The Days of Awe: A Journey of Transformation
Individually and as a community, Jews traditionally prepare for the High Holy Days during the Hebrew month of Elul, which this year falls from the evening of August 18 through the start of Rosh haShanah on the evening of September 15. Here are some suggestions from Rabbi George and Alissa Hirshfeld to prepare for the Days of Awe during this month:
- Find an Elul partner and schedule some time together to talk about your lives, what's working, what's not, and what you hope for in the New Year.
- Review your calendar for the past year to reflect on how you've spent your time.
- Read a book like This Real And You Are Totally Unprepared (Rabbi Alan Lew)
- Reach out to people you have lost touch with, need to apologize to, miss, etc.
- Let people in your life know how much they mean to you.
- Send out New Years cards. Notice who you leave off the list and why.
- Put all the Holy Days in your calendar and make plans to attend services.
- Visit loved ones at the cemetery.
- Set aside time to think about your year, how you are doing, what's true for you, good and not so good.
- Meditate.
- Write out goals for the coming year.
- Have compassion on yourself.
- Give tzedakah.
- Follow the Wilderness Torah daily teachings and shofar blowing throughout Elul: https://wildernesstorah.org/programs/bay-area-high-holidays-sukkot/prepare-for-the-jewish-new-year/
- Reflect and renew with the 10q app: https://www.doyou10q.com/.
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 TUESDAY AFTERNOONS/month, 5:30-6:30 PM
Led by Rabbi George Gittleman or Alissa Hirshfeld. Each session includes teachings, meditation instruction, and periods of silence.
Zoom or Livestream only:
OCTOBER 10, 17, 24
NOVEMBER 7, 14, 21
DECEMBER 5, 12, 19
MORNING SITS
THURSDAYS, 7:30-8:00 AM
Participant led. Available by Zoom only.
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.
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:
Deuteronomy 30 and Neruda Poem - 12 September 2023
The River Meditation by Rabbi Nachman - 6 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
Psalms 30 by David - 7 March 2023
Purim with Dr. Seuss - 7 March 2023
Sparks Beneath the Surface - 28 February 2023
This Is a Love Poem - 22 February 2023
Vaera: I Appeared - 24 January 2023
Witnesses of Dawn - 24 January 2023
Meditation Handout - 29 November 2022
Chayeh Sarah - 15 November 2022
I Worried by Mary Oliver - 1 November 2022
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.
Sat, September 23 2023
8 Tishrei 5784
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.
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.
