Summer Solstice: A Jewish Ritual for Grief and Growth

As the days turn towards shortening once again, and the heat of summer settles in, we gather at the threshold of the solstice for an evening of reflection, ritual, and shared breath.

This 90-minute online gathering weaves together meditation, seasonal Jewish wisdom, gentle ritual, reflection, and small-group connection. Together, we’ll explore grief not as something to fix or overcome, but as part of being fully human. We'll consider how growth can emerge alongside — or even through — tenderness, uncertainty, and change.

Rooted in Jewish tradition while accessible to people of all backgrounds and levels of experience, this gathering is designed especially for those seeking spiritual depth, emotional honesty, seasonal grounding, and meaningful connection outside fast-paced or conventional spiritual environments.

The evening will include:

• Guided breath and grounding practices

• Seasonal Torah-inspired teaching

• A simple ritual of flame, water, and writing

• Time for personal reflection and optional sharing

• Communal closing

No prior Jewish knowledge or meditation experience is needed. Come as you are.

For participants joining from the West Coast: this virtual gathering will take place from 4:00–5:30 PM PT.

Facilitated by Dev Brous (FromSoil2Soul) and Yaakov Ginsberg-Schreck (RUACH), and co-sponsored by the Institute for Jewish Spirituality. Registration information is shared among these partner organizations.

Meet Our Facilitators

Devorah Brous (she/her) is the founder of FromSoil2Soul, a regenerative healing practice rooted at the intersection of Jewish mysticism and grief science. As a certified Compassionate Grief and Bereavement Care Counselor, herbalist, and community ritualist, Devorah has spent over 25 years creating intentional containers to guide people through rupture with fierce tenderness. She facilitates twice-weekly "Grief Gardens"—trauma-informed, Torah-rooted support circles designed for collective tending. A two-time nonprofit founder with deep roots in environmental justice and community care, she holds Master’s degrees in Conflict Resolution and Development Studies from Hebrew University. Devorah is currently completing a book on Jewish Grief Tending and pursuing licensure as a Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT), bridging systemic community resilience with mental health support. She lives with her family on a thriving urban homestead on unceded Tongva land (LA).

Yaakov Ginsberg-Schreck (he/him) is the founder and Executive Director of RUACH, a Boston-based nonprofit exploring Jewish belonging through breath, movement, meditation, and embodied spiritual practice. Drawing on Jewish tradition, contemplative practice, and cross-cultural dialogue, his teaching invites people into forms of Jewish life rooted in presence, relationship, and lived experience.

A graduate of Yale University and a former student in Hebrew College’s pluralistic rabbinical program, Yaakov facilitates spaces that weave reflection, ritual, learning, and emotional honesty with warmth and accessibility.