Program Offerings
From Shavuot on the Mountain 2011
Hitbodedut, Talking with G-d in the Woods, and Reb Nachman On How to Get Real w Rabbi Daniel Lev
We’ll learn from Reb Nachman, an eighteenth century mystic master who took some of the moralistic pronouncements of the early talmudic rabbis and mystically twisted them into the deep, meditative wisdom and practice that attunes well with Earth-Based Jewish souls. We’ll have thet opportunity to both learn with our heads and our hearts.
Shavuot as the Eighth Day of Pesach: Harvesting the Bounties of Holiness w/ R. Chaya Gusfield
We will explore a teaching from the Slonimer Rebbe (also known as the Netivot Shalom) about Shavuot as the 8th day of Pesach. Through the 7 intervening Shabbatot from Pesach to Shavuot we prepare to receive Torah and harvest from our spiritual and physical journeys of the past 7 weeks. Through text study, sharing and discussion we discuss what it means to be at the “boundary of holiness” on this eighth day (the number beyond the physical world). Come learn this incredible text and share your personal experience.
The Book of Ruth: Shavuot, Generosity, and International Food Justice with Berger Jocelyn
In this interactive text-based discussion, we’ll study the Book of Ruth to explore the journey from charity and dependency to dignity and sustainability. Using an American Jewish World Service global justice lens, we’ll compare food aid in Ruth’s time and our own. Join us to explore how we can apply Jewish values to stand in solidarity and unity with our global village.
Sow Your Mind with Rabbi Jim Brandt
The un/ever-pronounceable Hebrew letter sequence, Yud-Hey-Vav-Hey, diagrams righteousness, justice, and creation. We will look at the power and the multiple meanings attributed to this expression of God, and reflect on how each of us experiences the Divine Presence. Using meditation and guided visualization, we will find our place in the diagram…and in the relationship as we prepare for Sinai”
Circle of Ruth with Miki Raver, author of Listen to Her Voice: Women of the Hebrew Bible
Connect with Ruth and Naomi as your spiritual guides through text study, guided meditation, movement and visualization. This is the tenth year that Miki has offered the Circle of Ruth on Shavuot ( the second year at Wilderness Torah). Other venues have included the Omega Institute, Isabella Freedman Jewish Retreat Center and Congregation Kol Shofar.
Circle of Memory with Debra Massey
As one of the 3 pilgrimage festivals, Shavuot includes an opportunity to remember the people in our lives who are no longer with us. In honor of Yizkor, we will gather together to share stories about people who have passed away and how they have touched our lives.
Learning about the ancient Israelite Incense Offering with Mallek Ryan
We will be burning all of the different incenses (frankincese, myhrr and more!) used in the ancient Temple of Jerusalem while looking at the texts and ideas that surround this holy offering for the community of Israel. We will understand the significance of the sense of smell in prayer and ancient Israelite ritual while asking what is the value of experiencing different creative ways to pray that has been lost over the ages.
Moving Through the Sefirot towards Revelation with Sarai Shapiro
Through embodied movement, prayer and music we will move through the experience of the directions and the 7 sefirot or attributes of how g-d is expressed in the human form. Allow your body’s wisdom to be the vehicle that allows you to be present to what is right now. From there allow the veils between the worlds to be thinned.
Organic Divinity: Experiencing YHWH Through Principles of Ecology with Alon Weinberg
This is an effort to understand G!D through the uber-material: Earth and Body, while letting go of concepts that hold us back from this. Using Fritjof Capra’s 6 or 8 principles of ecology, and breathing and moving a small bit, we will try to understand this great being from within it and within our bodies and within our extended body Earth.
Receiving and Giving Holy Blessings with Rich Robinson
As we are open to receive on Shavuot we will learn how to give and receive blessings for each other. This is a co-creative experience of discovering what each person needs to receive in the moment.
Revelation in the Night with Zelig Golden
Something magical happens in the pre-dawn hours. Reb Nachman, the great Chasidic master, knew this and sent his students out after midnight night to pray alone in the dark. Join Zelig for a guided journey into the dark and drink deeply of this magic revelation moment.
Pre-Dawn Bird Sit with Fred Werner and Zelig Golden
As the dawn approaches, the birds sing in thanksgiving for new day. This will be a time pre-dawn to bring our senses to the winged ones and become attuned to their language and song. Fred and Zelig will help us identify particular bird songs and signs and share how the birds can help us to become more aware and connected to all of creation.
