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Nevei Kodesh Staff

Rabbi Sarah Bracha Gershuny

Spiritual Leader

Rabbi Diane Tiferet Lakein

Associate Rabbi

Rabbi Diane Tiferet Lakein recently moved to Boulder, CO, from Europe, where she was the Rabbi of Chawurah Gescher (Freiburg, Germany) and Migwan (Basel, Switzerland). She currently freelances in Germany and the United States – with an emphasis on education and spiritual direction – and can be found online at RabbiWithin.org. She is a part of the B’nei Mitzvah team at Nevei Kodesh and enjoys teaching about Tanach and Jewish Renewal to both children and adults and supporting the amazing Nevei Kodesh clergy and staff.

Rabbi Diane holds a Masters of Jewish Education from Hebrew College and received rabbinic ordination from ALEPH, the Alliance for Jewish Renewal. She is a member of both Haver, the Rabbinic Council of Boulder, Colorado, and of OHALAH, the Association of Rabbis for Jewish Renewal. Earlier in her life she was a cultural anthropologist – and has lived extended periods of her life abroad, in Sweden, Thailand, China and Germany.

Dena Gitterman, Executive Director

dena@neveikodesh.org

Dena has been Executive Director of Nevei Kodesh since 2004. Prior to that, she volunteered and worked part-time for the community in various capacities. A graduate of SUNY Binghamton (BA) and Indiana University (MA) she has previously worked professionally as a Speech Pathologist, Special Education Teacher, Psychotherapist and University Instructor. She received Maggid Certification from Reb Zalman Schachter-Shalomi in 1998, focused on lifecycle and ritual leadership.

Dena has been involved with Jewish Renewal for over 25 years and feels deeply honored and excited to have the opportunity to work with our terrific staff, energized leadership and vibrant community, to help create joyful, meaningful and cutting-edge Jewish experiences.

A long-time Colorado resident, she loves spending time outdoors in the mountains, as well as dancing and art-making.

Brooke Fisher, Director of Family Life + Religious School Director

brooke@neveikodesh.org

I am excited be on an amazing journey with all the awesome children, teens, families and community members of Nevei Kodesh. I am currently working towards a Master of Jewish Education with an emphasis in experiential education at Hebrew College, where I am a Legacy Fellow. Last summer, I had the opportunity to design, create and direct Kids Kallah on behalf of Aleph Alliance for Jewish Renewal at CSU. My additional experience is in curriculum development, teaching, classroom management, creating organizational systems and marketing. I recently completed my 6th year as Religious School Director for Har Shalom in Fort Collins. Developing and fostering an innovative Religious School and family life programs while learning with so many bright students, enthusiastic staff and wonderful families is what I love. I am excited to bring connections, experiential opportunities and magical Judaism to the Nevei Kodesh community.

Keenan Bloom - Chanoch Ro'i, Facilities and Communications

keenan@neveikodesh.org

Kayla Carter - Event Coordinator

kayla@neveikodesh.org

I started out as a primary French immersion teacher in Vancouver, Canada. It was during this time I discovered my passion for planning events. From 2014-2016 I had the opportunity to plan events for the expats of Stockholm International School. I connected people from all over the world as they learned about the culture, history and beauty of Stockholm, Sweden. This led to the creation of my part-time business, Skål Celebrations!

I moved to Louisville, CO with my family in August 2017. I am thoroughly enjoying the clean, fresh air, the frequent sunshine and the happy, healthy people I meet on a daily basis. I quickly became involved with local groups such as Modmoms, Boulder Hiker Chicks and Les Nanas du Coin.

Today I'm thrilled to be a part of Nevei Kodesh's Jewish Community as your event coordinator. I am excited to learn about Judaism as I immerse myself in all your celebrations.

Jenny Schiff, Executive Assistant

jenny@neveikodesh.org

Fri, February 28 2020
3 Adar 5780

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All Events

Tuesday ,
MarMarch 3 , 2020

The World of Dreams Series
Tuesday, Mar 3rd 7:00p to 8:30p
The World of Dreams In Hebrew, we speak of “opening” a dream, which our sages likened to an unopened letter. In this series of classes, we will examine our dreams in the tradition of my teacher, Mme. Colette Aboulker-Muscat, who inherited this practice from her family and developed it in advanced study. She not only taught us ways to “open” our dreams, but also ways to “repair” dreams that require tikkun, by a practice called “waking dream”. In preparation for this class, I suggest the following: Put a new unlined notebook and pen or pencil by your bed. Before going to sleep, write the following day’s date at the top of the page. Reach for it the next morning as soon as you waken, and write or draw whatever you remember. Full sentences are not required. Eve Ilsen is a psychotherapist and rabbinic pastor. She has lived, worked and learned in New York, Philadelphia, California, Alaska and Israel. She learned to work with imagery and waking dream daily with Mme. Colette Aboulker-Muscat in Jerusalem for four years. Returning to the States, she spearheaded the Wisdom School with her late husband, Reb Zalman Schachter-Shalomi, and taught in tandem with him as well as her own classes.
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Thursday ,
MarMarch 5 , 2020

Psalms Brown Bag Series with Rabbi Diane Tiferet Lakein
Thursday, Mar 5th 12:00p to 1:00p
Ivdu et Hashem b’Simcha – Let us serve YHVH with joy! (Psalm 100: 2) Psalms Brown Bag Series with Rabbi Diane Tiferet Lakein: Nevei Kodesh, Thursdays 12 – 1pm February 13, 20, 27, March 5 $10 Nevei Kodesh members/$12 guests This lunchtime brown bag series will explore four different psalms as a way into both a richer understanding of the Jewish traditional texts and a deeper appreciation of our own souls’ yearnings.* Over the centuries, the redactors of our prayer books (siddurim) have chosen particular psalms as part of the standardized liturgy, and contemporary communities have highlighted and elevated others through chants and songs. And yet there is so much more to uncover! My hope is that we will come to build a sense of community through our sustained exploration of different psalms together over time. I also pray that our engagement with a variety of psalms will offer a window into the tremendous richness to be found in these traditional texts of prayer. *No Hebrew is required. The texts will be provided both in Hebrew and in traditional and alternative English translations, including those of Rebbe Zalman himself. Drop-ins are welcome.
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Friday ,
MarMarch 6 , 2020

'Nava Tehila' Style Services, led by Rav Bracha and Yoel Sykes
Friday, Mar 6th 7:00p to 9:00p
Led by Yoelle Sykes and Rav Bracha: Come as you are and join a musical Kabbalat Shabbat journey that will invite us to travel into the landscape of holiness and joy. Through chanting Psalms and Shabbat prayers with original melodies and guided intentions, we will connect to the spirit and allow it to fill our hearts, uplift our souls and welcome the Shabbat. This Shabbat we are joined by amazing levitical musicians such as Kendall Perry, Sandra Wong, and Sheldon Sands, among others. Families are welcome* - with childcare also available in the building - and we conclude by 8:45 with light oneg refreshments and home-baked challah. **childcare for the duration of the service is provided free of charge.
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Monday ,
MarMarch 9 , 2020

A Mad (Hatter) Purim Celebration
Monday, Mar 9th 7:00p to 11:00p
Maariv (evening service) Followed by a theatrical and full Megilla reading (there may or may not be puppets) followed by break fast nosh and drink and a DJ-spinning ALICE IN WONDERLAND THEMED dance party! Elaborate costumes encouraged. This event is open to people of all ages. BYOB
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Tuesday ,
MarMarch 10 , 2020

The World of Dreams Series
Tuesday, Mar 10th 7:00p to 8:30p
The World of Dreams In Hebrew, we speak of “opening” a dream, which our sages likened to an unopened letter. In this series of classes, we will examine our dreams in the tradition of my teacher, Mme. Colette Aboulker-Muscat, who inherited this practice from her family and developed it in advanced study. She not only taught us ways to “open” our dreams, but also ways to “repair” dreams that require tikkun, by a practice called “waking dream”. In preparation for this class, I suggest the following: Put a new unlined notebook and pen or pencil by your bed. Before going to sleep, write the following day’s date at the top of the page. Reach for it the next morning as soon as you waken, and write or draw whatever you remember. Full sentences are not required. Eve Ilsen is a psychotherapist and rabbinic pastor. She has lived, worked and learned in New York, Philadelphia, California, Alaska and Israel. She learned to work with imagery and waking dream daily with Mme. Colette Aboulker-Muscat in Jerusalem for four years. Returning to the States, she spearheaded the Wisdom School with her late husband, Reb Zalman Schachter-Shalomi, and taught in tandem with him as well as her own classes.
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Saturday ,
MarMarch 14 , 2020

CTR 2 Shabbaton
Shabbat, Mar 14th 10:00a to 5:30p
10am - attend services 12pm - lunch 1pm - 4pm - electives 4pm - attend Torah study with parents
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Tuesday ,
MarMarch 17 , 2020

Hebrew and a Taste of the World to Come: An Interactive Journey Through Gender, Music and Mysticism with Eyal Rivlin
Tuesday, Mar 17th 7:30p to 9:00p

Register Now

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Tuesday ,
MarMarch 24 , 2020

The World of Dreams Series
Tuesday, Mar 24th 7:00p to 8:30p
The World of Dreams In Hebrew, we speak of “opening” a dream, which our sages likened to an unopened letter. In this series of classes, we will examine our dreams in the tradition of my teacher, Mme. Colette Aboulker-Muscat, who inherited this practice from her family and developed it in advanced study. She not only taught us ways to “open” our dreams, but also ways to “repair” dreams that require tikkun, by a practice called “waking dream”. In preparation for this class, I suggest the following: Put a new unlined notebook and pen or pencil by your bed. Before going to sleep, write the following day’s date at the top of the page. Reach for it the next morning as soon as you waken, and write or draw whatever you remember. Full sentences are not required. Eve Ilsen is a psychotherapist and rabbinic pastor. She has lived, worked and learned in New York, Philadelphia, California, Alaska and Israel. She learned to work with imagery and waking dream daily with Mme. Colette Aboulker-Muscat in Jerusalem for four years. Returning to the States, she spearheaded the Wisdom School with her late husband, Reb Zalman Schachter-Shalomi, and taught in tandem with him as well as her own classes.
MORE INFO
Saturday ,
MarMarch 28 , 2020

4 Worlds Meditation and Gentle Movement for anyBODY- with Tracy Patch
Shabbat, Mar 28th 10:30a to 12:00p
Please join me for a relaxing and rejuvenating Four Worlds Shabbat. We will use a combination of breathing, Jewish meditation, gentle movement for anyBODY. Please arrive at 10:20.
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Tuesday ,
MarMarch 31 , 2020

The World of Dreams Series
Tuesday, Mar 31st 7:00p to 8:30p
The World of Dreams In Hebrew, we speak of “opening” a dream, which our sages likened to an unopened letter. In this series of classes, we will examine our dreams in the tradition of my teacher, Mme. Colette Aboulker-Muscat, who inherited this practice from her family and developed it in advanced study. She not only taught us ways to “open” our dreams, but also ways to “repair” dreams that require tikkun, by a practice called “waking dream”. In preparation for this class, I suggest the following: Put a new unlined notebook and pen or pencil by your bed. Before going to sleep, write the following day’s date at the top of the page. Reach for it the next morning as soon as you waken, and write or draw whatever you remember. Full sentences are not required. Eve Ilsen is a psychotherapist and rabbinic pastor. She has lived, worked and learned in New York, Philadelphia, California, Alaska and Israel. She learned to work with imagery and waking dream daily with Mme. Colette Aboulker-Muscat in Jerusalem for four years. Returning to the States, she spearheaded the Wisdom School with her late husband, Reb Zalman Schachter-Shalomi, and taught in tandem with him as well as her own classes.
MORE INFO

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Fri, February 28 2020 3 Adar 5780