Everything is God, So What?

The Texts and Practices of Nondual Judaism

August 13-19, 2007

If you spend time in the spiritual world today, you've probably heard people say that "everything is God," or that God is Ein Sof, without end — even filling the atoms of your computer screen.

For many of us, this offers a promise of liberation, but, after the thrill wears off, confusion as well.  Was God in the gas chambers too?  And if God is everything, what's the point of doing anything? 

In this unique class, we will explore Jewish texts on Nonduality, from Maimonides' Guide to the Perplexed to the Zohar, Moses Cordovero to the little-known teachings of Rabbi Aaron of Staroselse.  We will compare these teachings with those of Tibetan Buddhism and Advaita.  And we will balance the study with practices of contemplation, inquiry, prayer, meditation, and a nondual approach to the mitzvot to cultivate a boundless awareness, omnipresent, always available, and, in a sense, the most obvious thing in the world — even though it's really hard to say anything about it. 

If you've had some exposure to Kabbalah, Hasidism, or nondual Buddhism, come deepen your understanding, practice, and realization.  Be prepared for surprise: enlightenment is not what you think — and neither is God.

This is a Morning Class

During the Masters of Contemporary Kabbalah Week August 13-19, 2007

Teacher

Jay Michaelson is a teacher of Kabbalah, spirituality and Embodied Judaism, an adjunct professor at City College, and has taught at the Skirball Center, Yale University, the Burning Man festival, Makor, and many other institutions. He holds an M.A. in Religious Studies from Hebrew University, holds a J.D. from Yale and B.A. from Columbia. A finalist for the 2003 Koret Young Writer on Jewish Themes Award, Jay's recent work includes God in Your Body: Kabbalah, Mindfulness, and Embodied Spiritual Practice, as well as numerous articles in the Forward, the Jerusalem Post, and Zeek, which he edits.

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Registration Information

Adult Fees

The program fee for this class is $300; take a second class this week for 50% off! Fees are per person, and do not include the cost of Room and Board (see table on the right).

Room and board includes housing, meals, Shabbat services, evening activities, hot tub, yoga, meditation, and full use of our facility. All rooms are air-conditioned in the summer and heated in the winter. Adults fees apply to ages 15 and higher.

Limited financial aid is available.

Arrival and Departure

Please arrive between 2pm and 5pm on the day your retreat begins. Retreats end with brunch at 11:30am on the last day of the retreat.

Cancellation Policy

• Receive a full refund minus a $75 processing fee for cancellations more than 30 days prior to retreat.
• If you cancel between 30 days and one day in advance, a non-refundable credit (less a $75 processing fee) will be held for one year from the date of issue. This credit is non-transferable.
• No credit or refund is available if you cancel less than 24 hours in advance or on the workshop’s arrival day, if you do not attend a retreat, or if you leave a retreat early for any reason.

The Elat Chayyim Center for Jewish Spirituality reserves the right to cancel any program at any time. In this event, you will be given a complete refund.

For transportation: A full refund of transportation fees is available if you cancel at least three days (72 hours) in advance. No refund is available if less than three days notice is given. For more information on getting here, please visit our Travel & Transportation page.

Register now!

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