Call of the Shofar 5786: A Study and Practice Group for Younger Adults

Jul 17, 2026

Call of the Shofar 5786

A Study and Practice Group for Younger Adults

August 17-September 8, 2026

A FREE 4-week program led by Kohenet Keshira haLev Fife and Rebecca Schisler

Monday, August 17

Tuesdays, August 25, September 1, 8

8:00-9:15 PM ET, live on Zoom

Click Here to Register for Free

Course at a Glance

Awaken from spiritual autopilot this Elul with our four-week mindfulness journey for younger adults (20s-30s). Grounded in the core themes of Rosh Hashanah—renewal, awe, release, and mindful action—this free program will help you prepare your inner life for the Jewish New Year. We’ll have live practice, guided meditations, and contemplative text study to help you meet the holidays with conscious intention.

We invite you to enter into a powerful journey of returning to our most authentic selves.

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. This year, the IJS faculty will offer NEW materials over four weeks, each week grounded in a key theme of the High Holidays. Each week, the program will include guided text study, suggested mindfulness practices to do on your own, an option to connect in chevruta, and live practice sessions with Rebecca Schisler and Kohenet Keshira haLev Fife.

Course Description for this Free Program

Over four weeks, The Shofar Project this year will feature BRAND NEW materials, each week featuring a live practice session (Wednesdays) and written materials – including texts, meditations, and suggested practices – grounded in a key theme of Rosh Hashanah:

Week One, HaYom Harat Olam, Today, the World is Born, with Kohenet Keshira haLev Fife:

A week for connecting with the ever-present sacred power of renewal and change, letting ourselves dream and imagine new possibilities for ourselves and our world.

Week Three, Zichronot, Remembering/Releasing, with Rabbi Sam Feinsmith:

Loosening the grip of old patterns – personal and collective – that we’ve outgrown and ready to move beyond.

Week Two, Malkuyot, Cultivating Awe and Wonder, with Rabbi Marc Margolius:

Getting curious about what we’ve really been orienting our lives around – and whether there’s something more meaningful to turn towards, for ourselves and the world.

Week Four, Shofarot, Called to Mindful Action, with Rabbi Miriam Margles

A week for waking up to what we are truly being called to, nurturing our hope, and finding the courage to make our visions real.

Together we breathe, together we change, together we grow.

Save Your Spot!

Testimonials

“Thank you Keshira and Rebecca for guiding us through this journey so lovingly. Thanks everyone for being present and brave throughout this process 🙏🏾”

“For me it’s a lot about the people! Just soaking up wisdom from anyone & everyone. So much honesty that people shared with one another.”

“For me, it’s a paradigm shift to understand mindfulness meditation as teshuva.”

“I loved the meditations and the breakout rooms, connecting with other young adults in small groups and sharing.”

“I meditate pretty much every day at lunch for ~ 10 minutes. Today I did the Teshuvah practice and it felt so grounding to be honoring both this time of Elul specifically and my Jewishness more generally in my daily practice. So grateful to you all!”

Meet Your Instructors:

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 Core Faculty Member with the Institute for Jewish Spirituality, and also enjoys working with beloved, The Jewish Studio Project, Kirva, the Avodah Institute for Social Change, and the Jewish Learning Collaborative, among other national Jewish organisations. Additionally, she delights in serving as a shlichat tzibbur, life spiral ceremony/ritual creatrix, consultant, facilitator, teacher, liturgist and songstress. Her work in these realms is informed by her lived experience as a queer, bi-racial, child-free Jewish person, 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 is a meditation teacher, artist, and Jewish educator. A devoted contemplative practitioner, she has led groups and taught classes and retreats with Or HaLev, Wilderness Torah, Pardes, Stanford School of Medicine, Urban Adamah, Hamakom, and the Awakened Heart Project. She was previously the Director of Student Health & Well-being at Stanford University’s Hillel, and co-authored the Mahloket Matters Schools Curriculum with the Pardes Center for Jewish Educators. 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. Rebecca currently lives in the California Bay Area, where she maintains a lively studio art practice as the artist-in-residence at the JCC East Bay, loves to host Jewish gatherings of all kinds, and tries to lose herself among her neighboring redwood trees as much as possible.

Returning Anew

Dec 11, 2025

Returning Anew

Shevet’s 3rd Annual Silent Jewish Meditation Retreat

for Younger Adults (20s & 30s)

August 19 – 23, 2026
Trinity Retreat Center, West Cornwall, CT

Meet the Teachers

Click Here to Register Now

Pause. Breathe. Begin again.

Nestled in beautiful West Cornwall, Connecticut, we will hold our third annual multi-day retreat specifically designed for younger adults and working professionals in their 20s and 30s. Our teachers will help us create a sacred container for this profoundly soulful experience that invites you to slow down, return to yourself, and drop into what matters most within a sacred community of practice. Amidst the challenges of daily life and the tumultuous world around us, this is an opportunity for deep renewal, healing and transformation.

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

Opening at the start of the Jewish month of Elul, a season of awakening and Teshuva, return, this retreat is a sacred space to set things down, reflect on where we’ve been, and move into the new Jewish year with clarity, intention, and an open heart. Even as the world keeps changing, Elul holds the possibility of hidchadshut: genuine renewal, beginning again.

Who Can Attend?

This retreat is open to students, young professionals and seekers under 40 who are seeking an opportunity for immersive spiritual practice. 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.

Whether you’re an experienced practitioner or have never sat in silence for five minutes, there is a seat for you here.

Reserve Your Spot

What to Expect

Utilizing the gifts of silence, mindfulness, embodiment, creativity, song, prayer, and a variety of Jewish spiritual teachings, you will:

Learn tools and practices to reconnect with your innate wisdom and authenticity.
Nurture your capacity for resilience, compassion, and well-being.
Cultivate insight and wise action in response to the challenges of our world.

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.

– Marlee Goldshine, 2025 Retreat Participant

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.

- Michael Kreigsman, 2025 Retreat Participant

Teachers

Guiding you on this journey will be a team of instructors who truly “get” the specific pressures of being a younger adult in these uncertain times. Once again we welcome IJS Core Faculty Kohenet Keshira haLev Fife and Rebecca Schisler, and Adjunct Faculty Jes Golden and Yael Shy. These soulful, grounded mentors will hold our sacred space with a mix of warmth, humor, and ancient wisdom, ensuring you feel seen and supported as you navigate your own process of returning.

Meet the Teachers

Schedule

Participants should plan to arrive at Trinity Retreat Center in West Cornwall, CT between 2:30 – 4:30 PM ET on Wednesday, August 19 to register and get settled. The retreat will begin with an orientation at 5:00 PM ET and dinner at 6:00 PM ET. The retreat will end at noon on Sunday, August 23. Participants are welcome to stay through lunch.

The schedule is structured to help you stay immersed and grounded. It’s a mix of:

Seated & Walking Meditation: Alternating stillness with mindful movement, adapted for all abilities.
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, kosher meals a day and plenty of rest.
Mindful Movement: Daily yoga sessions to enliven and nourish the body.

See our Frequently Asked Questions section for a sample schedule.

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 on a sliding scale. 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 in their 20s and 30s. 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 are offering sliding scale pricing.

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.

Join us at Trinity!

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this retreat for me?

Short answer: Yes. Whether you’re a daily meditator or struggle to “be present” for more than a few seconds, you belong here. Our guidance is designed to be both deep and accessible. No “expert” status required and no judgement throughout our time together. If you are curious and ready to show up for a transformational experience rooted in Jewish tradition that touches the depths of your soul, this is for you.

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 put down the armor, decompress, and give yourself the gift of turning within. And 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 that the gift of silence, when done in community, 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 gravity of the world right now?

We come together in a tumultuous and 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 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!), eat delicious kosher meals, 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.

In this 2024 study from the National Institute of Health that linked meditation (specifically mindfulness-based interventions) to improved mental health in young adults, 89.4% of practitioners reported that meditation helps reduce stress and nearly 87% of users report feeling better emotionally.

What does a typical day look like?

The Flow: Days start early (6:30 AM) with a practice in the morning stillness and the day wraps up by 9:30 PM. Our week of retreat will culminate with a beautiful celebration of Shabbat.

Here is a sample schedule:

- - - Wake up
    - Sit
    - Shacharit / Morning prayer practice
    - Breakfast
    - Sitting or walking instruction and practice
    - Lunch
    - Sit or walking practice
    - Small groups
    - Mindful Movement
    - Dinner
    - Evening program
    - Closing sit / evening prayers
    - Bedtime

Ready to unplug? Register here

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.

Yaakov Ginsberg-Schreck

Yoga Instructor

Yaakov Ginsberg-Schreck (he/him) is the Founder and Executive Director of RUACH, a Boston-based collective of teachers in embodied Jewish practice. He completed his 200-hour Yoga teacher training through One Down Dog Studios in Los Angeles in 2019, under the mentorship of Evelyn (Ducky) Punch. From 2019-2023, he pursued rabbinical studies at Hebrew College, where he began RUACH as a student project. In order to pursue full-time organizational leadership, Yaakov left the Beit Midrash (study hall) when RUACH incorporated as a nonprofit. In addition to stewarding RUACH’s organizational development, he teaches Yoga, breath practice, and Jewish meditation as pathways toward recovering the living mystery and redemptive possibilities within Jewish tradition and human imagination. As a past participant and guest teacher for Shevet, he is deeply grateful for the opportunity to be part of this wonderful retreat.

Shevet: A Jewish Mindfulness Community for Young Adults

Jul 28, 2025