The festival of Sukkot is described in the Torah as zman simchateinu, which means the time of our joy. We might understandably feel confused or unsettled by an invitation to joy amidst the pain of these times. And yet this is the call.
How can we respond? How can we find the light of joy in the midst of darkness?
How can we stay open and compassionate to the suffering within and around us, without being overwhelmed by it, and without disconnecting from the everyday blessings of being alive?
We will draw on the wisdom of our tradition to explore these questions, through Jewish meditation and discussion, in our sukkah. As we go, we will have in mind Rabbi Alan Lew’s teaching, that any feeling fully felt is joy.
Everyone is welcome. No previous experience - of meditation or Judaism or anything else - is assumed or required. We’d love to share this with you.
This event will include:
- Guided meditations
- Concrete practices to take away with you
- Q&A
- Opportunity to talk with others
Zac Newman
Zac Newman is the Community Director of HaMakom, the centre for Jewish meditation and wisdom teachings in the UK. He has been teaching meditation for over a decade, including in workplaces, retreats, conferences, schools and a wide variety of other venues. In addition to his teaching for HaMakom, Zac also teaches for Or HaLev and the Institute for Jewish Spirituality. He is a long-time teacher of the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction programme. Zac trained to teach through the Centre for Mindfulness Research and Practice at Bangor University. He has spent extensive time on retreat.
