AN 8-WEEK INTRODUCTION TO MINDFULNESS MEDITATION
with HaMakom: The Place for Wellbeing, Wisdom & Awakening
Taught by HaMakom faculty members Gidon Fineman, Rabbi Danny Newman, and Bev Cohen, this course will offer participants an introduction to the practice of mindfulness meditation. In addition, we will touch upon some of the ways in which we can cultivate mindfulness, and draw upon the wisdom of stillness and meditation practice within the context of contemporary Jewish life, ritual, and community.
COURSE DETAILS
Location: Alyth Synagogue, 23 Alyth Gardens, London NW11 7EN
8 Weekly sessions: Thursdays, 7.30pm – 9.30pm
Course Dates: October 17th, 24th, 31st, November 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th, December 5th
Retreat Day: Sunday 24th November, 10am – 4pm
Pricing: Standard Rate £155; Supported Rate £85; Sponsor Rate £215
Mindfulness offers not only a support for reducing stress and preventing low mood, it can also help us to pave the way towards a life lived with more freedom, purpose, joy, and ease of being.
This course will follow the 8-week Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) curriculum researched and developed by the Oxford University Mindfulness Centre. MBCT brings together, on the one hand, the wisdom of ancient approaches to meditation, alongside a strong evidence-base drawn from contemporary cognitive science. Through practicing mindfulness meditation, participants learn ways to manage and reduce stress, cope with difficulty, connect more to moments of joy and appreciation, and become better equipped to bring mindfulness skills into the midst of modern life.
The course will explore the essential principles of mindfulness through a combination of guided meditation practices, group discussion and reflection, and cognitive exercises. Between the classes we recommend a home practice of approximately 30-40 minutes per day, which will help participants to integrate mindfulness approaches effectively into everyday life.
Find out more about the curriculum of the 8-week course.
In addition to the weekly classes, the course will include a retreat day led by Rabbi Danny Newman, Gidon Fineman, and Bev Cohen which will consider how we might skilfully incorporate mindfulness practices into Jewish life, ritual, prayer, and community.
WHO IS THE COURSE FOR?
This course is for anyone with an interest in finding out more about mindfulness meditation*. The format of the 8-week course assumes no prior experience of mindfulness, so this is an appropriate way to begin to practice mindfulness meditation, with the support of a group and a teacher. During the course we will make some references to how mindfulness can be practiced within the context of Jewish life and community, however, please note that we welcome anyone of any religious faith or none. The 8-week course is a group course. There will be a maximum of 12 participants in each group.
*adults, aged 18 or older.
COURSE TEACHERS
The 8 weekly sessions will be taught by Gidon Fineman and Bev Cohen with support from Rabbi Danny Newman. The retreat day will be led by Rabbi Danny Newman, Gidon Fineman, and Bev Cohen
GIDON FINEMAN
Gidon trained to teach mindfulness at the Oxford University Mindfulness Centre (OMC). He has taught mindfulness courses for Oxford University students, as well as co-teaching on the OMC's 8-week MBCT course for the general public. Gidon is delighted to be a member of the HaMakom teaching faculty.
DANNY NEWMAN
Rabbi Danny Newman is the Founding Partner of HaMakom. He works closely with Reform Judaism and Liberal Judaism and is the spiritual leader of Elstree & Borehamwood Masorti Community. He read Jewish Studies at Oxford University and received his semicha (rabbinic ordination) from Leo Baeck College. Previously, he worked as a corporate lawyer in the City of London. Danny is a passionate advocate for post-triumphalist religion and spiritual practice.
BEV COHEN
Bev Cohen has been practising meditation for 25 years and it is central to her life. She has facilitated a regular weekly meditation group in north London and teaches one to one sessions in Brighton. She has qualified in mindfulness based approaches for teaching (MBCT/MBSR) with the NHS. She has had the privilege of sitting with some of the world’s best meditation teachers.
MINDFULNESS AND JEWISH LIFE
Cultivating mindfulness is a universal practice that draws upon the capacity all human beings have to pay close attention to our experience, allowing us to connect more fully to what we truly value and care for. Mindfulness is also an extremely useful tool for coping with the stresses and strains we all experience in our everyday lives, major or minor. We don't always have the power to change situations, but we all have the power to change the way we respond to them.
In the light of this, mindfulness can be a wonderful complement to Jewish life, prayer, celebration, and community. Whilst this course is primarily a practical training in mindfulness, we will look towards the Jewish tradition, as well as to other cultural and poetic sources, to inform and inspire us in our journey towards mindfulness and wellbeing.
HaMakom is a charity founded by Rabbi Danny Newman, our mission is to accompany and support people on their paths to cultivating wellbeing, wisdom and awakening - within a Jewish ethos and environment. We run retreats, workshops, classes and online courses for people from all parts of the Jewish community and from all faiths and none.
If you would like to know more about HaMakom, please email Danny at:
Find out more about the practice of mindfulness meditation in a Jewish context from the Institute for Jewish Spirituality
CONTACT FORM
Please feel free to be in contact with us if you have any questions, or would like to find out more