Stay tuned for an exciting 7-minute nurturing blessing ceremony I will post soon. I will be offering this at a National Hospice Conference in November.
See below for a Spiritual Direction/accompaniment group I will be offering to those caring for parents or other loved ones on Wednesday mornings (PST). (on Zoom) Please contact me here for more information and to apply to save your spot.
Spiritual Direction Groups Using Writing and Devotional Listening (Two groups begin after the High Holy Days.)
Group Spiritual Direction is a process of listening to the still small voice within, in a group setting. We use writing and devotional listening to deepen our awareness of the Sacred in our lives. You don’t have to be religious or Jewish to join. We often use Jewish texts as portals into our reflections.
Each group is limited to five or six people each. We meet for four sessions (every other week). At the end of this time, some people continue, some join, and some people feel complete. Please contact me here for more information and to apply to save your spot in the next opening. These two groups are now full.
Also see the Group Spiritual Direction page.
Prayer as Medicine Class Through Writing. New Class will begin in November. (Thursdays at 5 p.m. PST-on Zoom)
This class is geared to take a deep dive into Jewish liturgy through writing. We explore where our lives are woven into selected prayers. The goal is to create a community of learners who share and listen to one another while finding new ways to interface with Jewish prayer and prayer in general. This class will be offered sometime in the Fall/Winter. The class is limited to six-eight people. Please contact me here for more information and to apply to save your spot.
Torahscope Class Will Begin in the Winter.
I have developed a unique approach to studying Torah that I call Torahscope. We begin with each participant’s birth portion, the Torah portion that was being read in synagogue the week you were born. This approach has been highly successful helping the most skeptical grasp the power of Torah study. I am also available for other forms of Torah study. I believe that we need to ask the question, “how can Torah guide me, our communities, or the world?” This class will be offered again in the Winter. This class is limited to 7 people and runs for 8 weeks. Please contact me here for more information and to apply to save your spot in the next opening.
Second Day Morning Rosh Hashanah Service (September 8) with Eve Decker at Kehilla Community Synagogue
Eve and I co-lead for our 10th year a contemplative and personal second day Rosh Hashanah service drawing on Jewish and Buddhist teachings. For the recording of the service, go here: Second Day Rosh Hashanah. See also my teaching on Chaya’s Garden, my blog. https://rabbichayagusfield.com/kehilla-rosh-hashanah-teaching-on-zoom-sept-8-2021-5782-rabbi-chaya-gusfield/
Give Me Your Hand: Exploring our Tradition re Visiting the Sick and Why it Matters
WHEN and Where: Shavuot JCC East Bay (online) Sunday, May 15, 2 p.m. PST on Zoom.
Hospice Chaplain Support Through Creative Expression (Capital Hospice)
WHEN: May 18
We will use writing to explore our own grief and resilience, as well as practice offering blessings to those who have no religious affiliation.
Guest Rabbi: Torah Study, Congregation Beth Shalom, Modesto and Chadeish Yameinu, Santa Cruz (online)
Wednesday, February 17, 12-1 PST
Welcome to the Cancer Cafe, performance and discussion
Thursday, February 4, 5-6:30 p.m. PST.
Virtual broadcast of performance, and Q&A discussion with Judith Dambowic and Rabbi Chaya Gusfield. Learn more here.
Watch the performance on YouTube | Watch the Q&A Session
Introducing the Artists’ Grief Deck
January 28, 5-7 p.m. PST
Join me at the Reimagine event where artists will share their work developing a deck to assist people grieving. I will be reading a poem I wrote.
See The Artist’s Grief Deck project here.