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Efshar
Welcome to the VBS Spirituality Center
Do you long to...
...deepen your connection with your innermost self and the Divine Presence?
...embrace moments of peace and holiness?
...learn to be fully present — and to experience the world with wonder and gratitude?
...find the Jewish spiritual path you’ve been seeking?
EFSHAR – It's Possible
Upcoming Events
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Tuesday ,
DecDecember 10 , 2024Tuesday Morning Meditation with Cantor Baron
Tuesday, Dec 10th 9:00a to 9:45a
Quiet the mind while opening up the soul: Join Cantor Baron for a weekly Meditation session on Tuesdays at 9:00am. A wonderful way to begin your day and a great time of the week to remind yourself to be present and grateful, acknowledging the possibility of holiness in every moment of every day. -
Tuesday ,
DecDecember 17 , 2024Tuesday Morning Meditation with Cantor Baron
Tuesday, Dec 17th 9:00a to 9:45a
Quiet the mind while opening up the soul: Join Cantor Baron for a weekly Meditation session on Tuesdays at 9:00am. A wonderful way to begin your day and a great time of the week to remind yourself to be present and grateful, acknowledging the possibility of holiness in every moment of every day. -
Tuesday ,
DecDecember 24 , 2024Tuesday Morning Meditation with Cantor Baron
Tuesday, Dec 24th 9:00a to 9:45a
Quiet the mind while opening up the soul: Join Cantor Baron for a weekly Meditation session on Tuesdays at 9:00am. A wonderful way to begin your day and a great time of the week to remind yourself to be present and grateful, acknowledging the possibility of holiness in every moment of every day. -
Tuesday ,
DecDecember 31 , 2024Tuesday Morning Meditation with Cantor Baron
Tuesday, Dec 31st 9:00a to 9:45a
Quiet the mind while opening up the soul: Join Cantor Baron for a weekly Meditation session on Tuesdays at 9:00am. A wonderful way to begin your day and a great time of the week to remind yourself to be present and grateful, acknowledging the possibility of holiness in every moment of every day. -
Tuesday ,
JanJanuary 7 , 2025Tuesday Morning Meditation with Cantor Baron
Tuesday, Jan 7th 9:00a to 9:45a
Quiet the mind while opening up the soul: Join Cantor Baron for a weekly Meditation session on Tuesdays at 9:00am. A wonderful way to begin your day and a great time of the week to remind yourself to be present and grateful, acknowledging the possibility of holiness in every moment of every day. -
Tuesday ,
JanJanuary 14 , 2025Tuesday Morning Meditation with Cantor Baron
Tuesday, Jan 14th 9:00a to 9:45a
Quiet the mind while opening up the soul: Join Cantor Baron for a weekly Meditation session on Tuesdays at 9:00am. A wonderful way to begin your day and a great time of the week to remind yourself to be present and grateful, acknowledging the possibility of holiness in every moment of every day. -
Tuesday ,
JanJanuary 21 , 2025Tuesday Morning Meditation with Cantor Baron
Tuesday, Jan 21st 9:00a to 9:45a
Quiet the mind while opening up the soul: Join Cantor Baron for a weekly Meditation session on Tuesdays at 9:00am. A wonderful way to begin your day and a great time of the week to remind yourself to be present and grateful, acknowledging the possibility of holiness in every moment of every day. -
Tuesday ,
JanJanuary 28 , 2025Tuesday Morning Meditation with Cantor Baron
Tuesday, Jan 28th 9:00a to 9:45a
Quiet the mind while opening up the soul: Join Cantor Baron for a weekly Meditation session on Tuesdays at 9:00am. A wonderful way to begin your day and a great time of the week to remind yourself to be present and grateful, acknowledging the possibility of holiness in every moment of every day. -
Tuesday ,
FebFebruary 4 , 2025Tuesday Morning Meditation with Cantor Baron
Tuesday, Feb 4th 9:00a to 9:45a
Quiet the mind while opening up the soul: Join Cantor Baron for a weekly Meditation session on Tuesdays at 9:00am. A wonderful way to begin your day and a great time of the week to remind yourself to be present and grateful, acknowledging the possibility of holiness in every moment of every day. -
Tuesday ,
FebFebruary 11 , 2025Tuesday Morning Meditation with Cantor Baron
Tuesday, Feb 11th 9:00a to 9:45a
Quiet the mind while opening up the soul: Join Cantor Baron for a weekly Meditation session on Tuesdays at 9:00am. A wonderful way to begin your day and a great time of the week to remind yourself to be present and grateful, acknowledging the possibility of holiness in every moment of every day.
Meditation Opportunities
Quiet the mind while opening up the soul.
Everyone of us needs time to power down the tumult of the outside world. We invite you to experience the interplay between contemporary spirituality and the ancient rituals of our liturgy, as we explore together Jewish prayer through meditation. For one hour, you can quiet the mind while opening up the soul to experience Shabbat in a new light. You need no prior experience to participate; all are welcome.
"Shabbat-on-Tuesday"
Meets online once weekly at 10:30am. A wonderful way to begin your day and a great time of the week to remind yourself to be present and grateful, acknowledging the possibility of holiness in every moment of every day. Click here to join on Zoom >
Saturday Meditation Service
Our monthly Meditation Service meets on the third Shabbat (Saturday) of each month from 10:45-11:30am in the Schulweis Chapel.
Resources
Check out this Amazon Book List for readings that will provide you guidance and inspiration to deepen your mediation practice.
Start Now
The quieter you become, the more you can hear.
What does "awareness" actually mean?
Becoming aware of our awareness is not straightforward because an untrained mind will latch on to whatever object or sight it sees; whatever thought, emotion, or sensation that arises; whatever we perceive.
When we step away from all of this — without ideas, judgment, inner-dialogue, or the need to define — we step into a space of awareness. In this space we may observe how the mind behaves, and where we experience the present moment.
By practicing awareness we get to create a spaciousness of mind that sets us free from the impact of our thoughts and feelings, to be more at ease with the moment-to-moment unfolding of life itself. This state of mindfulness allows us to be fully present and engaged in each moment, leading to reduced stress, increased happiness, improved relationships and an overall richer existence.
Begin with gratitude.
Modeh Ani Lefanecha, Melech Chai VeKayam
Set your intentions to reflect through meditation and mindfulness.
Meditations Playlist from Cantor Phil Baron
"Commune with your own heart on your bed and be still."
- Maimonides