A modern day learning approach to ancient Jewish traditions
Welcome to Wilderness Torah’s school of live, online courses!
Explore key aspects of Jewish tradition that have been forgotten. Transform your understanding of Judaism into a living tradition, one that is deeply rooted in a connection to the earth and community. We believe that our rich heritage can be a source for connection and healing. From 90-minute sessions on the Jewish holidays, to six-week classes on deepening your earth-based Jewish practices, these courses offer a new, flexible pathway for anyone to reconnect with Judaism in a way that is relevant to your life.
Scroll down to see what courses we have in store this year.
Judaism & the Four Elements with Rabbi Zelig Golden
4-Part Series
Thursdays from 4-5:30 pm PT | April 4, 11, 18 & May 2, 2024
Earth, air, fire and water make the foundation of our world. Jewish tradition contains treasure troves elucidating our relationship to the elements as building blocks of Creation, aspects of our human nature, and personified portals of God. We explore this treasure trove to more deeply understand, embody, and ritually relate to the elements of Creation, and ultimately ourselves.
Medicine of the Jewish Holidays
Cultivating wholeness in sacred cycles
The Hebrew calendar is a profound cultural operating system. Guided by the cycles of the moon and attuned to the sun and its seasons, the calendar provides a mythic map for Jewish life that deeply connects us to the natural world and the cycles of our lives. The Jewish holidays, taken together, are a veritable medicine chest for the soul and for cohesive community life. Join Rabbi Zelig for an ongoing series throughout the year, to discover how the Hebrew calendar guides our individual and collective journey toward wholeness.
You may register for one class at a time or for the full year cycle. Click the button below to learn more about the details and pricing.
Sacred Paths of Practice with Rabbi Zelig Golden
4-Part Series
Thursdays from 4–5:30 pm PT | May 16, 23, 30 & June 6, 2024
Judaism is an earth based tradition replete with practices that connect us to our beautiful world. Jewish blessing practice reminds us to be grateful, opens our senses, and connects us to magic countless times a day. Jewish prayer connects us to a millenia rich tradition of sacred poetry, while offering a deep groove to remind us of a core, sacred human attribute and role here on earth.
The Hebrew calendar provides a unique cultural operating system that connects us to seasonal cycles and provides medicine for our spiritual development, and Shabbat provides a temple in time that helps renew the soul. Old traditions that we are awakening – hitbodedut, offerings, and sacred fire to name a few – return us to a deep, on-going relationship with our animate world.
Join Rabbi Zelig Golden to explore core Jewish practice from an earth-based perspective. Deepen your relationship to Jewish fundamentals and awaken your walk with spirit and nature.
Registration opens in April.
Introduction to Earth-Based Mysticism with Rabbi Zelig Golden
6-Part series
5 Thursdays & 1 Tuesday from 4-5:30 pm PT | June 27, July 2, 11, 18, 25 & August 1, 2024
More details about this course coming soon.
Meet Your Teacher
Rabbi Zelig Golden, Wilderness Torah Director of Spirituality and Education
Rabbi Zelig Golden expresses his vision for awakening earth-based Judaism by integrating thought leadership, ritual facilitation, and village-based mentorship to support multi-generational community, youth rites of passage, and training for emerging leaders. Zelig earned a Masters in Jewish Studies from the Graduate Theological Union, rabbinic ordination from ALEPH supported by the Wexner Fellowship, and Maggidic ordination by Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi ztz”l. He lives with his wife Rachel and three kids in rural Occidental, CA near the Bay Area.