Ritualwell creates a vibrant community through online learning classes and events. All are welcomed into our supportive, safe learning space. You will join people from diverse Jewish backgrounds, eager to explore Jewish ritual, creativity, writing and spirituality.
There are multiple ways to learn with us:
- FREE standalone sessions with leading Jewish educators and writers;
- Ritualwell Immersions, 4- or 6-week online, in real time classes for deep engagement;
- ADVOT, a creative community of Jewish ritual innovators and writers who meet regularly to share and support each other’s work.
ADVOT is Ritualwell’s online community of Jewish writers, poets, liturgists and ritual creators. Enjoy multiple Ritualwell Immersions throughout the year. Access our weekly online writing space, hevruta pairings, online retreats, an anthology, & more!
Browse our many other Ritualwell programs below!
Event Calendar
Everyday Rituals: Jewish Life as the Framework for Playwriting
Facilitator: Jennifer Maisel
Program Type: Immersions
Topic: creative writing, creativity, Jewish plays, playwrighting, theater
Whether you’re picking up the pen for the first time or polishing a work-in-progress, Jewish ritual and everyday moments can become sparks for your next play. With award-winning playwright Jennifer Maisel’s guidance, you’ll dive into creative exercises that open fresh layers of spirit and story. Come curious, come bold, and be ready to surprise yourself.
Seeding Family-based Poems with Golems, Dybukks and Shpilkas
Facilitator: Susan Comninos
Program Type: Immersions
Topic: creative writing, folklore, Jewish wisdom, Poetry
In Jewish tradition, stories and symbols, such as golems and dybbuks, reflect history and culture. Join poet Susan Comninos in an Immersion that explores folklore, family stories, and cultural memory to inspire your writing. You'll craft poems that blend personal history with timeless myth, honoring your creative inheritance while using contemporary voices. Engage in a circle of Jewish creativity, connecting the past and present through writing.
Before I Go: Writing the Ethical Will
Facilitator: Ellen Blum Barish
Program Type: Event
Topic: creative writing, ethical wills, legacy, preparing for death
Join memoirist Ellen Blum Barish for a warm, reflective writing workshop on creating an ethical will—a gift of the heart and spirit that preserves your stories, values, and wisdom. Through gentle prompts and guided reflection, you’ll begin shaping words that carry your love and legacy forward for those you cherish.
Holding Each Other
Facilitator: Gabrielle Kaplan-Mayer
Program Type: Event, Free
Topic: healing, Kaddish, minyan, Misheberech
Come together with the Ritualwell community every Monday for "Holding Each Other," a 15-minute online minyan. Join us to enhance your spiritual resilience and provide support to others in need of strength.
Writing in Conversation with Kohelet
Facilitator:
Program Type: Immersions
Topic: creative writing, Jewish writing, Kohelet, The Book of Ecclesiastes, writing prompts
Discover the timeless questions of purpose, joy, and meaning in a 3-part generative writing workshop inspired by the Book of Ecclesiastes (Kohelet). Through guided prompts and supportive community, you’ll create new writing and fresh insights from this poetic, mysterious text.
Everyday Rituals: Jewish Life as the Framework for Playwriting
Facilitator: Jennifer Maisel
Program Type: Immersions
Topic: creative writing, creativity, Jewish plays, playwrighting, theater
Whether you’re picking up the pen for the first time or polishing a work-in-progress, Jewish ritual and everyday moments can become sparks for your next play. With award-winning playwright Jennifer Maisel’s guidance, you’ll dive into creative exercises that open fresh layers of spirit and story. Come curious, come bold, and be ready to surprise yourself.
Seeding Family-based Poems with Golems, Dybukks and Shpilkas
Facilitator: Susan Comninos
Program Type: Immersions
Topic: creative writing, folklore, Jewish wisdom, Poetry
In Jewish tradition, stories and symbols, such as golems and dybbuks, reflect history and culture. Join poet Susan Comninos in an Immersion that explores folklore, family stories, and cultural memory to inspire your writing. You'll craft poems that blend personal history with timeless myth, honoring your creative inheritance while using contemporary voices. Engage in a circle of Jewish creativity, connecting the past and present through writing.
Holding Each Other
Facilitator: Gabrielle Kaplan-Mayer
Program Type: Event, Free
Topic: healing, Kaddish, minyan, Misheberech
Come together with the Ritualwell community every Monday for "Holding Each Other," a 15-minute online minyan. Join us to enhance your spiritual resilience and provide support to others in need of strength.
Balancing Gratitude and Grief: A Pre-Thanksgiving Writing Ritual
Facilitator: Gabrielle Kaplan-Mayer
Program Type: Event, Free
Topic: creative writing, gratitude, grief, Jewish spirituality, Spiritual practice, Thanksgiving
As Thanksgiving approaches, many of us hold both gratitude and grief—love for what we have and longing for what’s been lost. In this special session, we’ll explore how Jewish tradition honors both emotions and how we can give voice to them through poetry, prayer, and ritual.
Holding Each Other
Facilitator: Gabrielle Kaplan-Mayer
Program Type: Event, Free
Topic: healing, Kaddish, minyan, Misheberech
Come together with the Ritualwell community every Monday for "Holding Each Other," a 15-minute online minyan. Join us to enhance your spiritual resilience and provide support to others in need of strength.
The Hidden Light of Hanukkah: A Journey in Poetry & Presence
Facilitator: Elana Bell and Rabbi Dan Liben
Program Type: Immersions
Topic: Hanukkah, Jewish mindfulness, mindfulness, Poetry
Welcome the warmth and light of Hanukkah with a unique program that weaves together mindfulness, poetry, and generative writing. Join instructors Elana Bell and Rabbi Dan Liben for a three-part series, presented in collaboration with the Institute of Jewish Spirituality.
Rekindling Light and Joy Through Writing & Art
Facilitator: Gabrielle Kaplan-Mayer and Cathleen Cohen
Program Type: Immersions
Topic: Art, creative writing, Hanukkah, Jewish spirituality, joy, light, visual art
In times of darkness, how do you stay inspired? Join poet and painter Cathleen Cohen and essayist and memoirist Gabrielle Kaplan-Mayer for a Hanukkah workshop where you’ll explore Jewish texts, poetry, and creative exercises to rekindle joy and creativity. Whether you’re new to writing and art or deeply experienced, you’ll leave with fresh inspiration and a renewed sense of inner light.
We seek to be a fully inclusive community.
People of all backgrounds, ages, genders, identities and levels of Jewish knowledge and creative practice are warmly welcome to our programs. We encourage writers who identify as BIJOC (Black Indigenous Jews of Color), Mizrahi/Sephardi, LGBTQ+, interfaith, low-income and disabled to join us.
Please note that this year we have increased our prices in order to increase the rate we pay our faculty. We continue to offer an array of free programming to be accessible to all. If you have financial need or any questions, please reach out to us at ritualwell@reconstructingjudaism.org.
All our programs take place online. All learning sessions are recorded and made available to registrants. For up-to-date announcements on our programming, please subscribe to our newsletter.
