Amukah: Deepening our Practice

Program Type: Cohort-based alumni program for advanced spiritual practice

Program Name Meaning: Amukah is Hebrew for "deep"

Eligibility: Exclusively for alumni of the Institute for Jewish Spirituality's Kivvun program

Duration: 6 months (between opening and closing retreats)

Geographic Scope: National; inaugural cohort included retreat locations in California and Connecticut

Focus Areas:

• Deepening Jewish spiritual practice developed through Kivvun experience
• Growing in wisdom through shared commitment to contemplative practice
• Meditation, prayer, text study, and middot (character traits) practice
• Creating supportive, intimate community for advanced practitioners

Program Components:

• Opening retreat featuring guest scholar
• Six months of supported Jewish contemplative spiritual practice
• Closing retreat
• Daily practice
• Weekly chevruta (paired) study
• Monthly reflection sessions with IJS faculty

Retreat Schedule (Inaugural Cohort):

• Opening retreat: January 23-26, 2020, Brandeis-Bardin campus, American Jewish University, Simi Valley, CA
• Closing retreat: June 17-21, 2020, Trinity Retreat Center, West Cornwall, CT
• Both retreat facilities are kosher, supervised by IJS staff or local mashgichim

Faculty: Rabbis Sam Feinsmith and Marc Margolius (IJS staff); guest scholars rotate by cohort

Inaugural Guest Scholar: Dr. Melila Hellner-Eshed (research fellow at Shalom Hartman Institute, professor of Jewish mysticism and Zohar at Hebrew University, author of "And a River Flows from Eden")

Note: Space is limited

Application Process

How to Apply:

• Contact Rabbi Marc Margolius, Program Director
• Phone: (610) 724-1901
• Email: marc@jewishspirituality.org
• Option to submit application online

Application Deadline: Not specified; space is limited, early registration encouraged

Eligibility Requirements:

• Must be an alumnus/alumna of IJS's Kivvun program
• Must be able to commit to two retreats and six months of interim study

Financial Commitment:

• Tuition for two retreats and six-month interim learning: $5,000
• Room and board for two retreats: $1,200