Programs from 5770-5783 through now; 2010-2023
Tu B'Shevat Ritual
Sunday, Feb 5;7-8pm RHMQ shul at the UU in Burlington
We celebrate the New Year of the Trees with a ritual seder aligned with the 4 worlds of action, thought, emotion, and spirit. We will be outside so come dressed warm!!! Bring 4 meaningful objects (you will take home) for our living altars that represent how you revive life. We will bless different kinds of fruits in awe and gratitude with revitalizing intention for the natural world. Rabbi Jan Salzman of Ruach HaMaQom and Kohenet Yepeth Perla Rubin will lead us in ritual and song, honoring the power of the Earth. All are welcome.
Sunday, Feb 5;7-8pm RHMQ shul at the UU in Burlington
We celebrate the New Year of the Trees with a ritual seder aligned with the 4 worlds of action, thought, emotion, and spirit. We will be outside so come dressed warm!!! Bring 4 meaningful objects (you will take home) for our living altars that represent how you revive life. We will bless different kinds of fruits in awe and gratitude with revitalizing intention for the natural world. Rabbi Jan Salzman of Ruach HaMaQom and Kohenet Yepeth Perla Rubin will lead us in ritual and song, honoring the power of the Earth. All are welcome.
Our Tammuz offering was A Meditative Journey During Shabbas Afternoon July 9, 5782 (2022) 4:30-5:30pm. Living Tree Alliance, Moretown, VT.
During Shabbas afternoon we will share time journeying through field into forest in reconnection with an ancient practice (as taught by Rabbi Nachman of Breslav) of listening, praying, communing with the beyond human community within which we are nested along with a few other holy orientations that invite us to align with the Infinite forms of the Divine within and beyond. Activities will include: circling, gentle walking, sitting, silence, and conscious sharing. Like this orchid that took 6 years between blooms, it is the silent communing we do with Creation that nurtures inner to outer blooming.
Kristallnacht Repairing: An Alchemical Gathering; November 9, 2019 at 6:30 PM – 10:30 PM; Congregation Ruach haMaqom 168 Archibald St. Burlington, VT 05401
We circled as a community during the eve of Kristallnacht' (the Night of Broken Glass;' a program against Jews that occurred in 1938 throughout Nazi Germany). 81 years later (8+1=9) was a ripe time to engage with this event as a portal for all violating patterns that have and are happening to peoples and beings during this 6th Great Extinction. Together we called in our various ancestors, struggles and efforts to heal, uniting around the root that holds us all though each strand requires its own analyses, strategies.. After grieving the Holocaust, attempted genocide of First Nation people here on Abenaki Terriitory, kidnapping of African peoples from their homeland to serve as slaves in this country, current detention centers where youth are separated from their families, decreasing habitat causing myriad species to die or if possible move and adapt, .... many other expressions of where humanity has gone astray, causing oppression and traumatizing realities that pervade so much of the planet right now, we then explored tools to heal, repair, and bring balance. The circle could have gone on for hours and we could have shared more time dancing our resilience at the end, but it was getting late and all were feeling held and strong in connecting with the simultaneous amazing beauty, dismantling, regrowing, slowing, degrowing, enduring, reclaming, strengthening, resolving, rematriating, healing occurring as well. A potluck was followed by havdallah ceremony, music, grieving ritual, and story telling celebrating/inspiring/ reminding us of our resilience; to discover and strengthen our resilient wellspring.
We circled as a community during the eve of Kristallnacht' (the Night of Broken Glass;' a program against Jews that occurred in 1938 throughout Nazi Germany). 81 years later (8+1=9) was a ripe time to engage with this event as a portal for all violating patterns that have and are happening to peoples and beings during this 6th Great Extinction. Together we called in our various ancestors, struggles and efforts to heal, uniting around the root that holds us all though each strand requires its own analyses, strategies.. After grieving the Holocaust, attempted genocide of First Nation people here on Abenaki Terriitory, kidnapping of African peoples from their homeland to serve as slaves in this country, current detention centers where youth are separated from their families, decreasing habitat causing myriad species to die or if possible move and adapt, .... many other expressions of where humanity has gone astray, causing oppression and traumatizing realities that pervade so much of the planet right now, we then explored tools to heal, repair, and bring balance. The circle could have gone on for hours and we could have shared more time dancing our resilience at the end, but it was getting late and all were feeling held and strong in connecting with the simultaneous amazing beauty, dismantling, regrowing, slowing, degrowing, enduring, reclaming, strengthening, resolving, rematriating, healing occurring as well. A potluck was followed by havdallah ceremony, music, grieving ritual, and story telling celebrating/inspiring/ reminding us of our resilience; to discover and strengthen our resilient wellspring.
Yom Kippur Services for Youth Oct. 9; 11-12:30pm Congregation Ruach haMaqom 168 Archibald St. Burlington, VT 05401 A minyan of us aged 1 to 50 walked from the shul to a sacred cedar grove in the cemetery across the street. We shared prayers, solo reflection time in where we have missed the mark and where we hit the mark, played games serving as compassionate witnesses to each other, pair shared in how we can do better this coming year, and set intentions in a nested altar where the living and dead merge in cedar tree roots. We explore the story of Jonah and our own individual and collective calls to service and ways of engaging or resisting with curiosity and reverence. No pix were taken because we were in the sacred grove of gates between worlds.
Shabbas space for all interested in Divine Feminine, earth-based Jewish practices
NE Women's Herbal Conference August 14-16, Camp Wicosuta, Newfound Lake, NH
Earth based Jewish rituals will be offered during friday eve to welcome in the Shabbas and saturday eve to thank and honor Shabbas' departure through ancient ritual of Havdallah. NO Pix because we were in the zone!!
NE Women's Herbal Conference August 14-16, Camp Wicosuta, Newfound Lake, NH
Earth based Jewish rituals will be offered during friday eve to welcome in the Shabbas and saturday eve to thank and honor Shabbas' departure through ancient ritual of Havdallah. NO Pix because we were in the zone!!
Purifying our Shrines for Pesach Congregation Ruach haMaqom. 168 Archibald St. Burlington, VT 05401 Nissan 11, April 16th: 6:30-8:30pm
We gather our many dimensions in an experiential journey ushering out whatever lingering places 'chametz'' (puffed up) remained within with gratitude, cleansing the space, and creating clear intentions of how to deepen our inner altar cleaning; then we listened into emerging practices to journey into Passover through the Omer. It was sweet to gather around the altar upstairs, recount the upcoming festival fusing early gatherings of shepherds and farmers, journey through the four worlds from ancient mitzrayim to today's modern world, pilgrimage in the shul through the four phases of liberation, burn our shackles amidst the sunset and bless each other for nurturing our vessels into vehicles for individual and collective liberation.
We gather our many dimensions in an experiential journey ushering out whatever lingering places 'chametz'' (puffed up) remained within with gratitude, cleansing the space, and creating clear intentions of how to deepen our inner altar cleaning; then we listened into emerging practices to journey into Passover through the Omer. It was sweet to gather around the altar upstairs, recount the upcoming festival fusing early gatherings of shepherds and farmers, journey through the four worlds from ancient mitzrayim to today's modern world, pilgrimage in the shul through the four phases of liberation, burn our shackles amidst the sunset and bless each other for nurturing our vessels into vehicles for individual and collective liberation.
Exploring the Divine Feminine Foundation of Judaism Congregation Ruach haMaqom. 168 Archibald St. Burlington, VT 05401 Adar II 10, March 17: 6:30-8:30pm
We joined in circle back to aboriginal Judaism when worship was rooted in earth practices, living tree reverence, embodied Goddess presence, and magical ways still going. We delved into, between and beyond texts written and oral while exploring different names of Divinity and Jewish archetypal approaches that reveal the Mother roots of Judaism. We discovered ways to open and reactivate these portals for the transformation of patriarchal patterns rooting society's dysfunctions and corresponding earth community healing arising.
We joined in circle back to aboriginal Judaism when worship was rooted in earth practices, living tree reverence, embodied Goddess presence, and magical ways still going. We delved into, between and beyond texts written and oral while exploring different names of Divinity and Jewish archetypal approaches that reveal the Mother roots of Judaism. We discovered ways to open and reactivate these portals for the transformation of patriarchal patterns rooting society's dysfunctions and corresponding earth community healing arising.
Shoe B'Shevat, hosted by Roots and Trails & Beth Jacob Synagogue. Jan 26; 6:30-8pm at NBranch Nature Center -713 Elm Street, Montpelier, VT. After a sweet havdallah ritual, we shared in a contemplative snowshoe journey under the full moon tree silhouettes by the river to listen to and bless the trees under the vast milky way. We gathered inside afterwards to share in a mini Kabalistic 4 world seder joining in the opportunity to replenish nourishment lifecycles and practice our redemptive prayers which allow us to partner with the Living Tree of Life.
Monthly Rosh Chodesh Circles co hosted by Roots and Trails and Congregation Ruach HaMaQom @ the new moon date in shul or nature nearby. We gather in sacred space, confidential and aligned with themes from our ancestral calendar. A general structure of circle casting, introductions, chants, prayers, teachings, experiential activities, sharing, discussion, reflection, and closing will be followed each month with rotating facilitators as the circle evolves. This circle is for all who identify as a female. Each circle's end we will choose the next date & facilitators. Currently Yepeth Perla collaborates with others in co-facilitation.
Yom Kippur youth service; Sept. 19, 2018. VT Community Sailing Center. 11-12:30pm 505 Lake St, Burlington, VT 05401
Youth from the Congregation Ruach HaMaQom circled to share in a vibrant service in which we acknowledged the fragility of life, oriented towards shma guidance to listen, explored the concept of repentance, pair shared about transgressions we each committed, drew and discussed the story of Jonah, investigated what we know about our individual missions on earth and what might be blocking us from fulfilling them, brainstormed ways to move through any stumbling blocks, and wrote blessings for each other and the community. As we allowed the wind, waves, rocks, plants, and earth to hold us we released into clarifying our places in the collective and individual spectrums of time and space Atonement.
Youth from the Congregation Ruach HaMaQom circled to share in a vibrant service in which we acknowledged the fragility of life, oriented towards shma guidance to listen, explored the concept of repentance, pair shared about transgressions we each committed, drew and discussed the story of Jonah, investigated what we know about our individual missions on earth and what might be blocking us from fulfilling them, brainstormed ways to move through any stumbling blocks, and wrote blessings for each other and the community. As we allowed the wind, waves, rocks, plants, and earth to hold us we released into clarifying our places in the collective and individual spectrums of time and space Atonement.
Rosh Hashana youth service; Sept. 10th, 2018. VT Community Sailing Center. 11-12:30pm 505 Lake St, Burlington, VT 05401
Youth from the Congregation Ruach HaMaQom circled outside to share in an experiential service involving rocks, water, our hearts, souls, minds, and community fabric as we gathered along the lake shore in prayer, exploring what we need to forgive in ourselves and each other. The service flowed in prayer song, pair shares, reflective activities, confessions, intentions, and revelations about parts of ourselves we are still figuring out with the wind and waves.
Youth from the Congregation Ruach HaMaQom circled outside to share in an experiential service involving rocks, water, our hearts, souls, minds, and community fabric as we gathered along the lake shore in prayer, exploring what we need to forgive in ourselves and each other. The service flowed in prayer song, pair shares, reflective activities, confessions, intentions, and revelations about parts of ourselves we are still figuring out with the wind and waves.
Pausing at the Cairn; Sept. 9th, 2018. 5-7pm. North Beach, Burlington VT
We met at the large white ash tree right of pavilion if you are facing the lake in creative circle to usher in the eve of Rosh Hashanah, the head of year: 5779. As we ushered out 5778 with gratitude and reflection, we turned furthur into the cycle of life in sacred space, playing with lakeshore's sand and rocks to redraw our trails up until this moment, witnessing each other with curiosity, immersing in the Lake Between's cleansing waters through the ancestral ritual known as a 'mikveh', discovered quiet spaces on the landscape and in ourselves to nurture and listen through, gathered in seed planting and candle lighting to welcome in blessing opportunities on setting sun horizon.
We met at the large white ash tree right of pavilion if you are facing the lake in creative circle to usher in the eve of Rosh Hashanah, the head of year: 5779. As we ushered out 5778 with gratitude and reflection, we turned furthur into the cycle of life in sacred space, playing with lakeshore's sand and rocks to redraw our trails up until this moment, witnessing each other with curiosity, immersing in the Lake Between's cleansing waters through the ancestral ritual known as a 'mikveh', discovered quiet spaces on the landscape and in ourselves to nurture and listen through, gathered in seed planting and candle lighting to welcome in blessing opportunities on setting sun horizon.
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Monday June 18th Rockpoint Summer Camp Staff Training; 10am-4pm; Counselors experienced the flow of the day through core routines grounded in gratitude, observation, play, listening, crafting, reverence, and sharing. Following their curiosity and discovering bird language, tracks, buds, medicine, fungal hyphae, & geologic wonders. Emergent properties such as First Nation inhabitant acknowledgement, emotional and physical safety, balance between essence connecting and scientific identifying, intuitive vs. wilderness skill honing arose as the landscape guided our learning process. Counselors set intentions individually and as a team, reflecting on throughout the day as they grew skills and awareness in holding a container for their campers to breathe in, out and through.
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Rosh Chodesh Tammuz Coed Circle: Tuesday June 12, 7:00-8:30 pm; Meet at North Beach on the far side of the pavilion. We gathered under a grandparent ash tree to sink into seeing life as it is by the windy shores. We played with leading & wandering to spots we were called to blindfolded to explore how our inner landscapes responded to this process. We meditated on the sanctuary of the lake basin before us and within us as well as the wave wind dynamics like flesh to candle and soul to flame, basin to bones and water to breath. We engaged in micromikvehs, shared our heartsong, set intentions, witnessed each other, sang prayers, blessed, & laughed amidst the elemental crossroads. (I was so blissed in the moment facilitating this that I forgot to take or ask someone to take pictures; imagine a circle of 5 souls of various ages and genders aligning with the new moon under a large tree on sandy edges of a vast lake whose northeast wind would not allow a candle to be lit.)
Rosh Chodesh Iyar Coed Circle: April 15; 6:30-8:30 pm; Congregation Ruach haMaqom 168 Archibald St. Burlington, VT 05401
We joined together in circle to explore the healing patterns of this moon, the refining opportunities of the Omer counting, the joys of self care through herbal facials, tea, and footbaths, and the support in sharing with each other as witnesses in the journey through the wilderness.
We joined together in circle to explore the healing patterns of this moon, the refining opportunities of the Omer counting, the joys of self care through herbal facials, tea, and footbaths, and the support in sharing with each other as witnesses in the journey through the wilderness.
March 25th at Congregation Ruach Ha Maqom; 168 Archibald St, Burlington, VT 05401 6:30-8:30 pm Preparing and purifying for Pesach. We gathered to explore what aspects of our inner and outer sanctuaries still contain vestiges of 'chametz' and experiment with a few cleansing techniques and teachings to release them in the synagogue. We then took our 'internal chometz' workshop work down to the lake where we participated in ancient & modern purification rituals of (Bedkat Chametz, Buir Chametz, Mikveh, and Bracha Chametz), allowing the elemental wheel to assist us in our cleansing amidst the setting sun, rising moon and stars, under a cottonwood tree. This opportunity allowed us space, mediums and community within which to identify, embrace, and let go of obstacles to create more space for liberation trails in the coming journey.
March 25th at All Souls Interfaith Gathering; A Vermont Spiritual Center 291 Bostwick Farm Rd.Shelburne, VT 05482 Uncovering Freedom 5-6pm. This week's service spoke about attuning to the possibility that the backdrop of our lives consists of breathing harmonious unity, holding it all together as we align with the season of spring and freedom, we witness how we minor adjustments, reveal this underlining peace. Co-creating , and inviting space to identify these portals is a present opportunity. Music accompanied the service and All Souls minister Kim Marie Glynn wove the service together with Yepeth Perla via quotes and meditation. Join us and breathe in the freedom! To read the Dvar that YP delivered that day click on the Torah Musings.
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March 18 6:30-8:30 pm at Congregation Ruach Ha Maqom; 168 Archibald St, Burlington, VT 05401 Coed New Moon Circle. Near the new moon of Nissan we circled in safe, confidential ritual space, exploring where we are caged and where we are free in our lives through experiential activities and discovered portals to identify strategies to increase liberation throughout our trails. We aligned with this month's themes of spring and release as well as witnessed and supported each other across the threshold into this spiritual new year.
Feb 25th 5:30-7:30 at Congregation Ruach Ha Maqom; 168 Archibald St, Burlington, VT 05401. Encounter the Many Faces of the Divine Feminine. We gathered around an elemental altar before the bimah and brainstormed places in the world lacking justice as orientation before diving into an exploration of 23 Jewish names of the Divine Feminine. After perusing the emanations each participant chose what attracted, repelled, and stretched him/her/ze/them. After journaling, we then collectively worked through our access points and workshop together how our awareness informs our daily life. We dipped into the Purim story and how the shapeshifting Divine Feminine presence helped facilitate a revolution of justice for all in that story; inspiring us to revisit our brainstorm with solutions strategies. We came up with a few including following our breath, cultivating space to hear the still small voice, continually returning to the 'mac' what?, aligning with the cosmic rather than mechanical calendar...
Feb 14 6:00-8:00 at Congregation Ruach Ha Maqom; 168 Archibald St, Burlington, VT 05401. Coed New Moon Circle in the shul. Near the new moon of Adar we circled in a mini ritual of intention setting and aligning with themes of joy, laughter, and experiencing Divinity within the material planes of this world. We built a mishkan of joyful practices that looked like a heart (it was on Valentine's Day) and played a fun game of portal discovery in the shul. We reflected on practices to cultivate joy and ways to emanate love in the world in a confidential, safe space held in song, prayers, teachings, and laughter. (Please note we were too blissed to document with photos so this photo is a peak at part of our circle last rosh chodesh)
Shoe b'shoat-snowshoe celebration of the New Year of the Trees (Shevat 14) Tuesday, January 30 at 6:30-8pm North Branch Nature Center 713 Elm St. Montpelier VT. 12 hardy souls joined us to snowshoe across the frozen field and riparian landscape amidst the rising Super Blue Moon. We listened, shared song, poetry, and blessings. This collaboration between Roots & Trails & Beth Jacob Synagogue ended in the nature center where we enjoyed delicious tree gifts with prayers and stories.
Jan 31 (Shevat 15); 5:30 - 7:30 pm at Ruach Ha maQom Shul 168 Archibald St, Burlington, VT 05401. Tu B'Shvat blessing way. 7 of us gathered in the shul to explore the Divine Feminine roots of Tree of Life honoring and journeyed out into the local cemetery to explore the spaces between our departed and living beings hanging between the bookends and amidst the scaffolding of the Tree of Life as we danced amidst, cuddled in, breathed with, listened to, blessed, and thanked the tree kin there. We warmed up and grounded in the shul to realign with the sap rising within our lives.
Jan 31 (Shevat 15); 5:30 - 7:30 pm at Ruach Ha maQom Shul 168 Archibald St, Burlington, VT 05401. Tu B'Shvat blessing way. 7 of us gathered in the shul to explore the Divine Feminine roots of Tree of Life honoring and journeyed out into the local cemetery to explore the spaces between our departed and living beings hanging between the bookends and amidst the scaffolding of the Tree of Life as we danced amidst, cuddled in, breathed with, listened to, blessed, and thanked the tree kin there. We warmed up and grounded in the shul to realign with the sap rising within our lives.
January 17th (Shevat 1); 6-8:00 pm at Ruach Ha maQom Shul 168 Archibald St, Burlington, VT 05401. Coed New Moon Circle. We welcome in the Shevat new moon in a conscious, confidential, & sacredly held circle. Through a dynamic ritual infused with mystical teachings we learned about the qualities of this month allowing space for intention setting, individual & collective sharing, & exploration into what is shedding and arising in our lives. We journeyed deep into our inner landscapes nested within the infinite caverns in the synagogue walls.
Expanding our personal containers to distribute the harvest equitably. (Saturday: Oct. 7; 'Sukkot on the Farm' Living Tree Alliance Cohousing Community, Moretown, VT) We investigated our individual inner architecture to see how well we each are equipped to meet today's challenges. We then encountered the 13 Netivot, archetypes identified through the Kohenet Institute. Through this process we explored where we are and not abundant in our lives and how we can we grow abundance to share the overflow with where it can be most healing.
Exploring how connecting with many faces of the Divine can inform our service in planetary repair.
Sunday: Sept 16; 'Deep Change 2017 Conference' Briggs's Opera House & Center for Cartoon Studies in White River Junction
We shared about our backgrounds in relationship to Divinity (however participants understood/defined this term). We then encountered 23 Divine Feminine names (often harnessed in the Kohenet path that YP is ordained in) and investigated how these delighted, triggered, invited, repelled or otherwise inspire us in new or old ways of aligning our efforts to create more harmony in the world.
Sunday: Sept 16; 'Deep Change 2017 Conference' Briggs's Opera House & Center for Cartoon Studies in White River Junction
We shared about our backgrounds in relationship to Divinity (however participants understood/defined this term). We then encountered 23 Divine Feminine names (often harnessed in the Kohenet path that YP is ordained in) and investigated how these delighted, triggered, invited, repelled or otherwise inspire us in new or old ways of aligning our efforts to create more harmony in the world.
Encountering 13 archetypes of an integrated human being. (July 21, 2017 at Garden of Delights' Magical weekend in Moretown, VT.) We brainstormed different aspects of ourselves that synchronize to harness Our holistic selves. We then met 13 Netivot, archetypal beings, that are harnessed in Jewish Priestess work to provide scaffolding for unified, empowered service in various dimensions of life. All of any tradition, who are open to exploring, are welcome to join us under the trees@@@
Exploring the Many Faces of the Divine Feminine; (May 30; 9:30-10:30 pm; Shavuous Celebration & Study, Ruach haMaqom, Burlington, VT) After an amazing compilation of zikr, talmud/Torah/midrash teachings, dancing, dairy partaking, & contemplative davenning led by many, YP led an informal workshop in which participants explored 23 names of the Divine Feminine. After perusing the emanations each participant picked out what name called him/her/ze/they as part of the Torah he/she,ze,they are on the brink of receiving. It was sweet to reconnect with these various attributes of the Divine as well as to witness each other in our individual and collective ascension journeys. (No pix were taken; this is from the previous day on the Mountain)
Sefirot Omer Cleansing Walk Up the Mountain; (May 29; 1:30-6pm; Shavuous on the Mountain, Stone Hut, Waterbury, VT) Yepeth Perla led a contemplative hike up & down Mnt. Mansfield (Mozodepowadso, Abenaki name for Moosehead Mnt) to explore the various stages of counting the Ome, offering reflective opportunities to engage with each sefirot with purifing intentions via Kabbalistic questions. This photo is actually of the hike up from the parking lot to the stone hut where Rabbis led us in a sweet ceremony amidst the rain falling. The hike YP led after lunch was so rainy that I did not dare take out my camera to capture it but can relay that the winds, rain blessings of good news, hardwood-boreal-alpine transitions weathered us into a vast space to receive revelation of raw humility, wonder, awe, & grateful vibrancy
Ancestral Tools of Awareness (Oct 16, 11-1pm, Sukkot on the Farm; New Leaf Farm, Bristol, VT)
Yaffa and Elliot co piloted this workshop (our first official collaboration) in which folks of all ages joined us to explore sensory meditation, conscious walking, intuitive tracking, gratitude, and harvest reflections through nature awareness activities linked to our ancestral pathways wandering in the desert and taking shelter in Sukkas of gratitude along the way.
Yaffa and Elliot co piloted this workshop (our first official collaboration) in which folks of all ages joined us to explore sensory meditation, conscious walking, intuitive tracking, gratitude, and harvest reflections through nature awareness activities linked to our ancestral pathways wandering in the desert and taking shelter in Sukkas of gratitude along the way.
Yom Kippur Contemplative Walk for Tweens and their Parents (Oct 12, 11-1pm, Bishop Booth Conference Center; 20 Rock Point Rd, Burlington, VT 05408)
Several youth and parents joined Yaffa and Melanie in a conscious walk through the gorgeous ceder woods, along the shore of Lake Champlain, exploring this day of AtOneMent via saying sorry, forgiving, and trying again. Through various activities along our walk we explored the myriad levels this process involves such as between the individual and the earth, within oneself, between oneself and others, between one and G-d, between oneself and the larger earth community. Participants seemed lighter, more joyful, and more aligned as we returned to meet with those in services.
Several youth and parents joined Yaffa and Melanie in a conscious walk through the gorgeous ceder woods, along the shore of Lake Champlain, exploring this day of AtOneMent via saying sorry, forgiving, and trying again. Through various activities along our walk we explored the myriad levels this process involves such as between the individual and the earth, within oneself, between oneself and others, between one and G-d, between oneself and the larger earth community. Participants seemed lighter, more joyful, and more aligned as we returned to meet with those in services.
Earth-Based Judaism & Nature Based Mentoring (August 21; 7-9pm, Central Vermont: Ruach HaMaqom; 168 Archibald Street, Burlington, VT 05401)
14 local Jewish Vermonters joined Yaffa of Roots & Trails, Melanie of Living Tree Alliance, & Rabbi Jan Salzman of shul Ruach HaMaqom to explore regeneration movement in the Jewish community. We began touching into personal past experiences where Judaism and earth consciousness felt integrated. From here we moved into places it has not and then explored the chasms/gaps within historical context frameworks of the diapsora and midwife synagogue structures, rabbinic systems, and institutionalized trails of the tradition. We then touched into Wilderness Torah's 8 Shields Mentoring and Nature Connection via Jon Young's Art of Mentoring framework; exploring how it both through the Jewish calendar and organizational models such as acorn offer effective tools for us to ground into our tradition's roots through our bioregions providing space for both ecosystemic and humant gifts/talents in our community to weave our culture through collaboration. We invite all interested to reach out to Roots &Trails, Living Tree Alliance, and Congregation Ruach Hamaqom to join in our programs both as a participant and cocreator as we nurture diverse and vibrant Jewish community revitalization in Central Vermont along with groups such as Jewish Communities of Vermont, Beth Jacob Synagogue, Ohavi Zedek Synagogue, Temple Beth El, Temple Sinai, Chabad Vermont....
14 local Jewish Vermonters joined Yaffa of Roots & Trails, Melanie of Living Tree Alliance, & Rabbi Jan Salzman of shul Ruach HaMaqom to explore regeneration movement in the Jewish community. We began touching into personal past experiences where Judaism and earth consciousness felt integrated. From here we moved into places it has not and then explored the chasms/gaps within historical context frameworks of the diapsora and midwife synagogue structures, rabbinic systems, and institutionalized trails of the tradition. We then touched into Wilderness Torah's 8 Shields Mentoring and Nature Connection via Jon Young's Art of Mentoring framework; exploring how it both through the Jewish calendar and organizational models such as acorn offer effective tools for us to ground into our tradition's roots through our bioregions providing space for both ecosystemic and humant gifts/talents in our community to weave our culture through collaboration. We invite all interested to reach out to Roots &Trails, Living Tree Alliance, and Congregation Ruach Hamaqom to join in our programs both as a participant and cocreator as we nurture diverse and vibrant Jewish community revitalization in Central Vermont along with groups such as Jewish Communities of Vermont, Beth Jacob Synagogue, Ohavi Zedek Synagogue, Temple Beth El, Temple Sinai, Chabad Vermont....
Mothers, Daughters, Sisters...; Paddling Peace Excursion; All Interested In Earth-Based Judaism (June 23-6; Green River Reservoir, Vt) Our group of sisters and mother/daughters revelled in the wild landscape where loon calls were the baseline. We paddled to islands, set up base camp, swam, tracked mammals, met edible and medicinal plants, practiced one match and friction fires, cooked gourmet meals, welcomed in Shabbas, explored many faces of the Divine Feminine, discussed our relationships to Divinity, shared ancient and modern stories, sang songs, prayed, stretched, blessed, meditated at our sit spots, ushered out Shabbas via Havdallah, practiced nature awareness skills, supported a girl as she entered her lily maiden path, learned technical paddling skills, filtered a lot of water, thanked, slowed..
Passover Purifying Our Hearths; All who connect with Divine Feminine (April 17; 11-1pm; Hubbard Park, Montpelier, Vt) We grounded in the center of 9 directions, travelling through the four worlds examining our inner landscape while nested in the clarifying outer landscape. As we investigated and cleared our spaces of 'shmutz', thanked it, buried it and created clear intentions for new liberation for all via our own vessels.
Interfaith Pre-Passover Seder: (March 21; Beth El Synagogue; Hospital Dr, St Johnsbury, VT 05819: 6pm)
Rabbi Tobie Weisman, Rick Swag, and Yaffa guided folks of many faiths to participate in a ritual inspiring freedom of consciousness. We explored how to carry this into our daily lives for all beings.
Rabbi Tobie Weisman, Rick Swag, and Yaffa guided folks of many faiths to participate in a ritual inspiring freedom of consciousness. We explored how to carry this into our daily lives for all beings.
Family Adventure Walk: (April 2, JCOGS, 1189 Cape Cod Road Stowe VT 05672; 10:30-11:30 am) We enjoyed a dynamic time walking through the surrounding meadow edges peering closely into lichen and discovering treasures including a woodchuck among its many tunnels and green leaves unfurling. We honored the Abenaki and language of this land as we also practiced blessing these wonders in our ancestral language.
Meditative Shabbas Walk: (April 2, JCOGS, Stowe Vt; 3 - 4:15 pm)
We strolled through the surrounding natural community within which we are nested to play with a few deepening techniques while snow and hail invited our sense to open even more. Our return to inside offered a reminder of how we guide our awareness expanse and our capacity to bless every moment.
G-d(dess) Investigation: (April 2, JCOGS; 4:30-5:15) We briefly explored the challenges & opportunities of being Jewish in Vermont touching on the fine line between honoring Shabbas and growing community with our friends, if Kosher is Kosher to us if it hurts the land & animals, how we navigate holding sacred space for our tradition while in close proximity to those who hold other sacred spaces, and our individual links to Divinity.
A Teen Conversation: Reframing Israel (April 2, JCOGS, Stowe, VT; 11:00-12:30) We gathered for an open conversation about the his(her)story, challenges, and current dynamics of the land, people, and state of Israel & Palestine. We learned a lot more about the topic and our struggle with understanding it.
Exploring Many Faces of the Divine: (April 3, JCOGS, Stowe, Vt; 1:30-2:30 pm) Folks journeyed into different dimensions of the Creator; exploring and sharing what names they resonated with and which ones challenged them.
Spicing up Jewish teen life in Vt: April 3, JCOGS, Stowe, VT; 2:30-3:30 pm) Teens gathered to experience a taste of Roots & Trails programming, an introduction to tzedakah work in the area, a view into Young Judeae and an exploration into what we can co-create for a vibrant Jewish teen hub.
Tu B'Shevat Snowshoe Honor the Trees: All Welcome (Jan 24; 10-12 pm; East Montpelier, VT)
We journeyed through the winter wonderland together, listening to & praising the trees while deepening our awareness of their seen and unseen teachings. It was neat to practice co-partnering with the trees, to explore ancient practices of communing with trees, and to venture into the four worlds as honored by mystics through a blessing seder in the sunshine on the sparkly snow amidst our holy teachers.
We journeyed through the winter wonderland together, listening to & praising the trees while deepening our awareness of their seen and unseen teachings. It was neat to practice co-partnering with the trees, to explore ancient practices of communing with trees, and to venture into the four worlds as honored by mystics through a blessing seder in the sunshine on the sparkly snow amidst our holy teachers.
Honor the Light Spa Space: Mothers & Daughters (Dec 13; 1 - 4 pm; Beth Jacob Synagogue, Montpelier, VT)
We nourished each other with herbal delights of this past summer via footbaths, facials, tea, and stretched while sharing tribal ways of bringing summer lightness into the winter darkness. We explored teachings of rosh chodesh, the energy of Tevet, and relaxed as we sipped on lemon balm tea, revelling in hop lavender rose salts while our clay masks hardened. (I forgot to take pix but here is some of last summer's calendula we used in our brews)
We nourished each other with herbal delights of this past summer via footbaths, facials, tea, and stretched while sharing tribal ways of bringing summer lightness into the winter darkness. We explored teachings of rosh chodesh, the energy of Tevet, and relaxed as we sipped on lemon balm tea, revelling in hop lavender rose salts while our clay masks hardened. (I forgot to take pix but here is some of last summer's calendula we used in our brews)
Family hike up Spruce Mountain (Oct 25; 10-2pm; Plainfield, Vt)
Together we journeyed up amidst the autumnal hues through the hardwood and boreal zones while tapping into Judaism's four world and explored how awareness of their presence can deepen our journeys. We were an eclectic group of children, parents, single adults, and an elder. We spaced ourselves out amidst the mountain according to our curiosity and comfort. On the way down we shared Yiddish sayings and explored the descent of worlds and how to navigate gracefully.
Together we journeyed up amidst the autumnal hues through the hardwood and boreal zones while tapping into Judaism's four world and explored how awareness of their presence can deepen our journeys. We were an eclectic group of children, parents, single adults, and an elder. We spaced ourselves out amidst the mountain according to our curiosity and comfort. On the way down we shared Yiddish sayings and explored the descent of worlds and how to navigate gracefully.
Workshops at Sukkot Harvest Festival (Oct.4; morning and afternoon; Bristol, Vt)
We joined in interactive workshops including cordage making, no match fire making, carving, and nature awareness. The teens later met in a nook to explore what it means to go in nature and hear original instructions. The brought back rich guidance about ways we can be of service in our community.
We joined in interactive workshops including cordage making, no match fire making, carving, and nature awareness. The teens later met in a nook to explore what it means to go in nature and hear original instructions. The brought back rich guidance about ways we can be of service in our community.
Children's High Holiday Services at Beth Jacob (Sept.14 & 23; 10:30-11:30 am Montpelier, Vt)
All are welcome into a dynamic experience singing, praying, sharing stories, and exploring concepts of forgiveness, accountability, intention, and planetary healing. After a brief service exploring the lunar calendar and all that happened this year as well as sharing with each other places we need to forgive or be forgiven, we then joined in a climate ribbon ritual to pledge caregiving ways to earth in praise of Creation.
Chabad Pioneers' eldest girls via canoes for a wonderful wet stay on Burton Island on Lake Champlain; VT (June 30-July 1, 2015); they enjoyed davenning, met friends like red rasberry and yarrow, revelled in the wonder of Mars & Jupiter converging, read the deep text of firefly light, explored our silent amidah via woods sit spot, learned to enjoy cold steady rain and wind while paddling towards our future, connected with Miriam's well, and so much more..
Roots and Trails' 'Tiferet Girls' canoed for three days and two nights (August 12-14, 2015) on Lake Champlain in VT with eight girls and assistant instructor Diana Clarke. We learned classic American Canoe Association strokes (such as sweep, bow draw, forward..) well enough to navigate our boats to Woods and Knight Islands, making sweet camps along the way. We investigated our evolving relationship to Divinity, experimented using female pronouns in our prayers, enjoyed a morning mikveh in the lake, allowed nature to be our guide via wind and waves, were introduced to a bitl of yiddish and Jewish American feminist poetry, met friends such as nettle, rasberry leaf, plantain, and heal all, joined in individual and collective prayer, stretched through yoga, learned to portage, sang tribal songs around the fire, shared about our ancestors, awed under the Perseid meteor shower, learned through each other's stories, began transitioning from the mourning month of Av to the renewing month of Elul and so much more..
Teshuvah Roots Gardening Service; Consciously Rewilds Earth via:
- Recognize lifecycle patterns occurring in your ecosystem
- Identify who is living in your wild neighborhood
- Develop practices which enhance the habitat
- Build & maintain a compost system that fits your family/community/business & landscape needs
- Grow, and maintain healthy living soil
- Diversify your food, fiber, medicinal, & pollinator gardens
- Catch, store, & use water flowing through your landscape
- Bioremediate damaged or degraded land
- Simplify your land tending practices to be sustainable
Women Within the Wild Series: for women ages 14 & older interested in exploring ancient Goddess practices; rediscovering their transformative potential in today's world. The series begins in December & runs through August. Participants are welcome to take as many or as few workshops as they like. Fees are sliding scale & scholarships are available.
Workshops during the 2nd Annual Jewish Intentional Communities Conference: Nov. 20-23 at Isabella Freedman Center in Falls Village, CT.
Exploring Ritual in the Home: (9:00-10:15 am) How does your family harness ritual to connect with each holiday season's Divine energy? Come explore with us as we travel through the Jewish calendar together, sharing ideas and practices we do to align & co-create within our tradition's framework.
Slowing Down into Shmita: (1:00-2:00 pm) Journey to the forest to find a spot to silently attune to the surrounding wild community & the still, small voice within. Reflect on Shmita and our opportunity to creatively honor it. Share in circle as we witness, support, & inspire each other.
Exploring Ritual in the Home: (9:00-10:15 am) How does your family harness ritual to connect with each holiday season's Divine energy? Come explore with us as we travel through the Jewish calendar together, sharing ideas and practices we do to align & co-create within our tradition's framework.
Slowing Down into Shmita: (1:00-2:00 pm) Journey to the forest to find a spot to silently attune to the surrounding wild community & the still, small voice within. Reflect on Shmita and our opportunity to creatively honor it. Share in circle as we witness, support, & inspire each other.
Workshops during the Jewish Communities of Vermont Conference: Making Connections: Sunday, Nov. 2; 9am-3pm in Killington, VT.
Slowing into Shmita: (11:15-12:15 pm) As we enter the Shmita (Sabbatical) year of 5775, we have the opportunity to reflect on & realign our lives in a way similar to how the Sabbath can guide our work week experience. In this workshop we will explore readings from primary and secondary texts to explore what this ripe opportunity offers. We will study how the Jewish environmental movement harnesses this time to reorient our social, economic, and agricultural systems to create a more just and egalitarian world. Through this you may discover ways which feel authentic for you, your family, and your community to participate in this regenerative global initiative.
How Eco-Kashrut Supports Life: (1:00-2:00 pm) While we live during what is known as the 6th Great Extinction, we have the responsibility to choose lifestyle practices which support rather than dismantle earth's life sustaining systems. Jewish principles such as Bal tashchit (protection of the environment), Tza'ar ba'alei chai’im (respect for animals), Sh'mirat haguf (protection of one's own body), Oshek (not oppressing workers) and Shmitah/Yovel (the rhythm of allowing the earth to rest) are key components in what has been coined “Eco-Kosher' by Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi. In studying the history & process of the “Eco-Kosher Project,” we will grapple with how our observing ethical strands in the Torah within our modern context can orient us to help heal rather than hurt the earth community.
Slowing into Shmita: (11:15-12:15 pm) As we enter the Shmita (Sabbatical) year of 5775, we have the opportunity to reflect on & realign our lives in a way similar to how the Sabbath can guide our work week experience. In this workshop we will explore readings from primary and secondary texts to explore what this ripe opportunity offers. We will study how the Jewish environmental movement harnesses this time to reorient our social, economic, and agricultural systems to create a more just and egalitarian world. Through this you may discover ways which feel authentic for you, your family, and your community to participate in this regenerative global initiative.
How Eco-Kashrut Supports Life: (1:00-2:00 pm) While we live during what is known as the 6th Great Extinction, we have the responsibility to choose lifestyle practices which support rather than dismantle earth's life sustaining systems. Jewish principles such as Bal tashchit (protection of the environment), Tza'ar ba'alei chai’im (respect for animals), Sh'mirat haguf (protection of one's own body), Oshek (not oppressing workers) and Shmitah/Yovel (the rhythm of allowing the earth to rest) are key components in what has been coined “Eco-Kosher' by Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi. In studying the history & process of the “Eco-Kosher Project,” we will grapple with how our observing ethical strands in the Torah within our modern context can orient us to help heal rather than hurt the earth community.
Sukkot Festival Workshops: at the Sukkot Festival October 12th at New Leaf Organic Farm in Bristol, VT.
Reflective Women's Meditative Harvest Walk: (10-11:30 am) Come join us as we wander through field and forest in a contemplative meditation as we journey between the outer and inner landscapes of our lives..
Weaving our Wonder: (1-2:30pm) Come join us as we meet local plant and tree species whose inner bark offers us wonderful materials for weaving into rope, known as cordage....
Reflective Women's Meditative Harvest Walk: (10-11:30 am) Come join us as we wander through field and forest in a contemplative meditation as we journey between the outer and inner landscapes of our lives..
Weaving our Wonder: (1-2:30pm) Come join us as we meet local plant and tree species whose inner bark offers us wonderful materials for weaving into rope, known as cordage....
High Holiday Children's Services: outside Montpelier's Beth Jacob synagogue in the tent, gathered for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur (10:30-11:15am) to share in song, prayer, story, silence, sharing, and reflection. Parents, family members, and youth of all ages welcome.
Tiferet Trails Wilderness Girls Series: for pre to post Bat-Mitzvah age (9-15) girls interested in joining together in village community; practicing ancient skills and crafts while discovering our own gifts and wonder. All abilities, levels of knowledge, and forms of practice welcome.
©2024; 5784, Roots and Trails L3C
