PILGRIMAGE: An all-night Tikkun Leil Shavuot of immersive ritual, learning, and performance
Come experience the ancient tradition of Tikkun Leil Shavuot with Chochmat HaLev and LABA BAY AREA: A Laboratory for Jewish Culture, and Wilderness Torah.
Shavuot is one of three Jewish pilgrimage festivals, when seekers from across the land would convene at the sacred Temple to encounter each other and the Divine in elaborate ritual and shared abundance. Since the destruction of the Temple, Jewish mystics have spent all Shavuot night immersed in study and practice, seeking to relive the revelation at Mt. Sinai.
Join us for a modern-day reimagining of this ancient pilgrimage – an all-night journey of body, heart, and spirit, as we wander together through uncertain times in search of meaning, connection, and delight.
Our evening will start with provocative and immersive ritual theater designed and led by Rabbi Zvika Krieger, Spiritual Leader of Chochmat HaLev and co-leader of Black Rock City Shabbat at Burning Man, with sacred chanting led by Lior Tsarfaty and Bouchaib Abdelhadi. You can then choose your own adventure: study sessions led by the wisest scholars and mystics from across the Bay, including Tova Birnbaum, Dr. Deena Aranoff, Rabbi Dorothy Richman, Rebecca Schisler, and more; singing, storytelling, and magic all night around the sacred fire with Wilderness Torah led by Rabbi Paige (Lincenberg) Lowenstein, Kohenet Amanda Nube, Sarah Elise Rund, Eli Witkin, Rabbi Elizheva Hurvich, Zvi Bellin, and more; as well as music, art, and embodiment experiences created and led by LABA artists, curated by Elissa Strauss:
INTERACTIVE ART by Molly Almeida
PAINTINGS by Annalisa Chasan
DANCE WORKSHOP with Tai Lum
AUDIO-VISUAL JOURNEY with Alex Asher Daniel
SENSORY SHAVUOT FEAST by One Farm Lemon
See below for more info about our teachers and artists!
Join us early at 6pm for dinner and shmoozing (separate ticket for dinner). Libations and delicacies will be served throughout the night in our cozy tea lounge.
Stay for our late night/early morning program (1am-6am) that will include transportative visualizations, sacred improv, song circles, and sunrise prayer.
Last year the event was sold-out. (See photos and videos from last year’s incredible Tikkun experience). Register soon to secure your place on this mystical journey.
We have THREE invitations for you:
1) Your prompt arrival is strongly requested for the opening ritual. Please arrive by 7pm to experience the full immersive ritual. If you arrive after it has begun, we may need to ask you to wait until a less-disruptive moment to enter.
2) As participants in what the Kabbalists refer to as “the Divine wedding,” we invite you to join us in the mystical tradition of dressing in all white clothing.
3) If you plan to stay late, and/or want to be cozy, you are welcome to bring blankets, sleeping bags, and anything else that would make you more comfortable!
We need a few volunteers to ensure the evening runs smoothly — if you’re able to volunteer, email sophie@chochmat.org. We’re happy to provide a complimentary ticket for volunteers.
Teachers and Artists
Rabbi Zvika Krieger is the Spiritual Leader of Chochmat HaLev, a progressive spiritual community in Berkeley, CA for embodied prayer and mindfulness, heart-centered connections, and mystical wisdom. He is co-founder of Shevet: Jewish Mindfulness Collective and thirdhouse: Sacred Leadership Lab, and has served in board and leadership positions for Sukkat Shalom/Milk+Honey camp at Burning Man, Jewish Studio Project, DC Minyan, and other organizations dedicated to nourishing the mind, body, and soul.
Zvika has previously served as Facebook/Meta’s first-ever Director of Responsible Innovation, co-founder of the World Economic Forum’s Center for the Fourth Industrial Revolution, the US Department of State’s first-ever “Ambassador to Silicon Valley,” and Middle East Correspondent for Newsweek. Follow him on Instagram at @zkrieger.
Tova Birnbaum is a faculty member at the Mandel Institute for Nonprofit Leadership and a Rabbinic Ordination student at the Shalom Hartman Institute. She was the Director of Jewish Life at the Oshman Family JCC in Palo Alto and a Senior Jewish Education Specialist at the JCC Association. Tova was born in B’nai B’rak, Israel, in an Ultra-Orthodox home, and was one of the founders of the BINA Secular Yeshiva in Tel Aviv, where she was a faculty member. She also served as the Central Shlicha (emissary), Director of the North America Region of the World Zionist Organization. Tova is a Judaic studies teacher, Theater Midrash workshop facilitator, and a Secular Jewish Life Cycle ceremonies officiant. She serves on the Board of Directors of the Gideon Hausner Jewish Day School in Palo Alto and on the Birthright Israel International Education Committee. Tova holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Jewish Philosophy from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and a master’s degree in Theater from Tel Aviv University. Tova and her husband live in Palo Alto, California, and are proud parents of two daughters.
Deena Aranoff is the Faculty Director of the Richard S. Dinner Center for Jewish studies at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley. She teaches rabbinic literature, medieval patterns of Jewish thought, and the broader question of continuity and change in Jewish history. Her recent publications engage with the subject of childcare, maternity, and the making of Jewish culture.
Rabbi Dorothy Richman serves as the rabbi of Makor Or: Jewish Meditation Center and is a founding faculty member of the Romemu Yeshiva. Her work engages the spiritual practices of Torah study, prayer, meditation, music, and justice. She has enjoyed a close relationship with Chochmat HaLev over many years, providing deep insights into traditional Jewish practices.
Rebecca Schisler Rebecca is a meditation teacher, artist, and Jewish educator. A devoted contemplative practitioner, she is a core faculty member at the Institute for Jewish Spirituality, where she created and steers the Shevet Jewish Mindfulness Community, a space for young(ish) adults to dive deep into Jewish spirituality and mindfulness practice in local and virtual spaces. Rebecca is a recipient of the 2025 Pomegranate Prize from the Covenant Foundation for emerging leaders in Jewish education. She has taught with Stanford School of Medicine, Or haLev, Wilderness Torah, Urban Adamah, HaMakom, Awakened Heart Project and the Pardes Center for Jewish Educators, where she co-authored the Mahloket Matters Schools Curriculum. A rabbinical student at ALEPH, Rebecca is passionate about integrating ancestral wisdom traditions with innovative approaches to personal and collective healing and liberation, and teaches Jewish spirituality as an embodied, transformational, and accessible path, with relevant and timely wisdom for all. Learn more at www.rebeccaschisler.com.
Kohenet Amanda Nube is an experienced Jewish educator and the proud mother of two teens. She previously worked at Chochmat Halev as a Spiritual Care Fellow and at Netivot Shalom as a teacher and a tutor in the B’mitzva program, and has also worked with families independently on Jewish ceremonies and rites of passage. Amanda received her Masters of Jewish Studies at the Academy of Jewish Religion LA and completed her studies with The Kohenet Institute in 2018. As a Jewish ceremonialist and educator, she is passionate about sharing her love of earth based Judaism, music, and embodied spirituality.
Rabbi Elizheva Hurvich grew up with eclectic Jewish practices, including the Rock n’ Roll Rabbis, Conservative shul Kol Shofar, and many holidays spent with her Jewish family in the deep South. A self-declared Judaophile, she holds degrees in women’s studies , poetry, Jewish & Material Culture Studies. For most of her adult life, she has been answering Reb Zalman’s call to bring Jewish Renewal to the next generation, teaching students and mentoring Jewish educators for years. On her 50th birthday she did two audacious things: she applied to rabbinical school and she bought a pair of roller skates!
Rabbi Elizheva was ordained by Aleph: Alliance for Jewish Renewal in January 2025. She lives in Oakland, CA with Bob, Max and their dog Chewy Chaim Furfink.
Sarah Elise Rund loves getting outside and getting their hands dirty! She earned an MS in Ecological Teaching and Learning from Lesley University, and has worked as an environmental educator in numerous contexts for close to 20 years. Living the majority of their life in New England, Sarah Elise developed a deep love of the turning of the seasons and all that they offer. Sarah Elise grew up in a Conservative Jewish household, and her personal spiritual practice has always been deeply tied to the natural turning of the year.
Sarah Elise has been with the Wilderness Torah Youth programs since she started as a B’Hootz mentor in 2019. It has been their joy and pleasure to serve as a mentor for B’Hootz, B’Naiture, and Shomrim over the years. Being a part of Wilderness Torah Youth Programs has brought them a deep sense of self, a stronger connection to HaShem, and an intimacy with the nature of the greater Bay Area. They are thrilled to be continuing on as a B’Naiture and Shomrim mentor this year, and she is especially excited to be stepping into her new role as Youth Programs Manager.
Rabbi Paige (Lincenberg) Lowenstein feels closest to the earth, to herself, and to the Divine when officiating sacred ceremonies- weddings, baby namings, b’nai mitzvot, conversions, and especially funerals, honoring both the cycles of the earth אדמה and of the earthlings אדם.
Rabbi Paige “freelances,” officiating ceremonies and prayer services across Northern California, especially in Marin County, where she lives in the redwood forest. She previously served the Mendocino Coast Jewish Community and works with Wilderness Torah and Shefa: Jewish Psychedelic Support. Rabbi Paige follows in the legacy and teachings of Reb Zalman Schachter-Shalomi (z”l), having received rabbinical ordination (smicha) from ALEPH: Alliance for Jewish Renewal, with a specialized certification in Earth-Based Judaism.
Eli Witkin is a playful and experienced educator. He spent the last ten years making his way through wilderness education, experiential programing, and classroom teaching. Whether hosting a monthly Rosh Chodesh Kumzits, guiding children through the woods, or teaching teens Hebrew Calligraphy, with Eli, curiosity and spirituality are always at the forefront. He believes that all humans are born curious, with the innate ability to learn the natural way – through wonder and exploration.
Eli first fell in love with Torah at age ten and has been studying ever since. Five years ago he helped co-found the farm at Gann Academy. There a new type of Torah began to grow, a part of what he likes to call “the great remembering.” Now Eli has a passion for bringing our ancient tradition, kept for thousands of years in books, alive once again into an embodied relationship with nature and land.
As a lover of learning, Eli holds a random array of certifications including degrees in Geology, Economics, Education, and Experiential Education. More than anything else, he is most proud that former students sometimes reach out just to have coffee.
Elissa Strauss is an artistic director and curator. She directs the local Bay Area hub of LABA: A Laboratory for Jewish Culture, and helps oversee the network of LABAs around the world. In 2024, Elissa curated the California Jewish Open at the Contemporary Jewish Museum in San Francisco. She regularly leads workshops for Jewish organizations on how to expand the Jewish imagination.
In addition to her curating work, Elissa is a journalist, essayist and cultural critic who has been writing about the politics and culture of parenting and caregiving for more than fifteen years with work appearing in publications like the Atlantic, the New York Times, Glamour, ELLE, CNN.com and Slate. Her critically-acclaimed book, “When You Care: The Unexpected Magic of Caring for Others,” is out now from Gallery Books.
Molly Almeida explores spiritual concepts through a child-like perspective of wonder. Through dense, illustrative imagery, she invites the viewer into her perception of immanence. Molly is a visual artist with a focus on drawing and works on paper, with a BFA in printmaking from the Massachusetts College of Art and Design.
Annalisa Chasan has been a close observer and maker since she could hold a crayon. She is a sculptor, mind/body movement educator and a lifelong learner. Some of her favorite activities are seeing art and being on the trails of Mt Tamalpais. She is a mom of two teenagers.
Tai Lum received a BFA in Dance at NYU Tisch School of the Arts. He grew up in San Francisco, studying at the San Francisco Ballet School, LINES Ballet Teen Company, and the ODC Dance Jam. He went to high school at Ruth Asawa School of the Arts.
Alex Asher Daniel is a multidisciplinary artist and composer with a practice including sound installation, painting, film & video, 3D objects and new media. Daniel’s oeuvre of work stems from a lifelong interest in mysticism and spirituality, and his work has been showcased in exhibitions internationally, and resides in permanent collections including The Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery, The Hip Hop Museum, and the English National Trust. A progeny of the Hip-Hop generation, Daniel’s creative practice is also deeply informed by his passion for music and often includes sound collaborations with emerging and established artists and experiential audio installations.
Chef Daniella Bensimon is a private chef and cooking instructor based in Oakland, CA. Her culinary journey started at an early age in her hometown of Seattle, WA., influenced by the ethnic diversity surrounding her and enriched by her Moroccan, Swedish and Israeli roots.
Chef Daniella specializes in farm-to-table North African, Mediterranean, and Middle Eastern cuisine, with a California fresh twist. She also cooks for variety of diets including vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, Paleo, Whole 30, etc.
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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 Protocols
Our 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 requirements for attendance at events. Masks, although not required, are recommended. We understand people will need to make their own decisions about exposure and risk based on their own personal preferences, and health status.
Chochmat HaLev will provide passive ventilation (e.g., open windows and doors under the supervision of security-trained personnel) and other equipment as available.
Chochmat HaLev will include specific guidelines for those attending in person events on our website and in announcements regarding events.
Chochmat HaLev will provide seating adjacent to a window in an end-of-the-row seat to individuals upon request.
DO NOT attend an event at CHL if:
- you are experiencing any potential symptoms of COVID-19 or other illness
- you have tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 10 days and have not had a negative antigen test on Day 6 or later
- you have had a known exposure to COVID-19 in the past 3-5 days
- a household member has tested positive in the last 10 days and has not had a negative test on Day 6 or later
By attending this event, you consent that recordings or photos of you may be used by Chochmat HaLev. If you have any questions, please contact shalom@chochmat.org
Refund Policy
Tickets are not refundable, but may be transferred with 24 hours notice.
