Returning to the Hidden Wholeness: New Moon of Elul Retreat

Online Contemplative Gathering at the New Moon of Elul

Sunday, August, 24, 2025 11AM-1PM Pacific followed by an optional breakout discussion 1-1:30pm PT

We return again. Amidst a world teeming with crises, the ancient Jewish calendar brings us to the doorstep of a new year with an enormous gift: a month for contemplation and self-engagement known as Elul. The Hebrew Sages revered Elul for its self-review, and gave us all manner of practices to bushwhack our way back to the place inside us called by the Alter Rebbe  nekudah p’nimit, our innermost point of light, the core of divinity within us. The mystic Thomas Merton called this place: our hidden wholeness.

This year, the new moon of Elul arrives on Sunday August 24th, an auspicious time to begin anew on the path of renewal. We will engage in a kabbalistic review of the past year, and look with wise compassion at our place in it. With sacred poetry, Hassidic texts, guided meditation, and ritual, we will create a communal vessel in which to begin the work of returning to our innermost light, the hidden wholeness in all things.

Date and Time: Sunday, Aug 24th 11am to 1pm Pacific Time, followed by a 30-minute optional breakout session to discuss your take on an Elul passage. Please bring a journal or tablet.  Optional: a stone, shell, or crystal and a bowl of water. 

The recording of the retreat will be distributed to all who register.

“There is in all things a hidden wholeness…

a silence that is a foundation of action and joy.” 

*Important information:

• The meeting link will be sent to to registrants shortly before the event starts. Email reminders with this information will be sent out starting 2 days prior to the event.

• You may need to have your Eventbrite login to access the online event page and meeting link.Please familiarize yourself with this prior to the event start time.