Mission
The IJS seeks to develop, nurture and disseminate through mainstream Jewish institutions the vitally needed stream of contemplative Judaism that serves to enrich the inner lives of Jews, revitalize the Jewish wisdom tradition, open Jewish institutions to new forms of liturgical and ritual expression, and ultimately to link the searchfor inner wholeness with social and environmental activism.
Goals
To create intensive learning experiences for Jewish professionals and lay people who are committed to deepening their own Jewish spiritual lives and making the connection between the "inner" work of spiritual growth and the "outer" work of creating more justice and compassion in the world; and to support these Jewish professionals in creating environments in their own communities that will provide such learning opportunities for others.
To guide Jewish institutions toward an understanding of spirituality as a central aspect of the religious needs and identities of many of their constituents and develop their capacity to meet more effectively the needs of their constituents for a contemplative Jewish practice to cultivate their own search for greater meaning, purpose and connection with tradition, wisdom and community.
To develop and nourish a network of faculty and students who will enrich and support each other's work in teaching Jewish spirituality.