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 Alissa Hirshfeld, Rabbi Amy Grossblatt Pessah, Rabbi Berlin, 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 Mini-Retreat
Preparing Our Hearts to Experience Liberation
Sunday, March 16, 8:30 AM - 1:00 PM. $18 members, $22 non-members. In person only.
Join Rabbi Berlin and Alissa Hirshfeld in a retreat to clean out our "inner chametz,” our inner narrow places, and expand our hearts to spiritually prepare for Passover.
This retreat offers an opportunity to come together in person for extended instruction, sitting and movement meditation, contemplation, and an opportunity to continue to build a sacred community. No previous meditation experience is necessary. Breakfast and lunch will be served.
Register to Attend
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Meditation Schedule
Be sure to contact the office if you are not yet receiving the weekly meditation email reminders, which include the Zoom links and passwords.
AFTERNOON SESSIONS
FOUR TUESDAYS a MONTH, 5:30-6:30 PM
Each session includes teachings, meditation instruction, and periods of silence. Available on Zoom or Live Stream only.
March 11 & 25
MORNING SITS
EVERY THURSDAY, 7:30-8:00 AM
Join us weekly for a short, participant-led meditation session. 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:
Poem: Mary Oliver"s Buddha's Last Instructions - January 14, 2025
Thanksgiving and Enoughness - 26 November 2024
Resource - 19 November 2024
Lech L'cha - 5 November 2024
Meditation Ki Tavo - 17 September 2024
Meditation RH Elul - 10 September 2024
Meditation Retreat - 8 September 2024
Meditation Re'eh - 27 August 2024
Blessing afer the Meal & Eikey - 20 August 2024
Shabbat Hazon & Shabbat Nahamu - 13 August 2024
Ten Commitments - 18 June 2024
Resource - 14 May 2024
Resource - 16 April 2024
Passover Haggadah - 9 April 2024
Notes from Meditation Retreat - 31 March 2024
Parshat Vayikra - 19 March 2024
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
Meditation Recordings with Rabbi George Gittleman
BODY SCAN: Follow these recorded instructions to relax and prepare for meditation or sleep.
SOUND-BASED Meditation: Listen to this guided meditation, "Hearing the Voice of the Holy One: A Sound-Based Guided Meditation."
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.
Wed, April 30 2025
2 Iyar 5785
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 been a member of Shomrei Torah for over 20 years and has been teaching as part of our Jewish Meditation Center for the past 6 years.
Visit alissahirshfeld.com to learn more.
Rabbi Amy Grossblatt Pessah has a Master's degree in Jewish Education from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion and was ordained by ALEPH: Alliance for Jewish Renewal.
Amy has been trained in Spiritual Direction, Jewish energy healing, Reiki, Integrated Energy Therapy, and hospice chaplaincy. She has studied a variety of religions, participated in interfaith work, and has been a student of mindfulness and Jewish mysticism.
Amy has practiced meditation for over 20 years and has been a teacher of Jewish meditation for nearly a decade.
Visit asoulfuljourney.com to learn more.
Rabbi Berlin in the interim Rabbi of Congregation Shomrei Torah. Click Here to read more about Rabbi Berlin.
Special Sessions
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2600 Bennett Valley Road, Santa Rosa, California 95404
Congregation Shomrei Torah is an inclusive Jewish community open to people of all ages, races and abilities. Welcoming interfaith families, people who are single, and LGBTQIA+.
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