Bagels, Belief and Belonging
Six weeks of Jewish exploration and connection
“This is one of the goals of the Jewish way of living: to experience commonplace deeds as spiritual adventures, to feel the hidden love and wisdom in all things.”
— ABRAHAM JOSHUA HESCHEL
About this group:
An exploration of our Jewish journeys, identities, questions, and longings, this group will provide participants an opportunity to reflect through writing and discussion in a Jewish context.
Each week will have a theme and a writing prompt. Participants can expect to spend 20 minutes of each session writing, followed by sharing, organic discussion, and takeaways for future exploration.
How will it work?
* For six weeks, we’ll meet on Zoom for two hours. During our time together, we’ll check in, write, share, and have ample time for free-form discussion. Together, we will listen, learn, and explore our past and present relationships to Jewishness, as well as what questions we carry.
* Our focus will be on reflection, not information or answers, though next steps for further learning and engagement may very well come as a byproduct of our time together.
* There will be no required outside readings or assignments, but you may find that you’re inspired to continue your explorations between sessions!
* For the sake of a small, safe container each section of this group is limited to eight.
Who should join?
Non-Jews who find themselves drawn to Judaism and want a place to start exploring
People in the process of converting to Judaism who wish to expand their existing Jewish conversations and explorations
Folks who have Jewish heritage but limited education or knowledge
Jews who identify as “cultural” or “spiritual but not religious”
Jews who haven’t set foot in a synagogue since their b’nai mitzvah
Jews who are observant in non-traditional ways
Jews who are established in a synagogue/Jewish community of any denomination, and wish to reflect on their own Jewish experiences, beliefs, and questions
Jews who wish they felt more connected but don’t know where to begin
Jews who question the role of Judaism in their lives
Anyone who is curious about writing in a Jewish context with kindred spirits and exploring some of the places where creativity and spirituality meet
What this group is not:
An Introduction to Judaism class
A conversion class
A therapy or support group
An overview of Jewish history, religion, holidays, or lifecycle events (that may have to wait for a different group – or several!)
About your guide
I am ancestrally Jewish, and I lead a life deeply informed by Judaism today at the age of nearly 50. But this wasn’t always the case. I did not have any Jewish education growing up; in fact, we celebrated Christmas and savored our chocolate Easter bunnies. A high school class about the Holocaust with an incredible teacher, Mark Gerstein z”l sparked my Jewish neshama – soul – and set me on a journey that continues today. From around age 15, I have been continuously seeking, finding, and adding dimension to my Jewish education and sense of belonging. While this is not a traditional “class” about Judaism, my hope is that it can provide a safe space and be a starting point for anyone who wishes to connect more to their Jewish being, doing, and possibility.
Two sections
Thursdays, May 4-June 8
1:00-3:00pm EST
or
Sundays, May 7-June 11
6:00-8:00pm EST
All meetings will occur on Zoom.
Cost
Sliding scale
$300-$600
Choose the amount that best reflects your current financial means.
Payments are nonrefundable.
Please contact me if you’d like to pay in two installments.
After you sign up, you’ll receive an email with suggested materials and an optional reading list. Sessions will not be recorded; participants are highly encouraged to attend all six sessions if possible.