Prayer can be electric and alive. Prayer can touch the soul, burst forth a creative celebration of the spirit, and open deep wells of gratitude, longing and praise. Prayer can connect us to our Living Source and to each other, enfolding us in love and praise, wonder and gratitude, awe and thankfulness. Jewish prayer in its essence is soul dialogue and calls us into relationship within and beyond.
We intuitively know when group prayer is working. Through the power of ancient and modern words and melodies, we venture into realms of deep emotion and find longing, sorrow, hope, wholeness, connection and peace. When guided by skilled leaders of prayer and ritual, our complacency is challenged, we can break through outworn assumptions about God and ourselves, and emerge refreshed and inspired to meet the challenges our lives offer. As rabbis, educators and prayer leaders, we aspire towards meaningful prayer and ritual. How does one learn to create transformational spiritual experiences that will vitalize our congregations and havurot?
The Davennen' Leadership Training Institute offers a unique learning experience to help those who lead worship and other communal events in a Jewish context to deepen the quality of communal prayer so that it activates the body, touches the heart, engages the mind and nourishes genuine spiritual growth and insight. Employing the participatory approach of an intensive master class, this program coaches participants in the high art of leadership of public ritual and prayer. The training is a 2-year program consisting of four five-day retreats. The retreat participants become a living and learning fellowship -- deeply engaged in the practice and process of communal prayer and ritual. Throughout each retreat the group joins with core faculty and guest master-teachers in ongoing davvenen', text study, group discussions and coaching.
Rabbi Marcia Prager ,is a vibrant Jewish Renewal teacher,
storyteller, artist, and therapist. She is Director and Dean of
Ordination Programs for ALEPH: Alliance for Jewish Renewal,
and rabbi for the P'nai Or Jewish Renewal communities of
Philadelphia PA, and and Princeton NJ. Her book, The Path of
Blessing (Bell Tower 1998 /Jewish Lights 2003) is an exploration
of the profound spiritual wisdom that lies in the Jewish practice
of blessing. She is the creator of the unique P'nai Or Siddurim
for Shabbat and other innovative approaches to prayer and liturgy. Her work as a teacher of Jewish spiritual practice includes developing and co-directing DLTI, the Davvenen Leadership Training Institute at Elat Chayyim Jewish Spiritual Retreat Center. She, and her husband Hazzan Jack Kessler, travel widely to teach in an array of Jewish and interfaith settings.
Rabbi Shawn Israel Zevit has over 20 years experience in
spiritual leadership, human relations training, interactive arts, and
teaching. A graduate of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical
College, he has served congregations and havurot from all
streams of Judaism with a regard for tradition and creative
innovation, especially in the area of prayyer, midrash and group
leadership. He is currently the Director of Outreach and
Community Development for the Jewish Reconstructionist
Federation.
He teaches at Gratz College, the Jewish Renewal Life Center, Elat Chayyim, the Institute for Contemporary Midrash and Temple University. He performs original music from his CD, Heart and Soul and also performs with Shabbat Unplugged and Playback Philadelphia theater. Shawn also presents and emcees the Canadian Conferences on Spirituality and Work, and has been active in Jewish men's issues for all Jewish movements. He is writing a book, Men & Midrash.
