Tikkun Olam Learners Chorus with Cyrise Beatty
Wednesday evenings May 7, 14, 21,28, June 4,11,18, 25, July 2 6-7:30 pm
Want to deepen your relationship to your voice, gain experience singing, and connect more deeply with spirit and your community through music? Join Chochmat for its third season of the Tikkun Olam Chorus. Vocal Instructor and chantress Cyrise Beatty combines the basics of vocal technique with a joyful approach to accessing our connection to the Divine through song. We'll learn fun, spiritually oriented songs and culminate the class with a musical healing experience as we sing to lift the hearts of those staying at a local hospital or nursing home. The class will have an opportunity to sing with seasoned chorus members and other choirs for a grand finale and concert that welcomes in the summer and the Jewish season of Shavuot and revelation.
Fee: $150 members, $200 general public
Pre-registration Required

NEW: Tikkun Olam Choir with Cyrise Beatty
Wednesday evenings May 7, 14, 21,28, June 4,11,18, 25, July 2 7:30- 9 pm
Continue to make holy music all year round with the Tikkun Olam Choir! In order to join this chorus, participants should have taken the introductory class or meet with the choir director. All singers will recieve a choir book and ample oppurtunities to perform at Chochmat Shabbats, and other "Tikkun" related events such as singing at hospitals, nursing homes, etc.
Flat Fee: $125

Aging to Saging with Edna Ross, Tuesdays, May 13, 20, 27, and June 3, 7-9pm
The work of 'conscious aging', also know as 'spiritual eldering' or ‘sage-ing', is based on the work of pioneers in this field, in particular Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi, author of From Age-ing to Sage-ing and Ram Dass (Still Here). It is based on the view that the later stage of life has within it the unique potential for growth for those willing to pursue it. The workshops will provide an introduction to the theory and practices that make acquiring the qualities of an "elder" a deliberate outcome rather than a lucky break.
$65 for members, $85 for non-members—We need at least 8 people to sign up to offer this class! $15 discount for registration by May 7.

WOMEN'S SACRED TIME, SACRED SPACE: A reclamation of women's menstrual rites through the living waters of mikvah

Is the mikvah, the traditional Jewish ritual bath, an oppressive patriarchal rite or a ritual of renewal and transformation first created by women? Join us as we explore its ancient roots and modern meanings. In this three-part series, Deborah J. Grenn, Ph.D, founder of Kohenet, the Hebrew Priestess Institute, will discuss the power of self-designed seclusion in women's menstrual rites and the traditional laws concerning "ritual purity" in the Jewish community. Participants will leave this program with new ideas, places and rituals to create sacred time and space every month, renewed from Jewish tradition. This series includes one day at Chochmat and two classes visiting a natural swimming hole in the Redwoods of Point Reyes and the local mikvah in Berkeley.

Tuition and Times: (There is no drop in option for this class. Class limited to 25)
Session 1: Thursday June 5th 6:30-8:30
Session 2: Sunday, Summer Solstice! June 22nd 12:30- 6:00 pm meetin in Berkeley to carpool
Session 3 : Thursday, July 10th 6:30- 8:30 Tiharas Israel Mikvah in Berkeley

Tuition $150 members , $195 non members
Early Registration ends May 28th... take 20% off registration fee.
Questions about this course? Please contact Melanie at 510 704-9687 ext 12 or email melanie@chochmat.org

Introduction to Jewish Meditation
with Brian Schachter-Brooks
4th Monday of each month, 7pm
Free (Donations welcomed.)

The Jewish tradition is rich with images of communion with the Divine. These images to point to a deeper Reality--not to events that happened a long time ago or those we hope will happen in the future—but to the oneness of Being in the here and now. The key to this communion is meditation, or hitbodedut.

Join Brian Schachter-Brooks and the Chochmat HaLev musicians for an informative and experiential introduction to Jewish Meditation. This seminar will provide an overview of hitbodedut, chanting, silent meditation, and a question & answer session. Perect for those new to or curious about Jewish meditation.

Ayin Meditation
with Rabbi Avram Davis (offered through Yeshivat Simchat Lev)
Tuesday evenings
7-8:30 pm
First class is free; subsequent classes are $8 (please pay at the door)

Ayin is a Hebrew/Kabbalistic word, meaning 'emptiness', 'not-ness' or 'spaciousness'. When used to describe the meditation technique, it traditionally is referring to the highest teachings in the tradition and has the connotation of 'the innermost mind of the Divine'. All spiritual practice seeks to help us realize this, which is our fundamental nature. Ayin is ultimately that place without borders and indeed, beyond even religion itself.

Tai-Chi Meditation and Chi-Gung
with Jeffrey Kessler
Thursdays, on-going, at 5 pm
Fee per month: $50 members, $70 non-members

Develop inner strength, balance, and better health with Jeffrey Kessler, a seasoned practioner of chi arts. Jeffrey Kessler holds degrees in philosophy, mathematics and spiritual psychology. He is a long-time practitioner and teacher of Tai-Chi Chuan. A graduate of Chochmat HaLev's Jewish Meditation Instructor's Training program and a student of various traditions and psycho-physical systems, he is dedicated to the deepening of Jewish Spiritual practice.

For information about class series lasting more than 4 weeks, please visit the Intensive and Certificate Programs page.