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EJW Network Community Gathering

EJWN Fall Community Gathering

Ahava Elyonah (אהבה עליונה): Higher Love
with Laura Hegfield & Julie Emden
Monday, Sept 23, 2024
10am PST | 1pm EST  | 8pm ISR [90 mins]

Every day, but particularly through this season, we are called to a Higher Love, Ahava Elyonah. How can we access and channel this Higher Love, not just for ourselves, but for the benefit of all beings we encounter? Join us for this special session as we begin this new 2024-2025 cycle of exploration and learning with the EJW Network.

The letters that spell the Hebrew month of Elul (אֱלוּל) are an acronym for the Hebrew phrase from Song of Songs 6:3, which translates to "I am my Beloved's and my Beloved is mine".

Ani L'Dodi V'Dodi Li
אֲנִ֤י לְדוֹדִי֙ וְדוֹדִ֣י לִ֔י

Together we will explore resting into, moving with, and experiencing this notion of a ‘higher love’, a field of benevolent, flowing, loving generosity as we embody beautiful teachings about Elul via Mindful Meditation, Song, Gentle Movement and Dance .

Please prepare a comfortable space to move, rest and sit together for our practice. We invite you to be near to a supported place to sit (sofa or cozy chair), and also space to lie down on the floor with a yoga mat and/or blanket(s) if you have them.  A glass of water, journal, and/or art supplies are recommended.

Laura Hegfield has served Temple Beth Abraham in Nashua, NH as an educator since 2001, forming a meditation circle in 2012, now known as Menuchat Ha-Lev. She grounds her teaching in Torah, compassion and wisdom, often informed by living her life with Multiple Sclerosis. A graduate of Philadelphia College of Textiles and Sciences, with a BS in textile design, the Institute for Jewish Spirituality Teen Educators cohort, a certified Yoga & Jewish Spirituality Teacher, SoulCollage® Facilitator, Kaizen-Muse Creativity Coach, IJS certified Jewish Mindfulness Meditation Teacher and Reiki Master Practitioner, Laura weaves her various interests and skills together in a unique way.

Julie Emden (she/her), is the Founder of the EJW Network and Embodied Jewish Learning. Julie infuses her work with exploration, spirit and joy. She is passionate about awakening the body as a gateway to deep inner knowing and guides others in somatic explorations of Jewish wisdom teachings as a resource for living in balance and wholeness. A graduate of five fellowship and teaching certification programs related to her work as a Jewish educator, Iyengar-based yoga instructor and movement/expressive artist, Julie has over two decades of experience guiding others in exploring Jewish wisdom, text and practices via the body in a variety of settings. 


EJW Community Gatherings are offered quarterly as part of the Embodied Jewish Wisdom Network. Become a member to attend these events live, or to view after, and connect with our Jewish embodiment community!

Each meeting, different members of our collective guide us in creative, connective Jewish movement & embodied text study experiences. Embodiment modalities include Alexander Technique, Authentic Movement, Body-Mind Centering, Chanting, Dance, Embodied Mindfulness, Qi Gong, Yoga and more! Recordings are made available within one week of each event.