Courses, retreats, and offerings

Grounded in mindfulness. Guided by wisdom.

Jewish Mindfulness Meditation

Cultivating Innate Sacred Character Traits

Mindful Torah Study

Embodied Practices

Contemplative Prayer

Upcoming Programs

Evening of Gratitude: The Value of Jewish Mindfulness

March 11 – April 8, 2025

The Four Worlds of Kabbalah: A Mindfulness-Based Introduction for Young Adults is an accessible and practical introduction to mindful Jewish living grounded in Jewish mysticism’s model of the “four worlds”—finding holiness in our bodies, emotions, thoughts, and spirit. Together, we’ll awaken to our essential divinity and help achieve a greater sense of wholeness.

March 12 – April 2, 2025

In Mindfulness for the Climate Crisis, we’ll harness the Jewish mystical tradition of the Four Worlds of Kabbalah to gently turn ourselves towards trust, ease, and expansiveness. We’ll explore the physical, emotional, spiritual, and existential invitations of climate change with a community of other clear-eyed seekers, guided by the wisdom of Jewish tradition.

April 16 – May 28, 2025

Beginning this Passover, join the IJS faculty for seven weeks of mindfulness practice to promote the healing, growth, and liberation we all need. Journey through the Omer (the period between Passover and the holiday of Shavuot) by immersing each week in one of seven sacred qualities drawn from Kabbalah.

Evening of Gratitude: The Value of Jewish Mindfulness

Year-Long Program

Bring the transformative light of Torah and Hasidic wisdom into your daily life. Explore two brand-new text study streams led by extraordinary Torah teachers, Rabba Dr. Mira Neshama Niculescu and Rabbi Sam Feinsmith. These programs will support you in expanding your spiritual awareness and deepening your mindfulness practice.

Evening of Gratitude: The Value of Jewish Mindfulness

Join Our Online Program

Discover the Jewish practice that wakes you up to the magic and meaning of your life. Led by Rabbis Sam Feinsmith and Jordan Bendat-Appell. This self-paced course is open year-round!

Welcome

For over 20 years, the Institute for Jewish Spirituality has helped thousands of people every year to slow down, reconnect with themselves and the world, and rediscover their sense of sacred purpose. We invite you to explore our website where you will find teachings, inspiration, guided meditations, and retreat opportunities to become more mindful, more peaceful, more compassionate, and more resilient, all through the rich wisdom of Jewish tradition. Wherever you are on your journey, whether you are just beginning or you have practiced mindfulness for years, we welcome you.

Reflections & Practice

Adar: A Time to Increase Joy

Adar: A Time to Increase Joy

Traditionally, the month of Adar is a time to increase joy. But how can we authentically celebrate this month during such troubling times? Rabbi Jordan Bendat-Appell's teaching helps us reframe this invitation in a way that feels more authentic to the current moment.

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Tetzaveh 5785: Truth, Peace, and Hypocrisy

Tetzaveh 5785: Truth, Peace, and Hypocrisy

While social media is, generally speaking, a wasteland of toxic drek, there are still some moments when its original hopeful potential glimmers beneath the surface. One such moment occurred for me in recent weeks, as I began to engage with an old acquaintance from my...

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Terumah 5785: On My Honor

Terumah 5785: On My Honor

Regular readers will know that the Boy Scouts were a big part of life in my family growing up. My grandfather became an Eagle Scout in 1924. My father, two older brothers and I were all Eagle Scouts too. It was through Scouting that I learned formative lessons about...

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Check Out Our Podcasts

Weekly Meditation with Rabbi Angela Buchdahl

Weekly Meditation with Rabbi Angela Buchdahl

Join IJS for a weekly podcast featuring a brief, accessible teaching and meditation based on the weekly Torah portion, an upcoming Jewish holiday, or wisdom from Jewish tradition. In just a few minutes each week, Rabbi Angela Buchdahl, Senior Rabbi of Central Synagogue in New York City, will help you pause, breathe, and find balance and clarity to weather today’s storms and meet our personal and collective challenges with Jewish wisdom. Whether you are in your car, on a walk, or at home, join us to learn, nourish your spirit, and deepen your practice.

Soulful Jewish Living

Overstressed, overworked, overstimulated? Close your eyes, take a deep breath and tune in. In each episode Rabbi Josh Feigelson will guide with ancient wisdom and modern mindfulness practices to help center your soul and ease you into your week.

A production of Unpacked, a division of OpenDor Media, and the Institute for Jewish Spirituality.

Jewish Meditation for Everyone

Pause in the midst of your busy day to renew your body, heart, mind and spirit with a Jewishly-framed mindfulness meditation from the Institute for Jewish Spirituality. In each episode, hosted by Rabbi Marc Margolius, an expert Jewish meditation instructor guides you through a brief teaching and meditation for relaxing your body, reconnecting with your authentic self, and connecting you with deep Jewish wisdom.

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