A Lighter Heart
An Urban Jewish Meditation Retreat
by Or HaLev & The Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies
Thursday, December 4 - Motzei Shabbat, December 6, 2025
The Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies, Talpiot, Jerusalem, Israel
Rediscover lightness, clarity, and vitality in this annual Urban Jewish Meditation Retreat
So much has happened in recent times. Perhaps you too feel how experience can get heavy, can become a weight or fuzziness we carry around in body and mind. It’s really hard in the midst of it all to sustain clarity and steadiness, and appreciation for the goodness that is also here.
After two very difficult years, maybe you feel ready to give space to parts that were in the dark and couldn't be seen. Maybe it’s time to let in some more light, to bring warmth to what has been frozen, and to begin anew.
Meditation practice offers us chinks of light and space. Retreat gives us time to rest more deeply into these openings, to remember and feel what is grounding, to give lucidity and vitality the room which they need to unfold in our hearts.
In the midst of urban life, this retreat offers quiet. It invites you to enter a quieter rhythm, to listen for what is supportive, to notice what has been stirring beneath the surface, and to allow your heart, body and mind to ease.
We can take in what is nourishing — community, meditation, chanting, Shabbat, the sacred rhythms found in our tradition. We can tend to what is tender, the sorrow we may be carrying, the weariness of recent times, the grief we may have pushed aside. We can allow ourselves to mourn, to heal, to rest, to enjoy. We can feel held by the practices of our tradition and by one another.
We can meet presence, here and now. We can bring curiosity and openness. We can rediscover the capacity to feel alive in the stillness.
If some part of you is saying Yes, you are warmly invited. Give yourself a slower time, of shared sanctuary in the city. We’d love to welcome you to this retreat, and to unwind, unbind, settle and transform together.
What to expect?
Silent meditation with guidance
Group teachings
Time for Q&A
Prayer, chanting & yoga
A deep celebration of Shabbat
The retreat is conducted mostly in silence, with the exception of group sessions and personal conversations with the teachers.
Who is this for?
This retreat is open to all, from beginner to advanced meditators, whatever your relationship with Jewish life is like. Together, we’ll create a welcoming and supportive space to connect with others on a shared path of exploration and growth, offering mutual encouragement and support on your spiritual and meditative journey.
Meet Your Teachers
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Zac Newman
Zac is Or HaLev Program Director & Teacher. He has been practicing mindfulness since 2008 and teaching practice since 2013. He trained to teach mindfulness through the Centre for Mindfulness Research and Practice at Bangor University. Prior to his role at Or HaLev, Zac was the Community Director of HaMakom, the UK-based Jewish meditation organisation. Zac is a long-standing student of religious studies and psychotherapy. He is a rabbinical student in the ALEPH Ordination Program, and he is continually interested in how we can realize the wisdom of our tradition and the goodness of our lives.
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Avigail Beeri-Harel
Avigail has been a practitioner of Jewish meditation and spirituality for over a decade, and is a graduate of Tiferet: Teachers training for Jewish Mindfulness Meditation by Or HaLev. She is a dedicated teacher of Kabbalah and Hasidism in various frameworks in Jerusalem. Above all, Avigail is the proud mother of two lovely daughters.
Participants Share…
“The urban retreat provided an accessible container in which to connect with my deepest, purest Self.”
- Shmuel
“This retreat filled me up, broke my heart, and stitched it back together. It was so valuable to be in community with others trying to walk through life with generosity and compassion.”
- Alyssa
“Great for beginners as well as seasoned meditators. A great deal of thought given to the gentle beauty of it. Attending is an act of self love and a deep contribution to one's personal growth.”
- Margo
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Social Silence
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Communal Jewish Practice
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A Supportive Practice Space
This retreat is a non-residential retreat, which means people will sleep in their own homes each night or find their own accommodations.
Or HaLev is a pluralistic organization and we strive to create opportunities for meaningful practice for people from a diverse variety of Jewish backgrounds. In this retreat, food will be kosher and vegan. We will offer halachic egalitarian davening with three sections (men, women, and any gender). If there is a critical mass of those who prefer an Orthodox minyan, we will gladly make a space for that option as well. Alternately, people can choose to daven independently or not at all, depending on personal preference.
Start time on Thursday, Dec 4: 5:30pm (arrival by 5pm)
End time on Motzei Shabbat, Dec 6: 7:30pm
*A sample schedule is available on the Preparatory Letter
Cost
750 ILS / $230 per person
*The price includes special vegetarian and vegan meals throughout the retreat, prepared by Chef Tzuf Matzner's 'Pinahama' Catering.
If the retreat cost is financially unfeasible for you, please write to adam@orhalev.org, with a brief explanation of why you’d like to join us on retreat and your financial needs and we will do our best to make the retreat accessible to you. Financial aid is limited.
If you prefer to pay in dollars, please click here.
Retreat prices reflect the direct operating costs of running this retreat. They do not include any compensation for our teachers. At the end of the retreat, you will be invited to donate, to make an offering of the heart, to support the teachers.
Registration closes on Nov 30, 2025
A Few More Things To Note
Please read this Preparatory Letter for more info.
This retreat is a diverse container open to anyone. We welcome those with all Jewish backgrounds and meditation experience levels.
The retreat is mostly conducted in silence, except for group sessions and personal conversations with the teachers.
Should you discover that you are unable to attend, you may cancel for a full refund, less a 5% administrative fee, prior to Nov 30. No refunds will be issued after Nov 30, unless there is a replacement from a waiting list.
Our goal is to make retreat a safe and supportive environment for all who attend.
Please click here to find out more.
If you would like to discuss your mental health with us, or have concerns about whether this retreat is appropriate for you, please email us at adam@orhalev.org and we will put you in touch with the lead teacher of the retreat to discuss your concerns.
Any Questions?
Please contact Or HaLev`s Israel Community Manager, Adam Treistman: adam@orhalev.org
