Jewish meditation workshop to be Sept. 13 at Villa Maria

Rabbi Franklin Muller and Carol Sherman will lead the program.

STAFF REPORT

VILLA MARIA, Pa. — Villa Maria Education and Spirituality Center will present the 10th program in its ongoing 2008 Global Mediation Series, Jewish meditation workshop, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 13 at Villa Maria Community Center.

Jewish meditation is fed by tradition from past centuries, discovered within old texts, passed down orally from teacher to teacher and the creative work of modern meditation teachers. The practice of Jewish meditation is open to everyone.

Rabbi Frank Muller and Carol Sherman will be workshop leaders.

Rabbi Muller has served as the spiritual leader of Congregation Rodef Sholom in Youngstown for 12 years. He received an honorary doctor of divinity degree from Hebrew Union College in June 2008 in honor of 25 years in the rabbinate.

Rabbi Muller has been active in numerous interfaith and social service organizations and activities, including chairing an African-American-Jewish dialogue program in Youngstown and hosting an annual ecumenical service, dinner and program honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. He is the Youngstown founder of the Northside Interfaith Partnership, an alliance of neighborhood churches and synagogues devoted to social action and community improvement projects.

Carol Sherman began her independent study of Jewish meditation in 1990. She credited Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan with introducing her to the terminology and methods of Jewish meditation.

Sherman has participated in several workshops and retreats nationwide. She has attended meditation kallahs (study retreats) and practiced with several teachers and spiritual leaders. She has led Jewish meditation sessions at Rodef Sholom, where she has been a member for more than 38 years and is ritual chairperson. Sherman was co-chairwoman of a Sabbath Weekend of Jewish Meditation and Spiritual Renewal sponsored by the congregation and created a Sabbath Service of Spiritual Renewal, which she led with Rabbi Muller.

The workshop fee is $40 and includes lunch. Participants should bring a blanket and pillow or mat. Register by Aug. 28 and pay $35. Advance registration is required by Sept. 3. For information or to register, call (724) 964-8920, ext. 3241, or send e-mail to cwilpula@humilityofmary.org.