Kol HaNefesh: Voice of the Soul
About Kol Ha Nefesh
Kol HaNefesh is a gathering of Jews of all backgrounds, interests and levels of knowledge and observance. We gather for half-day retreats at least four times a year. Gatherings include a range of activities for “going inward” and revisiting the voice of our soul. Group discussions provide opportunities to share insights, life experiences and pressing questions, as well as the opportunity to take learnings from wisdom traditions outside of Judaism and explore how and where they are found within our faith.
Coming in June 2012
Annual Kol HaNefesh Shabbaton with visiting scholar Rabbi Shawn Zevit
~ Kehillah Kedoshah: Growing Sacred Community ~ From Self to Family to Congregation to World
June 1st – 3rd, 2012
Kol HaNefesh is pleased to welcome visiting scholar Rabbi Shawn Zevit for our annual Shabbaton on the weekend of June 1–3, 2012. This engaging and inspiring program, entitled “Kehillah Kedoshah: Growing Sacred Community,” will explore ways we can access the sacred in our personal, congregational, and communal lives. Believing that Jewish congregational life entails “taking the building of sacred community to heart,” Rabbi Shawn will guide participants in “reaching in and reaching out.”
Rabbi Zevit has over 25 years of experience in spiritual leadership, organizational consulting and training, teaching, and performing. He has consulted with over 500 institutions and faith communities across North America, and since 1998 he has been the Director of Congregational Services and Tikkun Olam for the North American Reconstructionist Movement. In addition to being a spiritual director and trainer of clergy in spiritual direction, Rabbi Shawn is a composer, a liturgist, and the recording artist of five CDs. He is also the author of Offerings of the Heart: Money and Values in Faith Communities (Alban, 2005).
Participants of the Shabbaton will engage the body, heart, mind, and spirit while touching on tradition and modern-day creative explorations of what it means to build a kehillah kedoshah—a sacred covenantal community. The Shabbaton begins Friday evening at 7:30 as Rabbi Shawn leads Kabbalat Shabbat services. Discussion at the oneg following the service will focus on the individual’s spiritual journey.
The weekend’s activities continue Saturday morning during Torah study at 9 am with Rabbi Shawn and Rabbi Greg Wolfe, followed by services at 10 am that will focus on sacred community. A luncheon after services will be followed by a brief afternoon session exploring Jewish texts and perspectives on kehillot kedoshot from across the ages. Cost of the luncheon and the afternoon session is $20. Babysitting during the morning service and the afternoon session on Saturday is available upon request at $5 per child; contact Mark Simon at msimon@omsoft.com by May 26 to reserve babysitting spots.
Saturday evening begins with a concert at 7:30 pm in which Rabbi Shawn, along with a crew of local musicians, will regale us with his very special blend of original musical compositions. Cost of the concert is $10 for adults and $4 for children 12 and under. A community observance of Havdallah follows the concert. The Shabbaton resumes Sunday morning at 10 am with a concluding workshop on putting our learning into practice and forming a vision for the community moving forward.
All portions of the Shabbaton are free for Kol HaNefesh sponsors. For more information concerning this year’s Shabbaton, or if you’d like to be a sponsor of the Shabbaton at the $108 level, contactJane Rabin at jane.rabin@gmail.com.
