Minding the Heart
An Urban Meditation Retreat
by Or HaLev and The Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies
Thursday, April 11 - Motzei Shabbat, April 13 2024
The Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies, Talpiot, Jerusalem, Israel
Expand Yourself within the Consciousness of Love and Presence in this annual Jewish Meditation retreat.
Often times, people who know they are about to die choose to share with their dear ones as final words, “I love you.” Imminent mortality has a way of presencing what is most essential. At the same time, living under too much ongoing stress and threat with too little support we may find ourselves having closed off our hearts from contact, seemingly protected but also missing the juice of life. How would it be to live really in touch with love and belovedness as a resource?
How would it be if we didn’t have to wait for special circumstances to touch and be touched by that glow? In this retreat, we’ll combine trauma-informed mindfulness practices that support nervous system regulation and embodiment with practices that nurture heartful presence.
This Retreat offers you:
Silent meditation with guidance
Group teachings
Time for Q&A
Prayer, chanting & yoga
A deep celebration of Shabbat
This retreat is open to all, from beginner to advanced meditators, and holds communal Jewish practice in a loving, open, pluralistic Jewish space.
Start time on Thursday, April 11: 6pm (arrival by 5:30pm)
End time on Motzei Shabbat, April 13 : 8:30pm
*Full Schedule will be sent after registration
Meet Your Teachers
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Danny Cohen
Danny brings a rare integration of contemplative spiritual practice and wisdom traditions with trauma-informed therapeutics for cultivating deeper, richer, and more sacred ways of being alive. A graduate of The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and a variety of yeshivot, Danny was the founding director of Or HaLev Center for Jewish Spirituality and Meditation and a Guiding Teacher at Mindful Schools. He has guided thousands of people around the world in both mindfulness practices and conscious communication skills, currently lives in Israel and is a member of the Evolve Foundation core faculty.
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Keren Sheffi - Assistant Teacher
Keren Sheffi is a writer of fiction and non-fiction, a translator of Dharma and other books, and a meditation teacher who teaches independently and in Or HaLev. Mostly, though, she is a practitioner and lover of the way, who has devoted long periods to intensive practice in various meditation centers and alone in nature, as well as in her daily life, and is passionate about the relationship of deep practice and skillful action in the world.
This retreat is a non-residential retreat, which means people will sleep in their own homes each night or find their own accommodations.
Or HaLev is a pluralistic organization and we strive to create opportunities for meaningful practice for people from a diverse variety of Jewish backgrounds. In this retreat, food will be kosher and vegan. We will offer halachic egalitarian davening with three sections (men, women, and any gender). If there is a critical mass of those who prefer an Orthodox minyan, we will gladly make a space for that option as well. Alternately, people can choose to daven independently or not at all, depending on personal preference.
Cost
720 ILS per person
Current Pardes students, faculty, and staff receive a special rate.
Please email naomi@orhalev.org for details
If the retreat cost is financially unfeasible for you, please write to naomi@orhalev.org, with a brief explanation of why you’d like to join us on retreat and your financial needs and we will do our best to make the retreat accessible to you. Financial aid is limited.
If you prefer to pay in dollars, please contact us.
Retreat prices reflect the direct operating costs of running this retreat. They do not include any compensation for our teachers. At the end of the retreat, you will be invited to donate, to make an offering of the heart, to support the teachers.
Registration closes on April 3, 2024*
*Registration after April 3 will include an additional fee of 30 ILS
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Social Silence
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Communal Jewish Practice
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Pluralistic Jewish Space
A Few More Things To Note
The retreat will be conducted in English
This retreat is a diverse container open to anyone. We welcome those with all Jewish backgrounds and meditation experience levels.
The retreat is mostly conducted in silence, except for group sessions and personal conversations with the teachers.
Should you discover that you are unable to attend, you may cancel for a full refund, less a 5% administrative fee, prior to April 3. No refunds will be issued after April 3, unless there is a replacement from a waiting list.
Our goal is to make retreat a safe and supportive environment for all who attend.
Please click here to find out more.
If you would like to discuss your mental health with us, or have concerns about whether this retreat is appropriate for you, please email us at naomi@orhalev.org and we will put you in touch with the lead teacher of the retreat to discuss your concerns.
Any Questions?
Please email Or HaLev English Language Coordinator, Naomi Shifrin, at naomi@orhalev.org
