Calendar

Exodus and the Birth of Song:A Hadar Rising Song ImmersiveMarch 30, 2025 (Rosh Hodesh Nisan) | Chochmat HaLev (Berkeley, CA) Join Hadar’s Rising Song Institute in Berkeley, CA, for a full-day musical immersive exploring the Jewish singing tradition that first emerges in the midst of the Exodus narrative. Guided by a faculty team of composers, facilitators, and scholars, this experiential day offers the opportunity to explore and cultivate the underpinnings of empowered music and prayer communities. All are invited to build skills, ask questions, and immerse in heart-opening communal song! Anchored by Hadar’s R. Deborah Sacks Mintz and R. David Kasher, a faculty team of California-based artists and scholars will round out this musical day – including Eliyahu Sills and Rachel Valfer of the Qadim Ensemble, Duvid Swirsky, Lior Tsarfaty, and R. Zvika Krieger. Register by February 7 to grab our early-bird pricing. Come to immerse in new music, take a deep dive into traditional sounds, and connect with curiosity to others who share this passion. This immersive is presented by Hadar West, in partnership with Chochmat HaLev. Register now! (Hadar.org) Accessibilty  Physical Access Entrance Entrance to the Sanctuary is at the corner of Prince St. and Fulton St.. There are 8 steps into the main entrance of the Sanctuary. There is an accessible ramp at a separate entrance on Fulton St. Please let a volunteer or staff know if you need to use this entrance; you can also email us in advance at shalom@chochmat.org Seating We have folding chairs (some with padding, some without), pillows, and floor cushions available for you to use as well as benches in our Courtyard. COVID Protocols Our new policy effective May 19th, 2023 is as follows: Chochmat HaLev, in consultation with our medical advisor and based on community survey results, will discontinue masking...

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Mondays,  7 – 8:30pm by donationOnly on Zoom Check out our Timeline of Jewish Meditation » EVENT DESCRIPTION Come Deepen Your Practice of Jewish Meditation Want to see God (or at least It’s shadow)? Lower your blood pressure? Manage your spiritual confusion? Connect with a deeper Jewish consciousness? Learn about Judaism’s esoteric side? Get a whiff of enlightenment? Just as healthy foods nourish our body, Jewish meditation nourishes our soul.  It has been around for centuries and includes forms such as chanting, visualization, silence, and movement. It can revitalize and transform Judaism from the blasé familiar into a profound and constantly renewing spiritual practice. As one of the first modern Jewish institutions to teach these forms when we opened our doors in 1995, we invite you to join us in a journey that is both personal and communal, a claiming and reclaiming of ancient pathways that open and deepen our capacity to live in connection. Some of the teachers are skilled in Classical Jewish styles of meditation, while others are practitioners of other forms but have integrated Jewish wisdom, liturgy, and concepts into their teaching. All provide an interesting, engaging and meaningful experience. For beginners and experienced meditators alike. No previous meditation or Jewish experience required. By donation. DONATION INFO$18 suggested donation. Our meditation program is supported entirely by donations. Each contribution, small and large, allows us to keep bringing you meaningful offerings.• Donate online chochmat.org/give• Venmo @Chochmat• Paypal shalom@chochmat.org ZOOM INFO Join with video:  https://zoom.us/j/848045873?pwd=bHpOZEpwTGJkbDNRLzNoVjNoZ01vZz09 Join by phone: 1-669-900-6833, or 1-346-248-7799, or 1-253-215-8782Meeting ID: 848-045-873Passcode: 847352 BIOSJen RoitmanJen experienced the power of chanting and meditation at a contemplative Rosh Hashanah service led by Rabbi Jonathan Omer-man and has been practicing Jewish and Vipassana meditation for more than 18 years.  She is a graduate of Rabbi Shefa Gold’s Kol Zimra Chant Leader Training, and The Sati Center Buddhist Chaplaincy Program. ...

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with Jeffrey KesslerWednesdays  |  8:15 – 9amBy Donation  |  On Zoom  Check out our Timeline of Jewish Meditation » Torah is our technology for encountering the Divine Presence. Silence provides a necessary space for that encounter. According to Jewish tradition, the Presence dwells continually within and around us, but we must learn deep listening to receive its generative wisdom. Shemah – in a word that sounds like an exhalation of breath,  we are directed to listen in order to understand the Divine Oneness. We are to open to this Oneness with all of our heart, our soul, our strength. We must listen to our bodies, our emotions, our thoughts, all that is deep within us. Join us as we sit together in silence, after a brief teaching on meditation practice in connection either with the weekly Torah portion or where we find ourselves in the Jewish sacred calendar. About Jeffrey KesslerA graduate of Chochmat HaLev’s first Jewish Meditation Teacher Training Program, Jeffrey has studied many spiritual traditions. With degrees in philosophy, mathematics and spiritual psychology, Jeffrey has spent his life exploring the many creative disciplines of staying open in order to connect with the Nameless One. He sees Meditation and Mussar practice as key to the renewal of Jewish spirituality. DONATION INFO$18 suggested donation. Every contribution, large or small, allows us to keep bringing you meditation, services, and much more. • Donate online chochmat.org/give• Venmo @Chochmat• Paypal shalom@chochmat.org ZOOM INFOJoin with video  https://zoom.us/j/520703203?pwd=RnJNRittSkZNcnkxNm03WGxvcFgyQT09 Join by phone  1-669-900-6833, 1-346-248-7799, 1-253-215-8782Meeting ID: 520 703 203Passcode: 062729 , ...

Friday, April 4, 6pm In person and on Zoom Meeting ID 878 1040 4956Passcode 972073 Join Chochmat HaLev for a Kabbalat Shabbat (Welcoming Shabbat) service, a mystical tradition full of embodied prayer, soulful singing, ecstatic dancing, guided meditation, sharing of ancestral wisdom, and connection in intergenerational community. This service will be led by Zvika Krieger, Lior Tsarfaty, Lauren Arrow, and special guests. Service will start promptly at 6pm — please arrive a few minutes early to check in and be seated. Potluck oneg after services, followed by HeartSpace at 8pm. If you’re planning to attend in-person, please register in advance.If you’re planning to attend via Zoom, the link is here: https://zoom.us/j/8781040 HOLY WORK (Sign up to volunteer) Register here! During service Childcare is available. Please register so we know you’re coming! After service Please bring a delicious vegetarian contribution to our potluck oneg and schmooze with our beloved community! Followed by HeartSpace at 8pm. Event Details: Emotional Potty Training for Grown Ups in Trying Times.  Join Rachel Kaplan, therapist, author, TEDx speaker and long time Chochmat community member as she shares practical tips on how to emotionally digest the complex and painful feelings so many of us are navigating at this time. This event promises to be actionable, inspiring, and supportive. You may even laugh. Books will be available for purchase. Books also available here on Amazon or here at Afikomen. Rachel Kaplan is the author of the new Library Journal acclaimed self-healing book Feel, Heal, & Let that Sh*t Go: Your Guide to Emotional Resilience and Lasting Self Love. She is a licensed psychotherapist with a thriving practice in the San Francisco Bay Area and creator and host of the podcast Healing Feeling Sh*t Show. Her “Inner Talks That Heal” TEDx talk explores the internal relationship between our loving...

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Saturdays, 9:30 – 11amwith Eric Strellis Join on  Zoom It is a tree of life to all who take hold of it, and whoever keeps hold of it is happy; its ways are ways of pleasantness, and all its paths are peace.  – Proverbs 3:17-18 If Torah is our Tree of Life, where are its roots, how does it flower, what does its fruit taste like? Answers to these questions, and more, are revealed to us every week when we study together. Engaging with Torah allows us to access an Eternal Wisdom that often seems intimidating, hidden and unreachable. Explore the parsha, the week’s Torah portion, with a warm, supportive, questioning community.  Together, we luxuriate in the specialness of Shabbat, delving deeply into the text. We read the entire parsha aloud in English and see where the discussion leads us.  Prior experience with the text is not required as we read it again, together, for the first time. Join us and deepen your connection to Torah, Shabbat, and Jewish community. Everyone is welcome, every voice is valued. For more information, please reach out to Eric Strellis at eric@chochmat.org. DONATION INFOWe rely on your contributions to cover our expenses. Please consider donating, or become a member! Free for Chochmat members$5 requested donation for non-members• Donate online here• Venmo @chochmat• Paypal shalom@chochmat.org ZOOM INFOIf you are new to Zoom, join early and follow the prompts to download the free software.Join with videohttps://zoom.us/j/652501750 Join by phone1-669-444 9171 1-346-248-77991-253-205-0468 Meeting ID: 881 8385 9402Passcode: 986927 , ...

Mondays,  7 – 8:30pm by donationOnly on Zoom Check out our Timeline of Jewish Meditation » EVENT DESCRIPTION Come Deepen Your Practice of Jewish Meditation Want to see God (or at least It’s shadow)? Lower your blood pressure? Manage your spiritual confusion? Connect with a deeper Jewish consciousness? Learn about Judaism’s esoteric side? Get a whiff of enlightenment? Just as healthy foods nourish our body, Jewish meditation nourishes our soul.  It has been around for centuries and includes forms such as chanting, visualization, silence, and movement. It can revitalize and transform Judaism from the blasé familiar into a profound and constantly renewing spiritual practice. As one of the first modern Jewish institutions to teach these forms when we opened our doors in 1995, we invite you to join us in a journey that is both personal and communal, a claiming and reclaiming of ancient pathways that open and deepen our capacity to live in connection. Some of the teachers are skilled in Classical Jewish styles of meditation, while others are practitioners of other forms but have integrated Jewish wisdom, liturgy, and concepts into their teaching. All provide an interesting, engaging and meaningful experience. For beginners and experienced meditators alike. No previous meditation or Jewish experience required. By donation. DONATION INFO$18 suggested donation. Our meditation program is supported entirely by donations. Each contribution, small and large, allows us to keep bringing you meaningful offerings.• Donate online chochmat.org/give• Venmo @Chochmat• Paypal shalom@chochmat.org ZOOM INFO Join with video:  https://zoom.us/j/848045873?pwd=bHpOZEpwTGJkbDNRLzNoVjNoZ01vZz09 Join by phone: 1-669-900-6833, or 1-346-248-7799, or 1-253-215-8782Meeting ID: 848-045-873Passcode: 847352 BIOSJen RoitmanJen experienced the power of chanting and meditation at a contemplative Rosh Hashanah service led by Rabbi Jonathan Omer-man and has been practicing Jewish and Vipassana meditation for more than 18 years.  She is a graduate of Rabbi Shefa Gold’s Kol Zimra Chant Leader Training, and The Sati Center Buddhist Chaplaincy Program. ...

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with Jeffrey KesslerWednesdays  |  8:15 – 9amBy Donation  |  On Zoom  Check out our Timeline of Jewish Meditation » Torah is our technology for encountering the Divine Presence. Silence provides a necessary space for that encounter. According to Jewish tradition, the Presence dwells continually within and around us, but we must learn deep listening to receive its generative wisdom. Shemah – in a word that sounds like an exhalation of breath,  we are directed to listen in order to understand the Divine Oneness. We are to open to this Oneness with all of our heart, our soul, our strength. We must listen to our bodies, our emotions, our thoughts, all that is deep within us. Join us as we sit together in silence, after a brief teaching on meditation practice in connection either with the weekly Torah portion or where we find ourselves in the Jewish sacred calendar. About Jeffrey KesslerA graduate of Chochmat HaLev’s first Jewish Meditation Teacher Training Program, Jeffrey has studied many spiritual traditions. With degrees in philosophy, mathematics and spiritual psychology, Jeffrey has spent his life exploring the many creative disciplines of staying open in order to connect with the Nameless One. He sees Meditation and Mussar practice as key to the renewal of Jewish spirituality. DONATION INFO$18 suggested donation. Every contribution, large or small, allows us to keep bringing you meditation, services, and much more. • Donate online chochmat.org/give• Venmo @Chochmat• Paypal shalom@chochmat.org ZOOM INFOJoin with video  https://zoom.us/j/520703203?pwd=RnJNRittSkZNcnkxNm03WGxvcFgyQT09 Join by phone  1-669-900-6833, 1-346-248-7799, 1-253-215-8782Meeting ID: 520 703 203Passcode: 062729 , ...

Read aloud and discuss Kings 1, Chapters 21-22 and Kings 1, Chapters 1-2. Our reading concludes Eliah’s story. We will meet via Zoom. All donations appreciated! 7pm on Zoom »Meeting ID: 895 6011 5951Passcode: 573038 “Never again did there arise in Israel a prophet like Moses.” Our Torah Scroll ends with the death of Moses and the People of Israel poised to enter the Promised Land.  What a classic cliffhanger! But the story of the Jewish people continues and the book of Nevi’im, or Prophets: For those of you who love a good story, maybe even hero and anti-hero themes, you are in luck. Our readings chronicle the story of the Israelites in the promised land and the challenges they face.  It is truly amazing that the Divine One has put up with all this! Come explore these fascinating texts with us on every 2nd Thursday of the month at 7pm. The text can be found on Sefaria Never again did there arise in Israel a prophet like Moses…. Deut. 34:1″ , ...

Saturdays, 9:30 – 11amwith Eric Strellis Join on  Zoom It is a tree of life to all who take hold of it, and whoever keeps hold of it is happy; its ways are ways of pleasantness, and all its paths are peace.  – Proverbs 3:17-18 If Torah is our Tree of Life, where are its roots, how does it flower, what does its fruit taste like? Answers to these questions, and more, are revealed to us every week when we study together. Engaging with Torah allows us to access an Eternal Wisdom that often seems intimidating, hidden and unreachable. Explore the parsha, the week’s Torah portion, with a warm, supportive, questioning community.  Together, we luxuriate in the specialness of Shabbat, delving deeply into the text. We read the entire parsha aloud in English and see where the discussion leads us.  Prior experience with the text is not required as we read it again, together, for the first time. Join us and deepen your connection to Torah, Shabbat, and Jewish community. Everyone is welcome, every voice is valued. For more information, please reach out to Eric Strellis at eric@chochmat.org. DONATION INFOWe rely on your contributions to cover our expenses. Please consider donating, or become a member! Free for Chochmat members$5 requested donation for non-members• Donate online here• Venmo @chochmat• Paypal shalom@chochmat.org ZOOM INFOIf you are new to Zoom, join early and follow the prompts to download the free software.Join with videohttps://zoom.us/j/652501750 Join by phone1-669-444 9171 1-346-248-77991-253-205-0468 Meeting ID: 881 8385 9402Passcode: 986927 , ...

Experience the Power of Tradition, Connection, and Spiritual Growth The Kiddush Levana (Sanctifying the Moon) Men’s Blessing Circle is a monthly gathering that combines Jewish tradition, spiritual practice, and community building. This program is for male-identified individuals seeking a safe and meaningful space to explore personal growth, offer blessing for the new month,, and strengthen connections within the Chochmat HaLev community. What to Expect: Celebrate Tradition: Begin each session outdoors under the moonlight with a joyous Kiddush Levana ritual. Sing, dance, and honor the cycles of nature in alignment with Jewish wisdom. Engage in Inquiry and Reflection: Gather in a circle to explore the Four Worlds of Kabbalah—each session will include check-ins, intention-setting, learning, and spiritual reflection. Build Meaningful Connections: Share stories, insights, and intentions in a trusted container that fosters authentic and vulnerable conversation. Strengthen Community Bonds: Deepen your connection to the Chochmat HaLev community while engaging in transformative Jewish learning. Sessions will be led by Noah Phillips and David Steuer LOGISTICS: Where: Nicholl Knob and Noah’s nearby home in Point Richmond When:  6 Sundays, Monthly, at sunset, between the third and fifteen days of the Hebrew month (the second or first Sunday of each Gregorian month). Jan 12 (Tevet 12) Feb 9 (Shevat 11) March 9 (Adar 9) April 6 (Nisan 8) May 4 (Iyar 6) June 8 (Sivan 12) Who: Our Kiddush Levana circle is open to anyone who identifies as male as well as anyone who feels most comfortable in such a space, including those who identify as trans, non-binary, or gender expansive. A note on gender affinity spaces: Our Kiddush Levana circle is open to anyone who identifies as male as well as anyone who feels most comfortable in such a space, including those who identify as trans, non-binary, or gender expansive. Our intention is...

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Tickets for Chochmat Members Tickets for Non-Members Join us for our 2nd Annual Family Passover Seder at Chochmat! Join us for an immersive and interactive experience designed to engage all ages!  For kids 12 and under: A raucous, fun, re-enactment of the Passover story, with movement, live music, props and costumes, as we bring Moses, Pharaoh, and the 10 plagues to life.  Make sure to stick around to search for the Afikomen!  Teens (Ages 12 and Up) : Teen Seder, Beyond the Mystery of the Four Questions Come explore the symbols and the messages of Passover with prizes for those who dare to go deeper. Bring a backpack and notepad, a healthy appetite and some walking shoes as we will make haste and flee the seder for an experiential journey of liberation.   For parents: Join Rabbi Zvika for some words of wisdom giving time to eat, engage, and explore the themes of the Passover after the meal. Schedule: 2:15-2:30pm – Arrival2:45-3:45p –  Immersive Passover Storytelling in Courtyard3:345-4:45 – Catered, family-style dinner*Teen Exodus Program happening at the same time at a nearby park 4:45-5:30 – Passover Reflections with Rabbi Zvika*Teen Exodus Report Back5:30-6:30pm – Wrap-up and Clean-up Don’t miss this unique and meaningful annual event for the whole family!  Tickets for Members Tickets for Non-Members   ACCESSIBILITY & VENUE INFO: Building entrance has both steps and a wheelchair accessible ramp Refund Policy Tickets are not refundable, but may be transferred with 24 hours notice. , ...

Mondays,  7 – 8:30pm by donationOnly on Zoom Check out our Timeline of Jewish Meditation » EVENT DESCRIPTION Come Deepen Your Practice of Jewish Meditation Want to see God (or at least It’s shadow)? Lower your blood pressure? Manage your spiritual confusion? Connect with a deeper Jewish consciousness? Learn about Judaism’s esoteric side? Get a whiff of enlightenment? Just as healthy foods nourish our body, Jewish meditation nourishes our soul.  It has been around for centuries and includes forms such as chanting, visualization, silence, and movement. It can revitalize and transform Judaism from the blasé familiar into a profound and constantly renewing spiritual practice. As one of the first modern Jewish institutions to teach these forms when we opened our doors in 1995, we invite you to join us in a journey that is both personal and communal, a claiming and reclaiming of ancient pathways that open and deepen our capacity to live in connection. Some of the teachers are skilled in Classical Jewish styles of meditation, while others are practitioners of other forms but have integrated Jewish wisdom, liturgy, and concepts into their teaching. All provide an interesting, engaging and meaningful experience. For beginners and experienced meditators alike. No previous meditation or Jewish experience required. By donation. DONATION INFO$18 suggested donation. Our meditation program is supported entirely by donations. Each contribution, small and large, allows us to keep bringing you meaningful offerings.• Donate online chochmat.org/give• Venmo @Chochmat• Paypal shalom@chochmat.org ZOOM INFO Join with video:  https://zoom.us/j/848045873?pwd=bHpOZEpwTGJkbDNRLzNoVjNoZ01vZz09 Join by phone: 1-669-900-6833, or 1-346-248-7799, or 1-253-215-8782Meeting ID: 848-045-873Passcode: 847352 BIOSJen RoitmanJen experienced the power of chanting and meditation at a contemplative Rosh Hashanah service led by Rabbi Jonathan Omer-man and has been practicing Jewish and Vipassana meditation for more than 18 years.  She is a graduate of Rabbi Shefa Gold’s Kol Zimra Chant Leader Training, and The Sati Center Buddhist Chaplaincy Program. ...

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with Jeffrey KesslerWednesdays  |  8:15 – 9amBy Donation  |  On Zoom  Check out our Timeline of Jewish Meditation » Torah is our technology for encountering the Divine Presence. Silence provides a necessary space for that encounter. According to Jewish tradition, the Presence dwells continually within and around us, but we must learn deep listening to receive its generative wisdom. Shemah – in a word that sounds like an exhalation of breath,  we are directed to listen in order to understand the Divine Oneness. We are to open to this Oneness with all of our heart, our soul, our strength. We must listen to our bodies, our emotions, our thoughts, all that is deep within us. Join us as we sit together in silence, after a brief teaching on meditation practice in connection either with the weekly Torah portion or where we find ourselves in the Jewish sacred calendar. About Jeffrey KesslerA graduate of Chochmat HaLev’s first Jewish Meditation Teacher Training Program, Jeffrey has studied many spiritual traditions. With degrees in philosophy, mathematics and spiritual psychology, Jeffrey has spent his life exploring the many creative disciplines of staying open in order to connect with the Nameless One. He sees Meditation and Mussar practice as key to the renewal of Jewish spirituality. DONATION INFO$18 suggested donation. Every contribution, large or small, allows us to keep bringing you meditation, services, and much more. • Donate online chochmat.org/give• Venmo @Chochmat• Paypal shalom@chochmat.org ZOOM INFOJoin with video  https://zoom.us/j/520703203?pwd=RnJNRittSkZNcnkxNm03WGxvcFgyQT09 Join by phone  1-669-900-6833, 1-346-248-7799, 1-253-215-8782Meeting ID: 520 703 203Passcode: 062729 , ...

Register Here –  A Spiritual Strategy for 2025 and Beyond – How do we infuse our days with ritual to sustain us and make every day holy? What technologies do Judaism and other sacred traditions provide? In this interactive workshop, we will explore these questions and others, and generate a variety of ideas to create a personal practice for each person attending. Facilitators:  Leah Shelleda and Nadine Rosenthal When: Wednesday, April 16, 7-9pm in the Chochmat Sanctuary Cost:  Members: $18; Non-Members $36 Please Bring:  a notebook small meaningful object to create an altar wear comfortable clothes Please also bring your openness, imagination, questions, and practices Register Here Leah Shelleda taught World Religions, Philosophy and Cultural Studies at the College of Marin. She is a published, prize-winning poet and a ritualist who combines ancient practices, contemporary values and deep compassion in the workshops and ceremonies she creates. Nadine Rosenthal was Chair of the Learning Assistance Department at City College of San Francisco for 25 years before she retired, took up quilting and offered her first two major quilts to Chochmat HaLev. Those two quilts now hang on our Bima wall. She leads our Art Affinity Group at Chochmat and has committed herself to her morning spiritual practice. Accessibility Physical Access: Entrance Entrance to the Sanctuary is at the corner of Prince St. and Fulton St.. There are 8 steps into the main entrance of the Sanctuary. There is an accessible ramp at a separate entrance on Fulton St. Please let a volunteer or staff know if you need to use this entrance; you can also email us in advance at shalom@chochmat.org Seating We have folding chairs (some with padding, some without), pillows, and floor cushions available for you to use, along with limited bench seating in the back of the Sanctuary. COVID ProtocolsOur...

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Friday, April 18, 6:00pm  Join Chochmat HaLev for Kabbalat Shabbat (Welcoming Shabbat) service with Lior and special guests, full of embodied prayer, soulful singing, ecstatic dancing, guided meditation, sharing of ancestral wisdom, and connection in intergenerational community.  Service will start promptly at 6pm — please arrive a few minutes early to check in and be seated. Join us for a potluck dinner/oneg after services, followed by a special HeartSpace circle at 8pm:  If you’re planning to attend in-person, please register in advance. If you’re planning to attend via Zoom, the link is here: https://zoom.us/j/87810404956 Click here to register! HOLY WORK – Click here to volunteer! During service Childcare is available. Please register so we know you’re coming! After service Enjoy a delicious potluck oneg.  Please bring a vegetarian dish to share and come schmooze with our beloved community!   Followed by HeartSpace at 8pm DONATION INFO Our Shabbat services are supported by donation. Each donation, small and large, allows us to continue with this offering. Please contribute when you register, or at one of the links below:• Donate online chochmat.org/give• Venmo @chochmat • Paypal shalom@chochmat.org Accessibility ZOOM INFOJoin with video https://zoom.us/j/87810404956 Meeting ID 878 1040 4956Passcode 972073 Join by phone 1-669-900-6833, 1-346-248-7799, 1-253-215-8782Meeting ID 878 1040 4956Passcode 972073Notice: Our Zoom recordings are for archival purposes only, and therefore are not available to the public. Physical Access Entrance Entrance to the Sanctuary is at the corner of Prince St. and Fulton St.. There are 8 steps into the main entrance of the Sanctuary. There is an accessible ramp at a separate entrance on Fulton St. Please let a volunteer or staff know if you need to use this entrance; you can also email us in advance at shalom@chochmat.org Seating We have folding chairs (some with padding, some without), pillows, and floor cushions available for you to use, along with...

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Mondays,  7 – 8:30pm by donationOnly on Zoom Check out our Timeline of Jewish Meditation » EVENT DESCRIPTION Come Deepen Your Practice of Jewish Meditation Want to see God (or at least It’s shadow)? Lower your blood pressure? Manage your spiritual confusion? Connect with a deeper Jewish consciousness? Learn about Judaism’s esoteric side? Get a whiff of enlightenment? Just as healthy foods nourish our body, Jewish meditation nourishes our soul.  It has been around for centuries and includes forms such as chanting, visualization, silence, and movement. It can revitalize and transform Judaism from the blasé familiar into a profound and constantly renewing spiritual practice. As one of the first modern Jewish institutions to teach these forms when we opened our doors in 1995, we invite you to join us in a journey that is both personal and communal, a claiming and reclaiming of ancient pathways that open and deepen our capacity to live in connection. Some of the teachers are skilled in Classical Jewish styles of meditation, while others are practitioners of other forms but have integrated Jewish wisdom, liturgy, and concepts into their teaching. All provide an interesting, engaging and meaningful experience. For beginners and experienced meditators alike. No previous meditation or Jewish experience required. By donation. DONATION INFO$18 suggested donation. Our meditation program is supported entirely by donations. Each contribution, small and large, allows us to keep bringing you meaningful offerings.• Donate online chochmat.org/give• Venmo @Chochmat• Paypal shalom@chochmat.org ZOOM INFO Join with video:  https://zoom.us/j/848045873?pwd=bHpOZEpwTGJkbDNRLzNoVjNoZ01vZz09 Join by phone: 1-669-900-6833, or 1-346-248-7799, or 1-253-215-8782Meeting ID: 848-045-873Passcode: 847352 BIOSJen RoitmanJen experienced the power of chanting and meditation at a contemplative Rosh Hashanah service led by Rabbi Jonathan Omer-man and has been practicing Jewish and Vipassana meditation for more than 18 years.  She is a graduate of Rabbi Shefa Gold’s Kol Zimra Chant Leader Training, and The Sati Center Buddhist Chaplaincy Program. ...

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Saturdays, 9:30 – 11amwith Eric Strellis Join on  Zoom It is a tree of life to all who take hold of it, and whoever keeps hold of it is happy; its ways are ways of pleasantness, and all its paths are peace.  – Proverbs 3:17-18 If Torah is our Tree of Life, where are its roots, how does it flower, what does its fruit taste like? Answers to these questions, and more, are revealed to us every week when we study together. Engaging with Torah allows us to access an Eternal Wisdom that often seems intimidating, hidden and unreachable. Explore the parsha, the week’s Torah portion, with a warm, supportive, questioning community.  Together, we luxuriate in the specialness of Shabbat, delving deeply into the text. We read the entire parsha aloud in English and see where the discussion leads us.  Prior experience with the text is not required as we read it again, together, for the first time. Join us and deepen your connection to Torah, Shabbat, and Jewish community. Everyone is welcome, every voice is valued. For more information, please reach out to Eric Strellis at eric@chochmat.org. DONATION INFOWe rely on your contributions to cover our expenses. Please consider donating, or become a member! Free for Chochmat members$5 requested donation for non-members• Donate online here• Venmo @chochmat• Paypal shalom@chochmat.org ZOOM INFOIf you are new to Zoom, join early and follow the prompts to download the free software.Join with videohttps://zoom.us/j/652501750 Join by phone1-669-444 9171 1-346-248-77991-253-205-0468 Meeting ID: 881 8385 9402Passcode: 986927 , ...

Saturday April 26, 11am Join us for an in-person Shabbat service. Janet Falk and Jeffrey Kessler conduct Chochmat’s beautiful Contemplative Service, created by founding member Nan Gefen and Rabbi Jonathan Omer-man. The service follows the arc of the traditional morning Shabbat service in distilled form – with alternating periods of chant and silence, time for personal prayer, Torah teaching, and Mourner’s Kaddish. Followed by: Kiddish Lunch 12:30 pm Chesed Community Care Circle 1:00 pm – For more information about Heart 2 Heart and the Chesed Community Care Circle, please contact Shelley Coleman, Care Coordinator at  heart@chochmat.org   DONATION INFOOur Shabbat services are supported by donation. Each donation, small and large, allows us to continue with this offering.• Donate online chochmat.org/give• Venmo @chochmat• Paypal shalom@chochmat.org , ...

Mondays,  7 – 8:30pm by donationOnly on Zoom Check out our Timeline of Jewish Meditation » EVENT DESCRIPTION Come Deepen Your Practice of Jewish Meditation Want to see God (or at least It’s shadow)? Lower your blood pressure? Manage your spiritual confusion? Connect with a deeper Jewish consciousness? Learn about Judaism’s esoteric side? Get a whiff of enlightenment? Just as healthy foods nourish our body, Jewish meditation nourishes our soul.  It has been around for centuries and includes forms such as chanting, visualization, silence, and movement. It can revitalize and transform Judaism from the blasé familiar into a profound and constantly renewing spiritual practice. As one of the first modern Jewish institutions to teach these forms when we opened our doors in 1995, we invite you to join us in a journey that is both personal and communal, a claiming and reclaiming of ancient pathways that open and deepen our capacity to live in connection. Some of the teachers are skilled in Classical Jewish styles of meditation, while others are practitioners of other forms but have integrated Jewish wisdom, liturgy, and concepts into their teaching. All provide an interesting, engaging and meaningful experience. For beginners and experienced meditators alike. No previous meditation or Jewish experience required. By donation. DONATION INFO$18 suggested donation. Our meditation program is supported entirely by donations. Each contribution, small and large, allows us to keep bringing you meaningful offerings.• Donate online chochmat.org/give• Venmo @Chochmat• Paypal shalom@chochmat.org ZOOM INFO Join with video:  https://zoom.us/j/848045873?pwd=bHpOZEpwTGJkbDNRLzNoVjNoZ01vZz09 Join by phone: 1-669-900-6833, or 1-346-248-7799, or 1-253-215-8782Meeting ID: 848-045-873Passcode: 847352 BIOSJen RoitmanJen experienced the power of chanting and meditation at a contemplative Rosh Hashanah service led by Rabbi Jonathan Omer-man and has been practicing Jewish and Vipassana meditation for more than 18 years.  She is a graduate of Rabbi Shefa Gold’s Kol Zimra Chant Leader Training, and The Sati Center Buddhist Chaplaincy Program. ...

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with Jeffrey KesslerWednesdays  |  8:15 – 9amBy Donation  |  On Zoom  Check out our Timeline of Jewish Meditation » Torah is our technology for encountering the Divine Presence. Silence provides a necessary space for that encounter. According to Jewish tradition, the Presence dwells continually within and around us, but we must learn deep listening to receive its generative wisdom. Shemah – in a word that sounds like an exhalation of breath,  we are directed to listen in order to understand the Divine Oneness. We are to open to this Oneness with all of our heart, our soul, our strength. We must listen to our bodies, our emotions, our thoughts, all that is deep within us. Join us as we sit together in silence, after a brief teaching on meditation practice in connection either with the weekly Torah portion or where we find ourselves in the Jewish sacred calendar. About Jeffrey KesslerA graduate of Chochmat HaLev’s first Jewish Meditation Teacher Training Program, Jeffrey has studied many spiritual traditions. With degrees in philosophy, mathematics and spiritual psychology, Jeffrey has spent his life exploring the many creative disciplines of staying open in order to connect with the Nameless One. He sees Meditation and Mussar practice as key to the renewal of Jewish spirituality. DONATION INFO$18 suggested donation. Every contribution, large or small, allows us to keep bringing you meditation, services, and much more. • Donate online chochmat.org/give• Venmo @Chochmat• Paypal shalom@chochmat.org ZOOM INFOJoin with video  https://zoom.us/j/520703203?pwd=RnJNRittSkZNcnkxNm03WGxvcFgyQT09 Join by phone  1-669-900-6833, 1-346-248-7799, 1-253-215-8782Meeting ID: 520 703 203Passcode: 062729 , ...

10% Discounted Series Registration Here! Let us explore the balance between the structure of prayer service and the experience of surrender in our community practice. Over the course of 3 sessions, we will focus on 3 distinct elements of our Kabbalat Shabbat: transitioning to sacred space with Shalom Aleichem, affirming infinite Oneness through the Shema and V’ahavta, and acknowledging the finiteness of our mortal existence in the Mourner’s Kaddish.   The kabbalists of the sixteenth-century used the image of Jacob’s ladder to describe the order of prayers in the siddur as rungs in the ascent of the soul, They taught that each of the four letters of God’s ineffable Name represent the four rungs of life: body, emotion, intellect, and spirit. The structure of service can provide each of us a ladder from earth to heaven.  How might these prayers guide you on this journey? Facilitator: Lisa Strongin Open to all — no prior experience needed. Wednesdays 7-8:30pm, bi-weekly — Sessions will be in the sanctuary on: April 30 May 14 May 28  Cost and Commitment: Free –  Members $18/session – Non-members **Sign up for the whole series and receive a 10% discount!** DROP- INS WELCOME! Pay at the door! ABOUT THE FACILITATOR: Lisa Strongin loves exploring Jewish ritual practice, liturgy and Torah.  For over 10 years, she served a small congregation in Visalia, Ca as an educator, shlichat tzibur (congregational prayer leader) and director of adult and children’s education.  Since moving back to the Bay Area, she has served on our High Holy Day Committee and tutors our b’mitzvah students. , ...

Saturdays, 9:30 – 11amwith Eric Strellis Join on  Zoom It is a tree of life to all who take hold of it, and whoever keeps hold of it is happy; its ways are ways of pleasantness, and all its paths are peace.  – Proverbs 3:17-18 If Torah is our Tree of Life, where are its roots, how does it flower, what does its fruit taste like? Answers to these questions, and more, are revealed to us every week when we study together. Engaging with Torah allows us to access an Eternal Wisdom that often seems intimidating, hidden and unreachable. Explore the parsha, the week’s Torah portion, with a warm, supportive, questioning community.  Together, we luxuriate in the specialness of Shabbat, delving deeply into the text. We read the entire parsha aloud in English and see where the discussion leads us.  Prior experience with the text is not required as we read it again, together, for the first time. Join us and deepen your connection to Torah, Shabbat, and Jewish community. Everyone is welcome, every voice is valued. For more information, please reach out to Eric Strellis at eric@chochmat.org. DONATION INFOWe rely on your contributions to cover our expenses. Please consider donating, or become a member! Free for Chochmat members$5 requested donation for non-members• Donate online here• Venmo @chochmat• Paypal shalom@chochmat.org ZOOM INFOIf you are new to Zoom, join early and follow the prompts to download the free software.Join with videohttps://zoom.us/j/652501750 Join by phone1-669-444 9171 1-346-248-77991-253-205-0468 Meeting ID: 881 8385 9402Passcode: 986927 , ...