Meditation
Jewish Mindfulness adds the teachings of our tradition to deepen the meditative experience. No previous experience is necessary to attend.
Are we happy? Are we living the life we want to live? Mindfulness Meditation is the practice of cultivating our attention to the present moment. As we learn to quiet our minds, we see our truth more clearly, and open a path to living a fuller, happier, healthier life.
These courses, led by Rabbi George Gittleman, Alissa Hirshfeld and occasional guest leaders, will include teaching, meditation instruction, and periods of silence.
By practicing together, we’ll enhance our ability to listen to the voice within and expand our sense of interconnectedness. The seasons of the Jewish calendar serve as a guiding theme, to deepen the meditative experience.
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Meditation Schedule
Be sure to contact the Shomrei Torah office if you are not yet receiving the weekly meditation email reminders, which include the Zoom links.
AFTERNOON SESSIONS
THREE TUESDAYS a MONTH, 5:30-6:30 PM
Led by Rabbi George Gittleman or Alissa Hirshfeld. Each session includes teachings, meditation instruction, and periods of silence. Available on Zoom or Live Stream only
March 12, 19, 26
April 9, 16, 30
May 14, 21, 28
MORNING SITS
EVERY THURSDAY, 7:30-8:00 AM
Participant led. Join us weekly for a short meditation session, led by Lisa Ehrlich or another member of the CST community. Start the day from a place of peace and reflection. Available on Zoom only.
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Click Here to watch previously recorded Meditation sessions.
Highlighted Past Sessions:
Meditation Mini-Retreat, 28 August 2022
Be Here Now! - Rabbi George's Sermon
Resources from Tuesday Sessions:
Parshat Va'yakhel - 12 March 2024
The Broken and the Whole - 27 February 2024
Dharma/Torah - 20 February 2024
RAIN - 13 February 2024
Foundations of Mindfulness - 30 January 2024
Practice of Radical Amazement - 9 January 2024
Va-yigash - Working With What Is - 19 December 2023
Art Green Levi Yitzhak Hanukkah - 12 December 2023
Chayeh Sarah - It's All God - 7 November 2023
Vayera Meditation Resource Sheet - 24 October 2023
Deuteronomy 30 and Neruda Poem - 12 September 2023
The River Meditation by Rabbi Nachman - 5 September 2023
Psalm 27 by Norman Fischer - 29 August 2023
Parashat Ekev - 1 August 2023
Kushner and Olitzky - 20 June 2023
Siddur - 20 June 2023
Self-Love - 16 May 2023
Tree of Life - 2 May 2023
They May Be Just Acquaintances - 2 May 2023
Counting the Omer - 18 April 2023
Pesakh and Impermanence - 11 April 2023
Meditation Recordings by Rabbi George:
BODY SCAN: Follow these recorded instructions by Rabbi George to relax and prepare for meditation or sleep.
SOUND-BASED Meditation: Listen to this guided meditation from Rabbi George, "Hearing the Voice of the Holy One: A Sound-Based Guided Meditation."
COMPASSION PRACTICE: Guided by Rabbi George.
Other Resources:
WALKING MEDITATION: Resources for meditation while walking.
SHALOM CHANT: Follow Rabbi Aryeh Hirshfeld in chanting “Shalom,” as we do during our sessions.
COUNTING THE OMER: Resources for counting the Omer.
To view more resources for Jewish meditation, CLICK HERE.
Mon, March 18 2024
8 Adar II 5784
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Meditation Leaders
A graduate of the Institute for Jewish Spirituality's Jewish Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Training Program, Rabbi George has developed both Buddhist and Jewish meditative practices over the past two decades.
Alissa Hirshfeld is a licensed psychotherapist, certified Jewish spiritual director, and long-time seeker. She’s been practicing meditation for over 30 years, has studied with many esteemed Jewish and Buddhist meditation teachers, and has taught mindfulness meditation and yoga in secular, religious, and healing settings. She’s also been a member of Shomrei Torah for over 20 years.
Special Sessions
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Sunday ,
MarMarch 31 , 2024Meditation Mini Retreat - Freedom is an Open Heart
Sunday, Mar 31st 9:00a to 1:00p
Slavery is not just a physical state but also a state of mind. Mind and heart are linked. When we suffer from negative thoughts about ourselves and others, our hearts harden and we become slaves to emotions like fear, anger, resentment and even hate. This will be the last meditation retreat Rabbi George will be teaching at CST before his retirement. $18 member, $22 non-member.