Meet our 2023 Graduates:
Davida Adelberg
Suzanne Coffey
Karen Cohen Gibbons
Sharon Epstein
Gail Gurewitz
Victoria Lyon
Idelle Packer
View our global directory for more info about these graduates and other EJW leaders Here
An 8-month training in methodologies & best practices for infusing embodiment offerings with Jewish wisdom for your communities
Our most recent training completed in November 2023. Let us know you want to be a part of our next teacher training!
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Inspiration and Clarity as you tap into your unique gifts & focus your expertise as a teacher of this work
Best practices for designing classes & guiding others in embodied experiences
New skills in thoughtful facilitation of embodied offerings to people of diverse backgrounds & abilities
Joy in a deepening of your own practice and study as the basis for your teaching
Key Jewish wisdom source texts & terminology related to body and spirit
Deeper knowledge of the Hebrew language
Certificate in Embodied Jewish Wisdom Teacher Training upon completion of this program
For Yoga Teachers: Option to Receive Continuing Education Credit via Yoga Alliance’s YACEP Program.
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Training in EJL Methodology: Embodying Middot (Attention, Anatomy, Action, Awareness), Embodying Torah (Embodied Pardes) & Embodied Spiritual Warriorship
Immersive study, practice & mentorship with seasoned leaders of Embodied Jewish Wisdom
Colleagueship in shared learning, reflection and witnessing via a consciously created cohort of embodied spiritual practice in community
Weekly Study, self-designed
2 individual sessions with Julie for mentoring and support over the course of the training
Free access to all online public classes offered by Julie [EJL] during the course of the training
Optional: Spiritual Direction Sessions with self-selected faculty, offered for an additional fee.
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$5250 | Early Bird
$6000 | Program Fee
We are offering generous scholarships and monthly payment plans to ensure our program is accessible to all. If you are a student or face financial challenges for any reason, please indicate on the application, in the scholarship section. Please contact Julie if you have any questions!
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While this advanced training is designed for those who guide others with embodiment & movement in their classes, there is a huge range of body awareness and movement possibilities that each of us can offer in embodiment practice.
We welcome you to participate knowing that the curriculum is designed to support you in guiding others in bodily awareness and movement in Jewish contexts.
Movement instructions during the training will include the range from attention on the entire body via breathing awareness in stillness, to hand gestures and postures/positions, to ambulatory movement including instructions in yoga postures and conscious dance.
Below is a description of the ways we are dedicated to making this training accessible. In our application we will ask about how to best co-create your learning experience. If there are additional ways that we can improve your ability to participate, please contact Julie at embodiedjewishlearning.org and let us know!
Time Online/Offline
This training is a virtual /on-line training. Each monthly master class meeting session will include time for group breaks, time away from the computer in personal practice, and a chance to connect with others in small break-out rooms. During sessions we will invite you to participate in the way that is best for your well-being, including taking breaks, sitting, standing, lying down, stretching, eating/drinking, or anything else that you need.
We aim to balance connection, co-practicing, listening/viewing, and reflection/sharing time in a way that keeps us fully attentive to our own bodily needs while also honoring the group container.
Video/Chat
We greatly value seeing one another as a means to build connection and community, and to witness one another in our learning and teaching. However, for some of us, spending time with the camera on for any extended period of time can be a challenge, and some uses of the video can trigger vertigo, dizziness or migraines.
We will ask all participants to mindfully use the camera, including turning it off when needed, and to participate from a camera that is non-mobile, with a background that is non-mobile (i.e. not while walking around or in a moving vehicle). We will provide other detailed agreements about use of chat/video when we gather.
Captioning/Transcriptions/Materials
Each session will include the option for closed captioning in real time for full group experiences. In addition, we will provide written transcriptions from all group sessions to training participants.
Study materials and slides will be created with extra large font upon request.
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Meeting Timeline
All gatherings are virtual. Video/Audio recordings and written transcripts will be provided for all participants.
Opening Retreat | April 23-24, 2023
Closing Retreat | November 19-20, 20236 Monthly Master Classes with Extended EJW Practice: Sundays — May 19, June 11, July 23,
Aug 13, Sept 10, Oct 156 Monthly Community Practice, Reflection Sessions:
Selected Fridays 10 am- 12 pm -
All meetings will be held via Zoom. Video/audio recordings and written transcripts will be shared with all participants. Please note: we will spend a good amount of time away from screen and in embodied practice on the Sunday daylong sessions.
Master Classes are Sundays monthly:
10 am PST/1pm EST - 4 / 7 pm EST.Community Practice Classes are
one Friday/month 10am-12pm PSTSave the Dates for our 2-day
extended virtual Opening & Closing Retreats:
April 23-24 & November 19-20Weekly Hevruta (Text Study) 1x/week: With another member of the training. Self-selected dates with study partner.
Weekly Embodied Practice & Jewish Wisdom Studies: Commitment to ongoing embodied studies & weekly Jewish Wisdom study with teachers of your choice. Self-selected dates.
2 individual sessions with Julie or anther faculty member for mentoring and support over the course of the training. To be scheduled separately.
Includes all online public classes offered by Julie [EJL] during the course of the training
Optional: Spiritual Direction Sessions with Select Faculty.
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Who is this for?
This training is for you if you are a leader, guide or facilitator of embodiment experiences in Jewish contexts and settings.
Whether you are a seasoned teacher of embodiment or a seasoned practitioner who wishes to deepen your own personal practice and begin to guide and lead others - the key to your fulfillment as a teacher is your own resonance with, integration & embodiment of the teachings you are bringing to your students. Authentic study and practice is the foundation for your teaching.
If you seek to deepen your knowledge of Hebrew, texts or other Jewish wisdom and desire colleagueship, spiritual community, mentorship and studying with seasoned teachers of Embodied Jewish Wisdom, this training is for you.
If you desire to grow and evolve your own skills as a teacher, and to be part of a learning and practice community, sharing, reflecting and receiving feedback in your teaching, this training is for you.
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Do I need to attend every session?
We will be creating community in a group container over time. Attendance at the larger group sessions and with your weekly study partner is strongly encouraged, but if you need to miss one or two sessions over the course of the training, of course we understand. Recordings and written transcripts of all sessions will be provided.
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How is this training different from other teacher trainings?
This training is based upon the premise that your personal practice & study are your best resource for living and for teaching.
This is not just another teacher training. The focus is on going within, connecting with your essential self and your unique life circumstances - where you are right now in your journey as a teacher. Some of you are seasoned teachers, others are just beginning to offer and guide others in embodied spiritual practice.
The focus will be study and practice as a way to cultivate inner qualities that are unique to your specific calling and role in this lifetime at this point in your journey. What inspires you will inspire others, as your students will be moved by your own passion and joy in what you are teaching.
This is a deep foundation for anything you do in life, not just as a teacher. You will identify and engage in the personal practices that are most meaningful and useful to you, enter into your own in depth studies and time spent studying with Julie and other EJW faculty exploring Jewish source texts and embodied wisdom.
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What is Embodied Pardes?
When bringing forth Jewish wisdom teachings from primary text sources we employ a method we call Embodied Pardes. We take one moment or line in Torah, liturgy or other source texts and apply the Pardes פרדס method, a traditional method of Torah Study where each letter of the word Pardes (Orchard) represents a layer of Torah. We employ this method through the lens of the body and kinesthetics. See more on this topic via Julie’s source sheet at Sefaria.org here.
Pey= Pshat =פשט Simple body parts or actions ( speak, see, walk, breath, bone, hand, arm, foot etc.)
Resh = Remez =רמז Hints at body elements or movements via language (expand, gather, approach, etc.)
Dalet = Drash = דרש Interpretations that can relate to the body's structure, functions, or movements
Samech = Sod =סוד Secret readings
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What is Embodied Spiritual Warriorship?
These years have been so challenging in so many ways - personally, politically, globally. How do we ride the waves and stay steady in the storms? How do we cultivate equanimity (Menuchat HaNefesh/ מנוחת הנפש) through the griefs and pains of life? Sometimes we need to know “You can face this, You will get through this”. And our ability to cultivate this skill within ourselves allows us to be more present for others.
Our invitation is to consider the term “Embodied Spiritual Warriorship” as the ever-evolving ability to be lifted, inspired, and enlivened by the challenges we face by relying upon our inner resources, the wisdom of our tradition, and embodied spiritual practice in community. This is not a ‘spiritual by-pass’, it is the opposite. The premise is that when we contact the body and breath we open to emotional, spiritual selves. If we can stay with and meet ourselves exactly where we are, including our pain and suffering, grief and sorrow, we are able to be present for others in a completely different way as guides and leaders.
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Is my program fee refundable after I enroll?
If for any non-emergency related reason you need to cancel your enrollment, you will receive credit for future EJL trainings and/or programs. For emergency-related reasons, please be in touch with Julie.
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Does the program fee cover additional classes, outside of Embodied Jewish learning?
No. Fees do not include weekly self-selected classes in embodied practice & text study, and optional individual Spiritual Direction sessions, outside of EJL.
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Message Julie with any inquires here
This Advanced Teacher Training is for you!
Are you a guide or leader of embodiment in Jewish contexts?
Do you tap into your body’s wisdom as a source of deep knowing?
Do you long to deepen your knowledge of source texts, Hebrew or other Jewish wisdom as they relate to embodiment for your teaching?
Do you desire colleagueship, mentorship, community?
Monthly Modules
Each month we will do a deep dive into a specific content area.
We meet monthly for an immersive master class & embodied practice/reflections, followed by weekly study with another member of the training.
April | Opening Session & Embodied Sefirot
May | Embodied Diversity
June | Embodied Torah
July | Embodied Middot
August | Embodied Prayer
September | Embodied Creation
October | Embodied Teaching Principles
November | Closing Session
Receive up to 67 hours toward Continuing Education Credit via Yoga Alliance’s YACEP Program.
Registration Details
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Early Bird | $5,250
Program Fee | $6,000
We offer generous scholarships and monthly payment plans to ensure our program is accessible to all.
If you are a student or face financial challenges for any reason, please indicate on the application, in the scholarship section. Please contact Julie if you have any questions!
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Monthly payment plans are available upon request. Please indicate your desire to pay monthly in our application.
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We are offering generous scholarships and monthly payment plans to ensure our program is accessible to all.
If you are a student or face financial challenges for any reason, please indicate on the application, in the scholarship section. In addition, we urge you to apply for assistance if you do not have equal opportunity and access to resources due to your race, gender, sexuality, or a disability.
If you are able to receive financial assistance from organizations or individuals in your personal or professional communities, please consider soliciting support for this professional development opportunity.
We offer generous scholarships and monthly payment plans to ensure our program is accessible to all.
Faculty
Julie Emden
Julie Emden (she/her), E-RYT-500, Halprin Practitioner, is the founder of Embodied Jewish Learning and the Embodied Jewish Wisdom Network. 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.
Rabbi Diane Elliot
Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, Rabbi Diane Elliot (she/her) is a teacher, ritual leader, and spiritual director who inspires her students to become clearer channels for Presence through awareness and movement practices, chant, and nuanced interpretations of Jewish sacred text. Before beginning her rabbinic training at the Academy for Jewish Religion, California in 2000, she performed and taught modern and improvisational dance and trained intensively in multiple somatic modalities. She is a Certified Teacher and Practitioner of Body-Mind Centering®, a Registered Somatic Movement Therapist, and has maintained a private practice for more than 30 years. From 2011–2018 Rabbi Diane directed ALEPH’s Embodying Spirit, En-spiriting Body movement-based Jewish leadership trainings. She is currently on the stewardship team for the Taproot Gathering and continues to lead retreats and trainings nationally.
Learn more about Diane at www.whollypresent.org.
Rabbi Elliot Kukla
Elliot Kukla (he/they) is an author, rabbi, and activist. Elliot is currently on the faculty at Svara: a traditionally radical yeshiva, where he is also the founder and director of the Communal Loss and Adaptation Project (CLAP). From 2008-2021 he was a rabbi at the Bay Area Jewish Healing Center, where he offered spiritual care to those who were grieving, ill, or dying. Elliot’s essays have been featured numerous times in The New York Times Opinion pages. In 2006 he was the first openly trans rabbi to be ordained by a seminary (Hebrew Union College in Los Angeles). He lives on Ohlone land (Oakland, CA) with his partner, kid, chosen fam, a Boston Terrier, and a cat named Turkey.
Learn more about Elliot at www.elliotkukla.com.
Reb Lavey Yitzchak Derby
Reb Lavey Yitzchak Derby (he/him) teaches Zohar, Hasidic texts and commentaries on Torah, and other Kabbalistic works, as well as contemporary Jewish spiritual thought and practice, with the hope of supporting people in their Jewish spiritual journeys. He leads weekly meditations inspired by and infused with Jewish wisdom, and leads both Jewish Renewal Shabbat morning davening and a monthly shabbat afternoon Tisch. He also offers Spiritual Direction and Companioning to people who seek to explore their spiritual lives as well as to ordination students in ALEPH.
As the Director of Jewish Life at the Peninsula Jewish Community Center, Lavey partnered with Julie Emden to co-create Shalem, a Jewish Wellness initiative offering holistic wellness practices and programs inspired by and infused with Jewish spiritual wisdom. He is the founder of Omek HaLev, a center for Jewish spiritual learning and practice.
Learn more about Lavey at www.reblavey.com.
Diane Bloomfield
Diane Bloomfield (she/her) is the creator of Torah Yoga and the author of two books: Torah Yoga: Experiencing Jewish Wisdom through Classic Postures and Playing with Fire: Secret Hebrew Doorways to the Jewish Soul.Diane lives in Jerusalem where she teaches Torah and Torah Yoga classes both live and on the web. Over the past thirty years she has taught at retreats and workshops throughout the United States and Canada. She is a certified Iyengar Yoga Instructor and a Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapist.
Learn more about Diane at http://torahyoga.com.
“EJL’s Teacher Training transformed my Jewish identity. I have never felt such a sense of spaciousness and connection with my Judaism. Through Jewish wisdom and embodied yoga practice I feel walls being dismantled from my past that no longer serve me and more joy in my Jewish life. Julie’s Webinars and retreats are vitally important to my growth as Jewish Wisdom Yoga Teacher. This type of further learning and training does not exist anywhere else and I am grateful for her mentorship.”
“EJL’s Teacher Training is top notch. I have been studying and training in the field of mind/body practices for more than 28 years, and this is by far one of the most profoundly valuable programs I have taken. This training has strengthened my own practice of embodied Judaism. I am more confident in taking risks and can teach from an inspired and authentic place within. I can’t imagine my Jewish life or yoga teachings without it now. The feedback from my students has been absolutely phenomenal, and I know for a fact it is as a result of this training.”
