jaymichaelson.net » judaism

Nishmat Hayyim Three-Day Meditation Retreat, August 26-29

Russ — Wed, 12 May 2010 07:25:37 +0000

Jay will be co-teaching this residential meditation retreat with Seth Castleman of Nishmat Hayyim. More details posted soon on www.nishmathayyim.org

Human Rights Campaign Summer Institute

Russ — Wed, 12 May 2010 06:54:30 +0000

The HRC Summer Institute is developed to encourage and promote LGBTQ and allied students pursuing religious studies and theological scholarship. It is open to students at the final stages of the MA, MDiv, and early stages of PhD and ThD work in the United States. Recognizing that all students doing advanced scholarly work in LGBT religious and theological studies do not fit conventional degree-granting institutional models, we will also consider those working outside traditional degree granting programs.

The Institute will function as an intensive workshop/course designed to encourage and empower students working on LGBT studies who are interested in seeing the connection between their work and LGBT justice. The program will bring together well-known scholars and theologians to serve as instructors and mentors on themes related to LGBT religious and theological studies and hermeneutics; public theology and advocacy; justice work at the intersections of identities; religious pluralism and queer studies.

Jay will be joining Institute directors Dr. Rebecca Alpert from Temple University and Dr. Ken Stone from Chicago Theological Seminary. More information: http://www.hrc.org/seminaryscholarship/summer_institute.asp

Uncle Shabtai’s Neo-Kabbalistic Poetry

Russ — Mon, 10 May 2010 07:33:45 +0000

P.Diddy in Fiddler on the Roof. Checking out yeshiva bochurs during Simchas Torah. Erotic harmonies of Lecha Dodi. These and many more antinomian verses will be declaimed, shouted, and sung to musical accompaniment and general merriment.

To Sin is Holy: The Anti-Torah of Jacob Frank

Russ — Mon, 10 May 2010 07:31:18 +0000

The antinomian heretic Jacob Frank (1726-1791) was a fascinating and startling Jewish (and Christian and, briefly, Muslim) thinker and/or cult leader who believed that the total transgression of all basic norms was necessary to actualize the messianic redemption. Think Sabbetai Sevi but with more sex and heresy. In this class we’ll apply a very traditional format — hevruta, texts, etc. — to very radical texts, including some of Frank’s remarkable legends and tales.

How and Why to Meditate

Russ — Mon, 10 May 2010 07:28:06 +0000

Most of us have a general sense that meditation brings about states of calm or clarity. But can we experience those states if our lives are busy? What is the “point” of meditation? This is a no-nonsense introduction to the practical techniques and purposes of meditation, suitable both for yogis and for people who say they can’t meditate/hate meditating/aren’t that kind of person at all.

Nehirim East Retreat, June 4-6th

Russ — Mon, 10 May 2010 07:22:21 +0000

Nehirim East is Nehirim’s flagship retreat, bringing together over one hundred LGBT Jews from around the country to the beautiful Isabella Freedman Retreat Center in Connecticut. This year directed by Dr. Zvi Bellin, Nehirim East is a unique weekend of spirituality and community: workshops, great food, sports & swimming, a pluralistic community (Orthodox to atheist, teens to 70s, with non-Jewish partners welcome), and plenty of time to connect and meet new people.

This year, our 6th Annual East Coast Retreat, features familiar faces (Jay Michaelson, Becky Emet, Rabbi Joel Alter) and new ones (Rabbis Sue Levi Elwell, Alissa Wise, Ilana Kramer, and Aaron Katz). As always we will have inspiring prayer services, dynamic spiritual and intellectual workshops, and delicious food.

Meditation workshop

Russ — Sun, 11 Apr 2010 23:37:58 +0000

The second program of Jay’s visit to Kansas City. This meditation workshop, for beginners and experienced meditators alike, will introduce techniques designed to open one to the experience of non-dualism.

Everything is God book discussion

Russ — Sun, 11 Apr 2010 23:28:10 +0000

Jay Michaelson visits Kansas City for the first time for two evenings in May. Michaelson’s new book, Everything is God: The Radical Path of Nondual Judaism, brings together Jewish, Buddhist and pop cultural sources, discusses the future of religion in an increasingly technological age, and includes a section on meditation. Michaelson asserts that the concept of non-dualism (“not two”) which is at the heart of many Eastern religious traditions, is a radical, yet ancient Jewish teaching as well. He will relate these ideas to the current renaissance in Jewish spirituality, and his own experience as a longtime Buddhist practitioner and teacher of Kabbalah.

Everything is God: An Introduction to Non-dual Judaism

Russ — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 04:54:15 +0000

The principle of non-duality—that everything is One—is familiar to spiritual seekers from a variety of mystical paths. Kabbalah, Judaism’s mystical and esoteric tradition, also expresses this idea, in uniquely provocative and sometimes startling ways. This evening we’ll combine text study (from sources as diverse as Maimonides’ Guide to the Perplexed, the Zohar, and the Baal Shem Tov), contemplation and discussion to explore key Jewish teachings on non-duality, and also explore comparative insights on how non-duality is actually lived.

Taking Enlightenment Seriously: A Jewish model of awakening with Jay Michaelson

Russ — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 04:50:55 +0000

‘Enlightenment’ is often a term associated with Eastern religions and philosophies. But as early as the prophet Daniel, enlightenment has been a Jewish ideal as well. What is Jewish enlightenment? Is it possible for regular people? How does it differ from other forms? Is the search for enlightenment just another narcissistic thrill—or does it really matter somehow? Come explore these questions and more with Jay Michaelson, author of Everything is God: The Radical Path of Nondual Judaism, recently named to the Forward 50 list of the most influential Jewish leaders in America.