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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20230308T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20230308T133000
DTSTAMP:20260512T023749
CREATED:20220907T213807Z
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UID:15032-1678276800-1678282200@ritualwell.org
SUMMARY:Inner and Outer Peace Work Inspired by Etty Hillesum
DESCRIPTION:March 8\, 15\, 22\, 29\, 2023\n12:00–1:30 p.m. EST \nWe live in times of transition\, witnessing a huge change in humanity\, a time that calls us to face many challenges in the political arena. We need to find our voices to contribute to the change we aspire to see. We can find strength through solidarity\, deep listening\, and spiritual connection. The diaries of Etty Hillesum represent a woman who found her own path of spiritual resistance against a totalitarian regime and ideology. She searched for inner freedom\, chose to believe in the humanness of all people\, even her so-called “enemies\,” and carried a vision of a better future in her heart no matter how hard life seemed. Using her writings as the basis for our inquiry\, we will ask: What is peace work? How can we channel our anger and frustration so that it does not control us? How can we develop spiritual resilience\, face thoughts of despair that sometimes threaten to take over\, and step out of victimhood? What is our spiritual source? What is our vision for a better world? We will read excerpts from Hillesum’s diaries and discuss the topics of inner and outer peace\, inner freedom\, healing hatred\, and spiritual development. We will engage in writing exercises\, meditation\, and group sharing. All are welcome. \nDina Awwad-Srour and Emma Sham-ba Ayalon are passionate women and peace workers who work for social change and global healing. Dina (Palestinian) is a lecturer and a writer on issues of women’s empowerment and sexuality. Emma Sham-Ba (Israeli) is a rabbi\, poet\, and artist. They created the Etty Hillesum Cards in three languages (English\, Hebrew\, and Arabic) in order to share the inspiration of Hillesum’s writings with others. \n  \n  \nAll sessions will be recorded and sent to participants. We encourage live attendance for you to get the most out of the experience.
URL:https://ritualwell.org/event/inner-and-outer-peace-work-inspired-by-etty-hillesum-2/2023-03-08/
LOCATION:Zoom
CATEGORIES:Immersions
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20230308T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20230308T133000
DTSTAMP:20260512T023749
CREATED:20220817T220211Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230222T203312Z
UID:11573-1678276800-1678282200@ritualwell.org
SUMMARY:Inner and Outer Peace Work Inspired by Etty Hillesum
DESCRIPTION:March 8\, 15\, 22\, 29\, 2023\, 12:00–1:30 p.m. EST \nWe live in times of transition\, witnessing a huge change in humanity\, a time that calls us to face many challenges in the political arena. We need to find our voices to contribute to the change we aspire to see. We can find strength through solidarity\, deep listening\, and spiritual connection. The diaries of Etty Hillesum represent a woman who found her own path of spiritual resistance against a totalitarian regime and ideology. She searched for inner freedom\, chose to believe in the humanness of all people\, even her so-called “enemies\,” and carried a vision of a better future in her heart no matter how hard life seemed. Using her writings as the basis for our inquiry\, we will ask: What is peace work? How can we channel our anger and frustration so that it does not control us? How can we develop spiritual resilience\, face thoughts of despair that sometimes threaten to take over\, and step out of victimhood? What is our spiritual source? What is our vision for a better world? We will read excerpts from Hillesum’s diaries and discuss the topics of inner and outer peace\, inner freedom\, healing hatred\, and spiritual development. We will engage in writing exercises\, meditation\, and group sharing. All are welcome. \nDina Awwad-Srour and Emma Sham-ba Ayalon are passionate women and peace workers who work for social change and global healing. Dina (Palestinian) is a lecturer and a writer on issues of women’s empowerment and sexuality. Emma Sham-Ba (Israeli) is a rabbi\, poet\, and artist. They created the Etty Hillesum Cards in three languages (English\, Hebrew\, and Arabic) in order to share the inspiration of Hillesum’s writings with others. \n  \nAll sessions will be recorded and sent to participants. We encourage live attendance for you to get the most out of the experience.
URL:https://ritualwell.org/event/inner-and-outer-peace-work-inspired-by-etty-hillesum/2023-03-08/
LOCATION:Zoom
CATEGORIES:Immersions
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20230302T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20230302T133000
DTSTAMP:20260512T023749
CREATED:20221208T221006Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230209T215249Z
UID:16299-1677758400-1677763800@ritualwell.org
SUMMARY:Story Magic: Fiction Writing Through a Jewish Lens\, Part 2
DESCRIPTION:March 2\, 9\, 16\, 23\, 30\, 2023\n12:00–1:30 p.m. EST \nFrom biblical and midrashic narratives to contemporary fiction published in literary journals\, good stories ignite our imaginations and serve as portals to the human experience. In this generative workshop\, we’ll explore the craft of fiction through reading and writing as we unfold the wings of imaginative prose. Each week we’ll discuss a short story\, assimilate craft techniques\, and write from prompts. This workshop is suitable for poets\, journalists\, fiction writers\, and curious readers. While this immersion is a continuation of the fall series\, new participants are encouraged to join.\n \nAmy Gottlieb‘s debut novel The Beautiful Possible was a finalist for the 2017 Harold U. Ribalow Prize\, a 2016 National Jewish Book Award and Edward Lewis Wallant Award. Her fiction and poetry have been published in Other Voices\, Lilith\, Puerto del Sol\, Ilanot Review\, On Being\, Zeek\, Storyscape\, The Bloomsbury Anthology of Contemporary Jewish American Poetry\, and elsewhere. She has received a Literary Fellowship and Residency from the Bronx Council on the Arts\, and an Arts Fellowship from the Drisha Institute for Jewish Education. Amy is a graduate of Clark University and the University of Chicago. She lives with her family on the edge of the Hudson River in New York City. \nAll sessions will be recorded and sent to participants. We encourage live attendance for you to get the most out of the experience.
URL:https://ritualwell.org/event/story-magic-fiction-writing-through-a-jewish-lens-part-2/2023-03-02/
LOCATION:Zoom
CATEGORIES:Immersions
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20230228T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20230228T133000
DTSTAMP:20260512T023749
CREATED:20220817T221428Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230214T164810Z
UID:11578-1677585600-1677591000@ritualwell.org
SUMMARY:Jewish Art as Self-Defense
DESCRIPTION:February 28\, March 7\, 14\, 21\, 2023\n12:00–1:30 p.m. EST \nThroughout history\, Jewish artists have used their art as a tool for empowerment in the face of adversity. Join Black\, Queer Jewish artist Ayeola Omolara Kaplan for a deep dive into creating artwork informed by Jewish social justice work. We will learn about Jewish artists and how their Jewish identity inspired their “art-ivism.” Ayeola will guide participants in creating an art piece in whichever medium they are most comfortable (visual\, written\, vocal\, dance\, etc.) in response to a social/environmental issue of their choice. This immersion will support both new and experienced creatives in learning to use art as a form of self-defense. By the end of the immersion\, we each will have created a piece of art meant to empower us and developed art practices that we can return to during difficult times. We will celebrate the magic of creating art\, and how to approach the creative process within the lens of Jewish spirituality. \n\nYou do not need to be experienced to create art. Art is a language we can all use. All you need is your enthusiasm to have fun and try something new.\nThere will be some designated time during each session for working on our art pieces; however\, we encourage participants to spend some time outside of each session working on their piece. This ensures that we can spend most of the immersion learning/discussing/sharing with each other.\n\nAyeola Omolara Kaplan (she/her) is a Black\, Queer\, and Jewish artist. Through depicting the intersections of identity\, class\, and spirituality\, Ayeola hopes to meaningfully contribute to the growing body of revolutionary art. Her work features electrifying\, surrealist imagery\, created to celebrate the empowerment of oppressed people. In her experience\, art is equally a spiritual and political medium. Art is the language that Ayeola uses to fully reclaim the power within herself. She hopes that through sharing her work\, she is able to help spread joy and inspire folks to live truthfully and committed to building a world where we can all experience peace\, freedom\, and equity. \nAll sessions will be recorded and sent to participants. We encourage live attendance for you to get the most out of the experience.
URL:https://ritualwell.org/event/jewish-art-as-self-defense/2023-02-28/
LOCATION:Zoom
CATEGORIES:Immersions
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ritualwell.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Jewish-Art-as-Self-Defense-FebMar23-ForWeb.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20230209T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20230209T133000
DTSTAMP:20260512T023749
CREATED:20220817T220227Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20221121T134834Z
UID:11577-1675944000-1675949400@ritualwell.org
SUMMARY:Language at the Edge: Exploring Holocaust Poetry
DESCRIPTION:February 9\, 16\, 23\, March 2\, 9\, 16\, 2023\n12:00–1:30 p.m. EST \nJoin us for an in-depth look at the poetry of the Holocaust\, some of the most profound poetry of witness known to humankind. These poems are borne within the extremity of survival and they are\, as such\, evidence of what occurred. They are also poems about the limits of language itself to convey the unimaginable. In this immersion\, we will read deeply from a selection of poets who wrote about the Holocaust and learn about their lives\, their stories\, their survival\, and their language. At the same time\, we will explore our own lives\, our family histories\, and what it means to live in a post-Holocaust world. From these stories we will begin to form our own poems of witness. \nRachel Neve-Midbar is a poet and essayist. Her first full-length poetry collection\, Salaam of Birds\, was chosen by Dorothy Barresi for the Patricia Bibby First Book Prize and was published by Tebot Bach in January 2020. She is also the author of the 2014 chapbook\, What the Light Reveals. Her work has appeared in many journals and anthologies. A current Ph.D. candidate at the University of Southern California\, Rachel is also editor of Stained: An Anthology of Writing about Menstruation for the AuntFlo2020 Project. More at rachelnevemidbar.com. \n  \n  \nAll sessions will be recorded and sent to participants. We encourage live attendance for you to get the most out of the experience.
URL:https://ritualwell.org/event/language-at-the-edge-exploring-holocaust-poetry/2023-02-09/
CATEGORIES:Immersions
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ritualwell.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Language-at-the-Edge-Exploring-Holocaust-Poetry-Jan26-ForWeb.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20230125T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20230125T133000
DTSTAMP:20260512T023749
CREATED:20220817T220227Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230119T181135Z
UID:11574-1674648000-1674653400@ritualwell.org
SUMMARY:Miracles and the Strange: Writing Inspiration from Sephardic Folktales and Modern Speculative Fiction
DESCRIPTION:January 25\, February 1\, 8\, 15\, 22\, March 1\, 2023\n12:00–1:30 p.m. EST \nTraditional Sephardic folktales take the experience of the marginalized Jewish diaspora and create narratives of hope and justice through inexplicable miracles and magical events. In this generative workshop\, we will use these folktales of miracles as inspiration to write our own speculative stories\, using elements of the strange amid a backdrop of realism. We will look to modern fiction by Karen Bender\, Lina María Ferreira Cabeza-Venegas\, Shirley Jackson and Samanta Schweblin\, and examine how these writers grapple with social and cultural experiences\, especially the realities of violence\, misogyny\, and anti-Semitism\, through speculative approaches to storytelling. By the end of the workshop\, each participant will have developed the beginning of their own piece of writing (in any genre) confronting social anxieties\, fears\, and the lived experience of being Jewish in this moment in history. \nLeslie Contreras Schwartz is a multi-genre writer\, a 2021 Academy of American Poets Laureate Fellow\, and was the 2019–2021 Houston Poet Laureate. She is the author of four collections of poetry\, including Black Dove / Paloma Negra (FlowerSong Press\, 2020)\, a finalist for the Helen C. Smith Memorial Award for 2020 Best Book of Poetry from the Texas Institute of Letters; Fuego (St. Julian Press\, 2016); and Nightbloom & Cenote (SJP\, 2018)\, a semi-finalist for the 2017 Tupelo Press Dorset Prize\, judged by Ilya Kaminsky. Her poet laureate community projects include Writing and Mindfulness: Creative Writing Exercises\, a free e-book on mindfulness and writing\, and the poetry film IT’S A MASK IT’S A VIRUS IT’S A KNEE\, a collective\, communal poetry film composed of poems written by Houstonians about their experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. She is currently a faculty member at Alma College’s MFA low-residency program in creative writing. For more about her work\, visit lesliecschwartz.com. \nAll sessions will be recorded and sent to participants. We encourage live attendance for you to get the most out of the experience.
URL:https://ritualwell.org/event/miracles-and-the-strange-writing-inspiration-from-sephardic-folktales-and-modern-speculative-fiction/2023-01-25/
CATEGORIES:Immersions
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ritualwell.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Miracles-and-the-Strange-JanFebMar-ForWeb.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20230125T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20230125T133000
DTSTAMP:20260512T023749
CREATED:20220817T220210Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20221214T210537Z
UID:11569-1674648000-1674653400@ritualwell.org
SUMMARY:Dreamwork as a Window to the Soul
DESCRIPTION:January 25\,  February 1\, 15\, March 1\, 15\, 29\, 2023\n12:00–1:30 p.m. EST \n“A dream unexplored is like a letter not read\,” says Rabbi Hisda in the Talmud (Brachot 55b). The biblical Jacob before him called his dream a portal to the Divine. Kabbalists after them both called dreaming a form of prophecy. \nFor many of us\, dreams have become especially vivid during these tumultuous times. Whether or not that is true for you\, dreams are an invitation to look deeper. They can be a window to your soul and a channel for your divine inner voice. In six sessions\, I will introduce you to the wonderful world of dreamwork in the method I was taught\, which is primarily a Gestalt approach\, influenced by my experience in spiritual companionship. The main principle in my dreamwork is that the dream belongs to the dreamer\, and only the dreamer holds the key to decipher it. The role of the dreamworker is to help the dreamer understand their own dream\, not interpret it for them. \nParticipants will be asked to start keeping a dream journal before the immersion begins\, and together\, we will share and work our dreams. Topics will include: keeping a dream journal\, learning to “interview” our dream elements\, the ego in the dream\, following your intuition and curiosity\, dreamwork as a spiritual practice\, and more. Participants will be paired off into hevruta dream partners\, and you will be invited to work together practicing the method between sessions\, which will be every other week. Together\, we will discuss texts on dreams in pairs and as a group\, and work one another’s dreams in class\, with me demonstrating and offering guidance. \nRabbi Dr. Haviva Ner-David is the rabbinic founder of Shmaya: A Mikveh for Mind\, Body\, and Soul\, the only mikveh in Israel open to all to immerse as they choose. Ordained as both a rabbi and an interfaith minister\, certified as a spiritual companion (with a specialty in dream work)\, and with a doctorate on mikveh from Bar Ilan University\, she offers mikveh guidance and spiritual companioning for individuals and couples\, as well as mikveh workshops and classes for groups. Rabbi Haviva is the author of three spiritual journey memoirs and a novel. Her most recent memoir\, Dreaming Against the Current: A Rabbi’s Soul Journey\, is about her journey into interspirituality and dreamwork. Her two previous spiritual journey memoirs are titled: Chanah’s Voice: A Rabbi Wrestles with Gender\, Commandment\, and the Women’s Rituals of Baking\, Bathing\, and Brightening\, and Life on the Fringes: A Feminist Journey Towards Traditional Rabbinic Ordination\, a runner up for the National Jewish Book Council Awards. Hope Valley\, her debut novel\, is about the friendship between a Palestinian and a Jewish woman in Galilee\, where Haviva lives. She is also the mother of seven and lives with FSHD\, a form of muscular dystrophy\, which has been one of her greatest teachers. \nAll sessions will be recorded and sent to participants. We encourage live attendance for you to get the most out of the experience.
URL:https://ritualwell.org/event/dreamwork-as-a-window-to-the-soul/2023-01-25/
LOCATION:Zoom
CATEGORIES:Immersions
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ritualwell.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Dreamingwork-Haviva-JanFebMar22-ForWeb.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20230110T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20230110T133000
DTSTAMP:20260512T023749
CREATED:20220817T221403Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20221215T175037Z
UID:11571-1673352000-1673357400@ritualwell.org
SUMMARY:Words of Power: Writing from the Language of Torah
DESCRIPTION:January 10\, 17\, 24\, 31\, February 7\, 14\, 2023\n12:00–1:30 p.m. EST \nTapping into the layers of meaning in key words of Torah will be our gateway into writing poetic midrash and interpretive Torah. Building on his forthcoming book from CCAR Press\, These Words: Poetic Midrash on the Language of Torah\, poet and liturgist Alden Solovy will open the well of Torah wisdom in words ranging from God’s names to the mysteries of creation. \nAlden Solovy spreads joy and excitement for prayer. An American Israeli liturgist\, lyricist\, poet\, author\, and educator\, Alden is the Liturgist-in-Residence for the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies. Alden teaches prayer and spirituality throughout the world. Based in Jerusalem\, his five solo books include This Grateful Heart: Psalms and Prayers for a New Day\, This Joyous Soul: A New Voice for Ancient Yearnings\, and the newly released This Precious Life: Encountering the Divine with Poetry and Prayer\, all published by CCAR Press. A regular contributor to Ritualwell and a member of the Ritualwell Immersion faculty\, his work is anthologized in more than 20 other volumes across the religious spectrum. Alden also contributes regularly to RavBlog\, ReformJudaism.org\, and the Times of Israel. He’s a three-time winner of the Peter Lisagor Award for Exemplary Journalism. Alden made aliyah to Jerusalem in 2012. See his work at www.tobendlight.com. Alden can be reached at alden@tobendlight.com. \nAll sessions will be recorded and sent to participants. We encourage live attendance for you to get the most out of the experience.
URL:https://ritualwell.org/event/words-of-power-writing-from-the-language-of-torah/2023-01-10/
LOCATION:Zoom
CATEGORIES:Immersions
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ritualwell.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Words-of-Power-Writing-from-the-Language-of-Torah-JanFeb23-ForWeb.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20221128T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20221128T133000
DTSTAMP:20260512T023749
CREATED:20220817T220145Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20221121T133856Z
UID:11566-1669636800-1669642200@ritualwell.org
SUMMARY:Soul of Shabbat: Writing from the Kabbalat Shabbat Liturgy
DESCRIPTION:November 28\, 30\, December 5\, 7\, 12\, 14\, 2022\n12:00–1:30 p.m. EST \nShabbat is a time of sanctity and rest that has inspired poets and liturgists for centuries. In this immersion\, we’ll explore the Kabbalat Shabbat service as a doorway into writing our own prayers and poems about Shabbat. We’ll examine core themes and metaphors of Shabbat as well as related textual sources. We’ll delve into Shalom Aleichem and Lecha Dodi as well as themes of creation\, light\, oneg (delight)\, and neshamah yeteirah\, the special gift of an additional “Sabbath soul.” Join poet and liturgist Alden Solovy as we use each of these themes as an invitation to create new Shabbat poetry and prayer. \nAlden Solovy spreads joy and excitement for prayer. An American Israeli liturgist\, lyricist\, poet\, author\, and educator\, Alden is the Liturgist-in-Residence for the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies. Alden teaches prayer and spirituality throughout the world. Based in Jerusalem\, his five solo books include This Grateful Heart: Psalms and Prayers for a New Day\, This Joyous Soul: A New Voice for Ancient Yearnings\, and the newly released This Precious Life: Encountering the Divine with Poetry and Prayer\, all published by CCAR Press. A regular contributor to Ritualwell and a member of the Ritualwell Immersion faculty\, his work is anthologized in more than 20 other volumes across the religious spectrum. Alden also contributes regularly to RavBlog\, ReformJudaism.org\, and the Times of Israel. He’s a three-time winner of the Peter Lisagor Award for Exemplary Journalism. Alden made aliyah to Jerusalem in 2012. See his work at www.tobendlight.com. Alden can be reached at alden@tobendlight.com. \nAll sessions will be recorded and sent to participants. We encourage live attendance for you to get the most out of the experience.
URL:https://ritualwell.org/event/soul-of-shabbat-writing-from-the-kabbalat-shabbat-liturgy/2022-11-28/
LOCATION:Zoom
CATEGORIES:Immersions
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ritualwell.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Soul-of-Shabbat-NovDec22-ForWeb.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20221107T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20221107T203000
DTSTAMP:20260512T023749
CREATED:20220817T221443Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20221007T143919Z
UID:11590-1667847600-1667853000@ritualwell.org
SUMMARY:Ukrainian Jewish Experience through the Lens of Literature
DESCRIPTION:In this immersion\, we’ll read some of the most iconic and unforgettable Ukrainian-Jewish writers and poets: Isaac Babel\, Sholem Aleichem\, Lidiya Ginzburg\, Der Nister\, and others. Religious or secular\, written in Russian or Yiddish\, these works bring the old world roaring back with humor\, wisdom\, tragedy\, dreams\, eros\, and above all\, a rich Jewish history. Keeping Ukraine and its people in our hearts minds will be both a balm and a tribute in this difficult time. \nJake Marmer is a poet\, performer\, and educator. He is the author of three poetry collections: Cosmic Diaspora (Station Hill Press\, 2020)\, as well as The Neighbor Out of Sound (2018) and Jazz Talmud (2012)\, both from The Sheep Meadow Press. He also released two klez-jazz-poetry records: Purple Tentacles of Thought and Desire (2020\, with Cosmic Diaspora Trio)\, and Hermeneutic Stomp (Blue Fringe Music\, 2013). Jake is the poetry critic for Tablet Magazine. Born in the provincial steppes of Ukraine\, in a city that was renamed four times in the past 100 years\, Jake lives in LA.\n \nAll sessions will be recorded and sent to participants. We encourage live attendance for you to get the most out of the experience.
URL:https://ritualwell.org/event/ukrainian-jewish-experience-through-the-lens-of-literature/2022-11-07/
LOCATION:Zoom
CATEGORIES:Immersions
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ritualwell.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Ukraine-Jewish-Experience-ForWeb.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20221103T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20221103T133000
DTSTAMP:20260512T023749
CREATED:20220810T133358Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220830T162453Z
UID:11565-1667476800-1667482200@ritualwell.org
SUMMARY:Writing the Spiritual Essay
DESCRIPTION:Your search for meaning. Describing the indescribable. Your life purpose. Honoring the sacred. Reframing a tragic moment from your life. Whether you are atheist\, agnostic\, spiritual\, mystical\, full of faith\, full of doubt or some of both – how can we write about the spiritual part of our lives? Finding the words for the spiritual side of your life – or lack thereof – offers the chance for powerful personal growth. In this immersion\, we’ll use sections of essays and memoirs to help us dig into elements that make a personal narrative spiritual. What separates this writing from personal\, confessional\, coming-of-age or quest pieces? We’ll discuss scene\, detail\, language\, pacing\, storyline\, structure\, voice and theme. Writing prompts will be offered each week\, and we’ll share work in progress. Writers of all levels and backgrounds are welcome. \nEllen Blum Barish is the author of the spiritual memoir Seven Springs (Shanti Arts\, 2021)\, the essay collection Views from the Home Office Window (Adams Street Publishing\, 2007)\, and a contributor to Chicago Storytellers From Stage to Page (Chicago Story Press\, 2020). You can find her personal essays in Tablet\, Lilith\, Brevity’s Blog\, Full Grown People\, Literary Mama\, and The Chicago Tribune and hear them on Chicago Public Radio. She founded the literary publication Thread\, which earned four notables in Best American Essays. Ellen has taught writing at Northwestern University\, Chicago-area synagogues\, and writer’s studios\, including Story Studio Chicago and Lighthouse Lit Fest. She works privately with writers on essay collections and memoir. \n  \nAll sessions will be recorded and sent to participants. We encourage live attendance for you to get the most out of the experience.
URL:https://ritualwell.org/event/writing-the-spiritual-essay/2022-11-03/
LOCATION:Zoom
CATEGORIES:Immersions
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ritualwell.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Writing-the-Spiritual-Essay-NovDec22-ForWeb.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20221101T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20221101T133000
DTSTAMP:20260512T023749
CREATED:20220817T221403Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220830T162715Z
UID:11564-1667304000-1667309400@ritualwell.org
SUMMARY:Story Magic: Fiction Writing Through a Jewish Lens\, Part 1
DESCRIPTION:From biblical and midrashic narratives to contemporary fiction published in literary journals\, good stories ignite our imaginations and serve as portals to the human experience. In this generative workshop\, we’ll explore the craft of fiction through reading and writing as we unfold the wings of imaginative prose. Each week we’ll discuss a short story\, assimilate craft techniques\, and write from prompts. This workshop is suitable for poets\, journalists\, fiction writers\, and curious readers. \nAmy Gottlieb‘s debut novel The Beautiful Possible was a finalist for the 2017 Harold U. Ribalow Prize\, a 2016 National Jewish Book Award and Edward Lewis Wallant Award. Her fiction and poetry have been published in Other Voices\, Lilith\, Puerto del Sol\, Ilanot Review\, On Being\, Zeek\, Storyscape\, The Bloomsbury Anthology of Contemporary Jewish American Poetry\, and elsewhere. She has received a Literary Fellowship and Residency from the Bronx Council on the Arts\, and an Arts Fellowship from the Drisha Institute for Jewish Education. Amy is a graduate of Clark University and the University of Chicago. She lives with her family on the edge of the Hudson River in New York City. \nAll sessions will be recorded and sent to participants. We encourage live attendance for you to get the most out of the experience.
URL:https://ritualwell.org/event/story-magic-fiction-writing-through-a-jewish-lens/2022-11-01/
LOCATION:Zoom
CATEGORIES:Immersions
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20221024T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20221024T143000
DTSTAMP:20260512T023749
CREATED:20220817T220143Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220830T162805Z
UID:11561-1666616400-1666621800@ritualwell.org
SUMMARY:Meditating with the Siddur
DESCRIPTION:Prayer is a means to connect meaningfully to the infinite loving center of the universe. Yet praying from words written by other people in very different contexts from our own can be challenging. If we slow down our encounter with each prayer\, we can appreciate that they are each a carefully composed work of spiritual technology. They are roadmaps of inner discovery\, full of questions that can invite us to open to new experiences of self-awareness\, gratitude\, empathy\, love\, resilience\, connection\, and wholeness. In this immersion\, we will explore prayers from Shacharit (the Morning Service) as invitations to meditative practices and exercises\, including embodied movement\, writing exercises\, guided visualizations\, chanting\, and so on. Together\, we will deepen our experiential connection to prayers such as the Shema and the Amidah\, in ways that we can later draw upon whenever we desire. With each prayer\, we will search for how it resonates within us\, and how it can support us in our ongoing journey of becoming our best possible selves. There will also be space for intentional sharing\, so we will be enriched by both our own inner experiences and that of our fellow community members. \nDaniel Raphael Silverstein is a rabbi\, educator\, meditation teacher and MC/poet. He lives in Israel with his family\, where he directs Applied Jewish Spirituality\, an online portal which makes the transformative spiritual wisdom of our tradition accessible to all who seek it. Daniel is an accredited teacher of Jewish Mindfulness Meditation and regularly teaches classes and retreats. Daniel was born and raised in London\, and he received a BA from the University of Cambridge and an MA from Warwick University. After receiving semikha from Yeshivat Chovevei Torah Rabbinical School\, he served as Director of Jewish Life and Learning for Hillel of Stanford University in Palo Alto\, CA. Daniel has performed and facilitated all over the world as a spoken word artist\, MC\, and creative educator\, and the Jewish Week selected him as one of their “36 Under 36” young innovators reshaping the Jewish community. Daniel is a cofounder of Lines of Faith\, a Muslim-Jewish hip hop and poetry collective that uses performances and workshops to challenge prejudice and build meaningful bonds between communities. \nAll sessions will be recorded and sent to participants. We encourage live attendance for you to get the most out of the experience.
URL:https://ritualwell.org/event/meditating-with-the-siddur/2022-10-24/
LOCATION:Zoom
CATEGORIES:Immersions
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ritualwell.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Meditating-with-the-Siddur-ForWeb.png
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20221013T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20221013T133000
DTSTAMP:20260512T023749
CREATED:20220817T221402Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220830T162844Z
UID:11560-1665662400-1665667800@ritualwell.org
SUMMARY:Songs of the Grass: Exploring Jewish Eco-Poetry
DESCRIPTION:“Each and every grass has a song” – Rebbe Nachman of Bratslav \nThe Jewish environmental movement has sought to excavate and breathe new life into ancient texts that call us to right relationship with this fragile and holy earth. Jewish poets vividly describe the human encounter with plants\, animals\, and the elements where they often find intimations of the Divine or cause for protest on behalf of the non-human world. Together we’ll read poetry and other Jewish writings that will inspire our own experiments with eco-poetry. Some poets we will read include Marge Piercy\, Muriel Rukeyser\, Alicia Ostriker\, Adrienne Rich\, Denise Levertov\, Stanley Moss\, Stuart Kestenbaum\, Phillip Levine\, Mónica Gomery\, and more! We’ll engage in writing exercises\, some of which will take us outside to our local environments to allow us to listen to\, and translate\, the voices of the earth. You will come away with a deepened appreciation for Jewish wisdom on the environment and a number of poem drafts that will help you envision your personal Torah of the earth. \nHila Ratzabi is the author of the poetry collection There Are Still Woods\, forthcoming in September 2022 from June Road Press. She holds a BA in English/Creative Writing from Barnard College\, a BA in Jewish Philosophy from the Jewish Theological Seminary (Double Degree Program\, 2003)\, and an MFA in Poetry from Sarah Lawrence College (2007). Her poetry is published in a variety of literary journals and in The Bloomsbury Anthology of Contemporary Jewish American Poetry and Ghost Fishing: An Eco-Justice Poetry Anthology. Her articles have appeared in publications including The Wisdom Daily\, MyJewishLearning.com\, the Jewish Daily Forward\, Kveller\, Alma\, and Zeek. Ratzabi is Director of Virtual Content & Programs at Ritualwell.org and lives in Oak Park\, Il.\, outside Chicago\, with her spouse and two children. \nAll sessions will be recorded and sent to participants. We encourage live attendance for you to get the most out of the experience.
URL:https://ritualwell.org/event/songs-of-the-grass-exploring-jewish-eco-poetry/2022-10-13/
LOCATION:Zoom
CATEGORIES:Immersions
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ritualwell.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/08/Songs-of-the-Grass-Exploring-Jewish-Eco-Poetry-OctNov22-ForWeb.png
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