Embodied Jewish Learning

Important: Please only use this page to enroll in Dancing the Sacred Sefirot if you are a returning dancer. If you are a new dancer, please complete the application process here.

Wednesdays April 16 - May 28, 2025 @7:30-9:30 pm
Berkeley Yoga Center, Berkeley, CA

COVID GUIDELINES.  For In-Studio events, to keep all of our health in mind,

• Please stay home if you are feeling unwell

• Masks will be optional.  You are welcome to wear a mask if you’d like.

REFUND POLICY: All purchases are final. If you are unable to participate in a program after registration, we will happily issue you credit for a future EJL program. Please contact Julie if you have any questions.

We reserve spots based upon a first come, first-served basis. Please contact Julie if the program fee is prohibitive.  A couple of work exchange slots are available at a lower rate.  Email Julie ASAP if you are interested in this option.

Moving with the Tree of Life
5-Week Series with Julie Emden

Fridays April 25, May 2, May 9, May 23, May 30
(skips May 16)
10 - 11:15 am PST | 1- 2:15 pm EST

Sign Up for Series or for Single Classes
Can’t join live? A recording for your viewing will be sent to you!

Each class will include brief guided movement sequences for warming up, as well as time for free-form dance, guided by carefully curated playlists and infused with Jewish wisdom teachings for the week’s attribute(s).

April 25: Embodying Hesed (Lovingkindness) & Gevurah (Healthy Boundaries)
Arms & Shoulders

May 2: Embodying Tiferet (Harmony/Beauty)
Heart, Lungs and Upper Abdomen

May 9: Embodying Netzach (Perseverance) & Hod (Surrender)
Legs & Hips

May 23: Embodying Yesod (Foundation)
Pelvic Bowl & Lower Abdomen

May 30: Embodying Malchut (Grounded Presence)

Feet & Mouth

Sliding Scale
Single Class: $36 (Single Ticket) - $72 (Help Another) | Series: $140 (Single Ticket) - $280 (Help Another)

If you are able, please consider sponsoring others to attend through the “help another” option when selecting a ticket.

*Please note: All purchases are final. If you are unable to participate in a program after registration, we will happily issue you a full credit for a future EJL program.

Get the replay from Yoga for Passover 2025 which happened on Thursday, April 10, 2025 • 4:30 PM Pacific | 7:30 PM Eastern [90 mins].

In this session we integrated mind, body, heart, and spirit as we explored and embodied the themes from the story of Exodus as they relate to the body and bodily movements.

In this carefully sequenced, gentle Iyengar-based yoga and movement practice we took the time to create more spaciousness within as we strengthened our resilience, self-compassion & inner strength to take action to bring goodness to our world.

The first hour was Yoga practice.
The final 30 minute was an introduction to Embodied Pardes, EJL’s unique methodology for creating embodied practices infused with Jewish wisdom.

Sliding Scale $36- $54 - $72
Multiple payment levels are offered. If you are able, please consider helping others to attend our events when selecting a ticket.

[online ticket]

Sunday, April 7, 2024
2pm PST | 5pm EST [90 mins]

Sunday, April 2, 2023 • 4pm PST / 7pm EST• online [90 mins]

Sliding Scale / By Donation

Integrate mind, body, heart and spirit via a gentle Iyengar-based yoga and movement practice rooted in Jewish mystical teachings.  The Passover holiday celebrates the liberation of the Israelites from Egypt and this story is meaningful for all beings. Experience, via an embodied practice, why the Jewish mystics believe that the places of constriction hold the key and secret to freedom.

In this workshop we will enter into the tighter and less known places in the body with conscious awareness, loving-kindness and compassion. We will move from these places of restriction/constriction to freedom on all levels of being, via yoga, movement and writing. 

No previous experience with yoga or knowledge about Passover is required. Please wear comfortable loosely layered clothing in which you can easily move. 

No one turned away for lack of funds. Multiple payment levels are offered to make this workshop accessible to those for whom payment is difficult or prohibitive at this time. Please select your ticket level at check-out.

Zoom link will be provided closer to the workshop date.

Can’t join live? A recording for your viewing will be sent to you! Recording is also available for purchase after the event.

Co-Sponsored by Congregation Netivot Shalom in Berkeley.

Sunday, March 21, 2021 • 2 - 4 PM PST / 5 - 7 pm EST

via Zoom

A recording of this workshop is now available for purchase.

When Moses first saw the burning bush, he said

“אָסֻרָה-נָּא וְאֶרְאֶה, אֶת-הַמַּרְאֶה הַגָּדֹל הַזֶּה”

“I will turn aside now and see this great sight“

Asura Na V’Ereh, Et Ha Mareh HaGadol Hazeh

(Exodus 3:3)

Join us for an extended practice of “turning” in this gentle Iyengar-based yoga and movement practice as a resource for noticing and finding amazement in our everyday movements. Learn about and experience the wonder of the skeletal structures that allow our bodies to twist and turn.

Moving with the
Tree of Life
7-Week Series with Julie

Recordings of the series or single classes are available for purchase.

Join us each week between Passover and Shavuot as we embody divine attributes (Sefirot) that map onto the body, based upon the Tree of Life. Each class will include guided movement sequences as well as time for free-form dance, accompanied by carefully curated playlists and infused with Jewish wisdom teachings for the week’s attribute.

Can’t join live? A recording for your viewing will be sent to you!

Fridays, April 2, 9, 16, 23, 30, May 7, 14
9:30 - 10:30am PST
12:30 - 1:30pm EST

Sign Up for the Series or for Single Classes

April 2: Embodying Hesed (Flow)

April 9: Embodying Gevurah (Containment)

April 16: Embodying Tiferet (Harmony/Beauty)

April 23: Embodying Netzach (Patience)

April 30: Embodying Hod (Gratitude)

May 7: Embodying Yesod (Creative Life Force)

May 14: Embodying Malchut (Physical Divinity)

Zoom link will be provided upon Registration.

Via Zoom

Friday February 7, begins at 10am Pacific/ 1pm Eastern [3 hrs]

Register by Weds, February 5.

With Julie Emden

In this 3 hour workshop, we will embark upon a creative journey of consciously embodying our grief. Learn new tools and new perspectives via the Halprin Life/Art Process to help us embody and relate to our grief and mourning as an ever-evolving, alive, moving transformative process.

Please note: Due to the sensitive nature of this work, this session will not be recorded and no photos will be taken.

Program Fee: Sliding Scale $0- $80

For this workshop we warmly welcome all who seek support in navigating grief at this time.  Multiple payment levels are offered to make this workshop accessible. If you are able, please consider sponsoring others to attend through the “help another” option when selecting a ticket.

Space is limited. Registration closes Weds Feb 5, 2025.

No prior experience in movement, art or writing is necessary.

Questions? Contact Julie

Refund Policy: All purchases are final. If you are unable to participate in a program after registration, we will happily issue you credit for a future EJL program. Please contact Julie if you have any questions.

Join Julie for an active Iyengar-based yoga practice infused with Jewish wisdom teachings in honor of Tu B’Shevat. Embody aspects of the tree- roots, trunk, and branches. All are welcome, please wear comfortable loose clothing in which you can easily move.

Can’t join live? A recording for your viewing will be sent to you!

Friday Jan 29, 2021
9:30-10:30 am PST
12:30-1:30pm EST

Join us for this 3-part series in this final month of Elul as we embody these aspects of Release: Inwardness/Pnimiut (פְּנִימִיוּת), Essence/Etzem (עֶצֶם), and Surrender/ Bitul (בִּטּוּל) - in order to help prepare for the New Year.

Each session we embody teachings on these concepts from the Sefat Emet (Rabbi Yehudah Aryeh Leib Alter) via gentle movement, free form dance, mindfulness, quiet restorative postures, and journaling/ creative writing.

This class is offered for everyone, all levels are welcome. All classes include a carefully curated musical playlist and time for structured as well as free-form movement, with options for simply resting and receiving in stillness throughout the entire session.