Love Yourself As You Love Your Neighbor: Judaism and Self-Compassion

Would you be friends with someone who speaks to you the way you speak to yourself? Many of us find it hard to be gentle with and forgiving of ourselves - especially when we fail or make mistakes - and the practice of self-compassion seeks to help us channel the same compassion and understanding we often feel for others towards ourselves as well. Inspired by the work of psychologists Kristin Neff (UT-Austin) and Chris Germer (Harvard Medical School), this interactive session will teach the Torah’s take on self-compassion. Participants will explore the idea of self-compassion, the ways in which it is expressed in Jewish sources, and gain concrete tips for practicing it when we need it most.

Presenter: Loren Berman, Sefaria 

“Finding My Personal Path to G-d”

This session is designed to push us to wrestle with the question: "Is there only one path to G-d or are there multiple approaches to connect to our creator?" We will combine a study of texts pertaining to the topic together with a discussion that both emerges from the material and exists independently. All texts will be presented in both the original vernacular and in English to ensure accessibility. The goal of the session is to be thought-provoking and inspiring.

Presenter: Rabbi Binyamin Blau, Green Road Synagogue

Where can we find ourselves in Jewish tradition?

Jewish tradition is thousands of years old, encompassing so many voices, texts and ideas. It can be intimidating or overwhelming to access. In this session, we will explore Jewish texts and ideas that can open the door to conversation, reflection, and growth. Through chevruta (paired) conversation and reflection, we will learn from Jewish words of wisdom as well as model a classic Jewish method for learning.

Presenter: Rabbi Ana Bonnheim, Jewish Learning Collaborative/Moishe House

Sleepless Nights: When Yom HaZikaron is Personal

The losses commemorated on Yom HaZikaron impact us all but can be particularly difficult for those with deeper, more personal connections, who find it challenging to transition into a day of celebration. This workshop will provide a space to be together, to share our grief and our stories, and to journal our feelings with specific prompts designed to hold and honor the sacred meaning of the day.

Presenter:  Dr. Erica Brown, Yeshiva University

Settling the Waters: Visioning, Chanting, Breath

The purpose of this session is to manifest or express gratitude, starting with ourselves and extending it to All There Is. We'll take time to conjure by remembering something that brings comfort or joy and give an offering of gratitude. We'll also love on our teachers and ourselves here. We'll move to a noticing of our E, M & P states. We'll attend to our breath and flow back into full awareness. Possible desired outcomes of this time together: a deeper connection to our constant state of transformation, and holding a moment being together in a focused state of gratitude.

Presenter: Tonda Case, Jews of Color Initiative

Listening with the Heart: A Jewish spiritual preparation for talking about race and racism in Jewish communities

If you think about it, most of society’s -isms could be greatly eliminated if we truly embraced that everyone is created ‘in the image of God / b’tzelem elohim.’ That orientation is spiritual. What if we engaged our conversations about race and racism from a spiritual orientation? What untapped resources might we uncover? Beginning with guided meditations inspired by our tradition, we will hold deep, compassionate conversations about race and racism in our Jewish communities. No shaming, blaming, guilt or guilt-tripping allowed. Bring your whole selves, just as you are. Leaders: Sabrina Sojourner (community chaplain) and Tamara Fish (seminary-trained).

Presenter: Tamara Fish & Sabrina Sojourner, KHAZBAR: An oasis in deserts of Jewish Diversity

To Sin Against the Medium: Sages and Artists in Rebellion

Sometimes an artist must break the boundaries of her preferred mode of production. She must sin, as it were, against the very medium she works in. Can this be done in religious life or communal life? In what ways do we sometimes "sin" for the sake of the greater medium we are working in? In this session, we will look to both contemporary artists and also rabbinic voices who sought to advance their medium (art or Torah, respectively) by violating it. We’ll look at the rules they broke, what enabled them to be rule breakers, and ask ourselves what ‘rules’ may be worth breaking in Jewish life today.

Presenter: Erica Frankel, Office of Innovation (OOI)

Israeli Dancing for Soles and Souls

Israeli dance is energetic and fun and graceful and silly and nostalgic and modern... and is designed to be all those things. Regardless of your skill level (or total lack thereof - really!), join Erica Goldman to become part of the circle, get your blood pumping, and learn just a little about the what, the why, and the how in the origins of Israeli dance. You can bring your dance requests - they might get played!

Presenter: Erica Goldman

V'ahavt/a: A Mezuzah and Meaning Making Workshop

Join Kohenet Keshira haLev Fife as we explore the many layers of meaning in the mezuzah as both a protection amulet and a sacred reminder of core Jewish values. In this session, we’ll hold what is ancient alongside what is modern-moment resonant through text study, reflective writing, creative practice, and ritual. All are welcome; no prior experience or artistic skill is required to participate in this session.

Presenter: Kohenet Keshira haLev Fife, Kohenet Hebrew Priestess Institute / Kesher Pittsburgh

Dirshuni: A Taste of Israeli Women’s Midrash

Tamar Biala, editor of the modern midrashic work, Dirshuni, has written a breathtakingly beautiful midrash about the death of Miriam that functions as commentary on the Torah, Israeli society, feminism, and so much more. No Hebrew background is needed.

Presenter: Rabbi Avi Killip, Hadar

What's in the name?

What’s in the name? As we all search to make deep, meaningful, and living connection between the narratives of our people and the most important aspects of our personal experiences, we invite you to this informal conversation about your name – it’s history, meaning, legacy. Through text study of Biblical narrative and classic English and Russian poetry we will reflect on the various views on the power of names, Jewish customs and traditions of naming, and how the collective name of our people, bnei Israel, carries its own meaning and gives us a sense of belonging and responsibility for our shared destiny. Together we will have the opportunity to get creative and explore our various names (individual and collective) through paper midrash technic – a unique interdisciplinary tactile activity for unskilled artists, a way to give visual form to our thoughts and feelings through exploration of color, texture, shape, dimension.

Presenter: Olga Markus, Jewish Federations of North America

The First Druze Woman 

Gadeer will present her authentic story as a Druze Israeli woman, coming from a conservative patriarchal society. She will talk about the challenges she has overcome and potential future successes. She will lay out her life story, one of female empowerment, and give the audience an opportunity to engage with her through Q&A.

Presenter:  Gadeer Kamal Mreeh, The Jewish Agency for Israel

A Balm for All Wounds: Learning Spiritual Resilience from Etty Hillesum

The Dutch Jewish writer Etty Hillesum wrote diaries and letters from 1941–43 that reveal an astounding personal theology forged from the darkest of circumstances. While secular in Jewish practice, her religiosity led her to the conviction that she should accompany her fellow Jews to the Westerbork transit camp, even though she had opportunities to go into hiding. She ultimately perished in Auschwitz. Her writings offer an extraordinary example of faith, resilience, and love of humanity in the face of evil. We will read passages from Hillesum’s writings and explore Hillesum’s unique approach to personal prayer. We will also engage in meditation, reflection, and writing exercises as we consider how to apply her lessons of spiritual resilience to our own lives.

Presenter: Hila Ratzabi

Carpe Diem: Music, Reflection, Connection, and Joyous Celebration

30 years ago, I dove into the frigid waters of the Pacific Ocean, hit sand, and instantly severed my spinal cord. Dragged from the water, my life was saved yet forever altered. What followed was an ever-evolving journey of self-discovery, reflection, intention, and ultimately, gratitude and celebration. We all face similar, yet disparate challenges in our lives and, as we persevere, we find strength where little seemed to exist before. Together in our session—through live music and storytelling—we will each uncover moments in our lives when challenge turned to celebration, tragedy to triumph, and tears to uproarious laughter.

Presenter: Rob Ross, Rob Ross Arts

Movement Minyan: Embodying Collaboration

This session will build off the JPro22 theme of collaboration to explore the nature of "chevruta" — aka collaborative learning — through multiple modalities of embodied Jewish practice. Expect playful, fun, contemplative, and soulful experiential learning in which we shape and are shaped by engaging in relationship to ourselves, each other, and our environment. We'll experience chevruta as an active practice and deepen our understandings of the nuances of collaborative learning and partnership. We just might learn something more about ourselves in the process, too.

Presenter: Yoshi Silverstein, Mitsui Collective

Israeli Short Stories Past and Present:  Exploring Identity, Culture, Drama, and Memory Through Literature

Israel has a deep history of producing talented and well-known authors. This session will offer an opportunity to glimpse into Israeli culture, history, and drama through the exploration of three short stories written by Israeli authors, past and present. We will study specific works by three authors including Ruth Almog, Yossel Birstein, and Etgar Karet. As we analyze and appreciate the works of these three artists, we will consider the impact of their work on Israeli society and that of North American Jewry. We will also interrogate the perspectives, biases, and lessons present in each text while appreciating them as works of art. As communal professionals, this session presents an opportunity to dive into issues of identity and memory and at the same time, a moment to escape into other time periods and locations. No pre-reading is necessary to join this session.

Presenter: Rebecca Starr, The Shalom Hartman Institute

Memory and Our Broken Discourse

Yom HaZikaron is a holiday that asks us to remember those who have died. Memory is a powerful tool and an essential part of Judaism. In some ways, memory enriches our lives, giving us a deep sense of who we are, where we came from and what our lives mean. In other ways, it binds us to past trauma we might want to let go of. In this session, we will examine how memory works as well as how memory and identity contribute to the brokenness of our current public discourse in our families, in our community and in our society. We will explore the thinking of Yosef Hayim Yerushalmi's book Zachor, classical rabbinic sources and current social science and psychology.

Presenter: Rabbi Mike Uram, Pardes North America