The Wellness Center @ Adas Israel
“The beginning of awe is wonder, and the beginning of wisdom is awe.”
~Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel
The Wellness Center @ Adas Israel is thrilled to welcome you to a sacred place for communal gathering, mindfulness, and reflection. We invite community members to open themselves to wonder, awe, and Jewish ritual practice, seeking a deeper connection with one's inner self and fellow travelers. Through meditation, yoga, ritual immersion, and other embodied practices we seek to help create wholeness in the realm of the body, mind and spirit. As you explore multiple dimensions of the Jewish tradition on your journey we seek to be an avenue to help open spaces, ancient and modern, to elevate your spiritual and religious practices. Please join us to create expanse, release, connect and engage in our bodies, our lives and the world around us.
Jewish Mindfulness Center Of Washington
Dip in the Adas Mikvah
One goal of mindfulness is to find moments of alignment, where body, mind, and soul are all engaged. Mikvah is a powerful Jewish ritual through which we can experience this alignment. Many people are able to achieve a harmony of their being in a single Mikvah immersion. Others establish a regular practice of Mikvah, akin to yoga or meditation, in which they experiment with different ways of immersing and find the ones that bring them closest to Oneness. You can now book a Mikvah immersion completely online, by clicking here. If you have any questions or concerns please reach out to the Director of the Mikvah Rabbi Elianna Yolkut.
An Evening with Rabbi Lauren Holtzblatt
Co-Sponsored by Or HaLev and the Den Collective
Tuesday, September 10 at 7pm | Click Here to Register
In Partnership with the Wellness Center @ Adas and MakomDC
An update to our September 10th Wellness Center Evening of Meditation & Learning--Rav James of Or HaLev is unable to to be in attendance as planned, due to the ongoing unrest in Israel. We look forward to welcoming Rav James to Adas when he is able to make the journey. We are pleased to share that the evening of Meditation & Learning in preparation for the Yamim Norayim--the High Holidays, will be lead by our very own, Rabbi Lauren Holtzblatt. We look forward to seeing you on September 10th at 7pm.
Teshuvah is the practice of returning to ourselves. In this incredibly difficult year, so many of us have felt lost, unbalanced, fearful and confused. Come join the Wellness Center @ Adas to explore how we can once more return to ourselves and find ourselves at home. Come and discover how finding balance and returning to our best and most regulated selves can be a form of teshuva. Through study, exploration and practical accessible meditation techniques, we will ready ourselves for the Yamim Norayim—the High Holidays—focusing inward, breathing, and releasing. We look forward to an evening of coming home, finding safety and being who we are.
High Holy Day Meditation with Mick Neustadt
Wednesday, September 25 @ 7pm | Register Here
The High Holidays are a time of renewal and reflection. Mindfulness and meditation give you the opportunity to pause, be still and reset. In this session we will take time to do just that. In this session we will take time in meditation to stop and pay attention to your body, breath and spirit. There will also be group sharing and reflection on moving into the new year, letting go and building on the positive in your life
Wise Aging Series with Janice Mostow and Betsy Strauss
Developed by the Institute for Jewish Spirituality, Wise Aging hosts conversations about what it means not just to get older but to age wisely. The program seeks to offer practical and spiritual insights to help individuals meet the challenges of these years with a sustaining spirit. Facilitated Wise Aging groups refer to the foundational text, “Wise Aging: Living with Joy, Resilience & Spirit” by Rabbi Rachel Cowan and Dr. Linda Thal. Janice Mostow and Betsy Strauss have co-facilitated Wise Aging groups at Adas Israel since 2016. A group started in 2023 will continue to meet monthly on Sunday mornings and is looking to add several participants.
Group 1: This group will meet quarterly and is a continuation of a group that has been meeting for several years. No new participants to be added to this group. This group will meet on the following Sundays from 1-230pm (Oct 20, Jan 5, April 6, June 8)
Group 2: This group will meet monthly, and is a continuation of the group started in Fall of 2023. New members are welcome to join. This group will meet from 10:30am-12:30pm on the following dates: September 8, October 20, November 3, December 1, January 5, February 2, March 2 , April 6, May 18, June 8
Yoga with Tobie Whitman
Wellness Center Yoga & Meditation Series
Fridays, September 20, November 1 & 22, December 13, 10:15-11:15 am in Funger Hall | Register Here
Bring mindful awareness to the body and the breath with a Wellness Center 4 part vinyasa yoga series rooted in the Jewish calendar. Through slow, deliberate sequences and energetic cues focused on alignment and cultivating interception, Tobie Whitman (RYT-200) helps students achieve embodied presence. Leave this one hour class feeling centered, calm and refreshed. Tobie is a dedicated vipassana meditation practitioner and has practiced yoga for nearly 25 years.
The Gates Are Still Open: A Community Discussion on the Ten Days of Teshuvah Led by Amy Golen and Ellen Winter
Tuesday, October 8 at 7pm | Click Here To Register
Join us as we gather together for a contemplative High Holiday reflection. With Rabbi Alan Lew z”l as our teacher, we will discuss sections of his 2003 classic book, This Is Real And You Are Completely Unprepared: The Days of Awe as a Journey of Transformation. This volume follows the spiritual calendar from Tisha B’Av to Sukkot. In past seasons, the Jewish Mindfulness Center of Washington (JMCW) has chosen one chapter for our community discussion. This year, as part of the Adas Israel Wellness Center, we will focus on the ten days of teshuvah between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Rabbi Lew continues to be one of the leading voices in Jewish spiritual practice. His insights, consistently relevant, can guide us on the meaning of the High Holiday journey, especially during these challenging times.
The complete book is inspiring and can be easily purchased online; note there is an updated paperback edition. If you would prefer a shorter read, here is a link to related portions for our discussion, including Chapter 7: “What the Soul Does While the Gates Are Still Open: The Ten Days of Teshuvah.”
Midday Mindfulness with Mick Neustadt LICSW
ON ZOOM Wednesdays at 12pm (October 9, 16, 23, 30 and November 6, 13)
Click Here To Register and For Zoom Link
Are you curious what mindfulness is all about? Interested in learning to meditate? Are you looking to continue to expand on your practice with a group?
This weekly group offers the opportunity to learn about and develop mindfulness to help you relate to your mind and emotions in a new way. Each session includes guided meditation, a short mindfulness talk, discussion, and opportunities to practice mindfulness skills in a group setting. Throughout the series, participants will engage in guided meditation, deep relaxation, walking meditation, and mindful movement. This class offers you an opportunity to practice mindfulness in a supportive environment and to learn how to integrate it into your daily life.
Yom Kippur Chanting with Susan Barocas and Michelle Buzgon: Preparing Body & Soul through Meditation & Song
October 12, 9:30-10:30 am
Led by Susan Barocas & Michelle Buzgon
Centering our bodies and minds, opening our hearts and awakening our spirits through mindful practices can help us move into this Yom Kippur day meaningfully and with deep intention. Come concentrate on the sounds and rhythms of our breath, guided meditation and melodic singing to deepen our sense of reflection, well-being and ability to accept the joys and sorrows of each year of our lives. Open to all, whether experienced or new to mindful meditation practice.
Susan Barocas is one of the founders of the Jewish Mindfulness Center of Washington at Adas Israel and chaired the Hesed Cooking Committee for its first 10 years. A chef, writer and cooking instructor, she finds the kitchen to be a place of great creativity and mindfulness.
Michelle Buzgon is a longtime Adas Israel member and one of the founders of the Jewish Mindfulness Center of Washington at Adas Israel. She brings many mindful modalities into her work as an ADHD coach, and her own mindful practice often includes chanting in Hebrew.
Susan and Michelle have been leading this annual High Holy Days ritual for more than a decade.
Moon by Moon: A Community Integration of Spiritual Time Based on the Hebrew Calendar
In Partnership with At The Well
Click Here To Register
Jewish tradition holds the world’s best-kept wellness secrets—these ancient practices support our wholeness individually and in community. Please join in this collaborative experience as At the Well and the Wellness Center @ Adas partner to explore the wisdom of the lunar calendar through the sacred technology of Rosh Chodesh. The Hebrew Calendar invites each of us into cyclical time, present-moment awareness, embodiment, and collective care.
Jewish tradition holds the world’s best-kept wellness secrets—these ancient practices support our wholeness individually and in community. Please join in this collaborative experience as At the Well and the Wellness Center @ Adas partner to explore the wisdom of the lunar calendar through the sacred technology of Rosh Chodesh. The Hebrew Calendar invites each of us into cyclical time, present-moment awareness, embodiment, and collective care.
We invite you to take part in this 4 part series:
Tuesday, December 3rd @ 6:45pm–KISLEV
With Rabbi Lauren Holtzblatt
In Kislev, we awaken to our subconscious selves, tap into the spirituality of dreaming, hone in on sleep to nourish us in winter, and connect with the miracles of the season.
Tuesday, January 28th @ 6:45pm–SHVAT
With At The Well
In Shvat we find rejuvenation through our connection to the natural world – just like the trees we celebrate on Tu B’Shvat (full moon), we continue to grow and renew even through the harshness of winter. We will be awakening from our hibernation and planting seeds for the spring to come.
Tuesday, April 1st @6:45pm–NISSAN
With Rabbi Lauren Holtzblatt
In Nissan, we celebrate the origins of Rosh Chodesh and embody liberation by owning our own time. This month invites us to take a step towards our own wholeness, each setting intentions for freedom.
Tuesday, May 20th @6:45pm–SIVAN
With Rabbi Elianna Yolkut
In Sivan we open up to receive divine wisdom and share our wisdom generously, finding strength and harmony in community and collective care.
Gan Hamishpacha/Family Center
The Gan Hamishpacha/Family Center at Adas Israel is a warm, welcoming, progressive place where all parents, babies, and children gather and connect. Growing a family is a magical time in life--a time that that calls for support, community, and a space for learning, questioning, and sharing. If you are expecting a baby or recently brought a baby into your family, we invite you to join a Prenatal or Postpartum Support Group right here in Cleveland Park at Adas.
For additional information & questions, please contact Gan HaMishpacha/Family Center Senior Educator & DONA Postpartum Doula, Darci Lewis.
Morning Awakening
Tuesday Mornings @ 9:45am - Click Here to Join the Zoom session
Shacharit (Morning Minyan) Siddur pages: click here to view
Join Rabbi Holtzblatt for an uplifting dose of mindful prayer and song as we start the day together. Gather over Zoom at 9:30am to center ourselves with selections from the daily morning tefillot (prayers). We will ground ourselves together with the experience of our own lives and meditate together. Morning Awakening is a new take on the traditional Jewish morning service.
Hesed Committee
Adas Israel invites anyone interested in creating a caring community to become involved in the many activities of the Hesed Committee. The committee focuses on Acts of Loving Kindness to help meet life challenges among our members. Hesed is a vital part of building community at Adas. One day you might be helping someone in our community. The next day you might need help yourself and the community is there for you. Hesed provides both the joy of giving and receiving. If you have any questions please contact Hesed Committee Chairperson, Rae Grad.
Hesed Support Groups & Meditation
Support Groups are a wonderful way to share insights and coping strategies for different life experiences. We are so fortunate to have Mick Neustadt available to guide these group sessions. Please click here to learn more about these opportunities: Intro to Mindfulness, Grief, Loss, and Healing, and more.
