]
Wow… this is dynamic step forward. The goals are courageous and could lead to major transformation in synagogue dynamics. Some thoughtful pre-planning for 1st retreat structure may be wise; and there should also likely be some carefully-written, and required preparatory reading during the weeks leading up to the retreat. It might also be wise to include questions to candidate applicants regarding their additudes and their appreciation of the incredible value in undertaking this valuable project!
Can you send me more info the location, dates and fee for these programs?
Thanks so much,
Kaya
Interested. Keep me posted.
Do you know the calendar dates?
I would appreciate additional information on the cohort which will begin January of 2014. Please keep me up to date on any materials I may need to apply as well as the specifics related to cost, dates of retreats, and so on.
Thank you very much,
Rabbi Leah Herz
Please do keep me up to date about your next cohort
I have wanted to do this study for awhile now…wondering if
there is any scholarship money at this point as I am a single mom of 2 special needs teens…I have written a Havdallah ritual/ article about them included in LILITH magazine summer 2008.
Working with special needs kids and families on Bar/Bat Mitzvah is a sub specialty…kwg