‘More joy, less oy’

Sinai will host ‘Jewish renewal’ program on prayer

The Jewish renewal movement is, according to Marge Eiseman, “a joyful Judaism” that she has heard referred to as “more joy, less oy.”

Eiseman is one of the coordinators of the Jewish Renewal Caravan program, “Enlivening the Path of Prayer,” that will be held at Congregation Sinai on Sunday, Nov. 21, beginning at 9 a.m.

The day-long program will explore Jewish text, prayer and meditation in new and creative ways,” according to a release.

The program is co-sponsored by ALEPH: the Alliance for Jewish Renewal; the Or Tzafon Retreat Center, located in Traverse City, Mich.; and Sinai.

After a morning service, participants can select one morning and one afternoon workshop. Topics include “Kabbalah: Lurianic Meditation in Sounds & Color,” “Sing unto God a brand new song,” “Chant and meditation as a form of prayer”, “Opening to Etz Chayyim, the Tree of Life,” “Moving through the Hebrew letters” and “Delving into Parashat Vayishlach.”

Guest program leaders will be: Rabbi David Zaslow, spiritual leader of Havurah Shir Hadash in Ashland, Ore., and editor of the renewal siddur, “Idvu et HaShem B’Simcha”; and Rabbi Chava Bahle, founding rabbi of Congregation Ahavat Shalom in Traverse City, Mich., an independent synagogue meeting the needs of Jewish and intercultural families.

Local program leaders will be Eiseman, a Jewish educator and singer/songwriter; and Gloria Krasno, chaplain and mental health advocate, and friend of Reb Zalman Schachter-Shalomi, founder of Jewish renewal.

Eiseman became interested in Jewish renewal through participating in several retreats at Or Tzafon. This past June, she attended another such event at Elat Chayyim, a Jewish spiritual retreat center located in the Catskills. Such retreats are “full of wonderful teachings, great food and amazing community,” she said.

Eiseman wanted to “raise consciousness” about ALEPH and Or Tzafon when she approached Sinai’s ritual committee, of which she is a member, about the Jewish Renewal Caravan program.

Moreover, ALEPH and Or Tzafon have received a grant from the Kellogg Foundation to strengthen Jewish renewal in the Midwest through projects such as this, she said.
Krasno, a Sinai member and a yoga and meditation instructor, will be leading the “Moving through the Hebrew letters” workshop.

“I am not able to teach without it moving to dance,” she said. “Our classes will be multi-dimensional. They aren’t lectures, it’s interactive.”

Locally, Krasno also presents programs on “Age-ing to Sage-ing,” for which she trained under Schachter-Shalomi. The program is designed to “develop insights and skills for those who are interested in making life more exciting and more meaningful as they age,” said Krasno.

“The Jewish community has been a community of explorers,” she said. Through the renewal program, she hopes to “stimulate both young and old people to find the gems in the Jewish tradition.”

Eiseman said there is currently “no formal Jewish renewal congregation in Milwaukee.” Instead, there are “people who are in the style of [Jewish renewal] in every congregation.”

Eiseman said Jewish renewal is important, because “you need to find more ways to find your Jewish practice.”

She said that some people’s “encounter with formal Jewish life has left them unable to connect. They need to find something that is healing to them.” Eiseman added that the renewal movement is very “welcoming of gay and lesbian Jews.”

Krasno said through the Jewish renewal program, she hopes to “stir the heart, soul and bodies of people who will come.”

The program goes until 4 p.m., with lunch served at 12:30 p.m. Registration is $45 for the day, including lunch, before Nov. 12. After Nov. 12, registration is $50. For more information, call 414-426-6216.