EXPLORING JEWISH MAGIC & FOLKLORE

Join us for an engaging two-session course on Jewish magic and folklore, created and taught by Yoreshet Ruach D’vorah Grenn, PhD.

What You'll Learn:

• Understanding Magic: Explore what magic is, why it has been both embraced and denied in Jewish tradition, and how it intersects with religion and faith.
• Historical Practices: Dive into the history of magical practices within Judaism, including the use of amulets, incantations, and other objects to ensure health, safety, prosperity, and success.
• Women's Roles: Learn about the significant contributions of women as practitioners of magic throughout Jewish history.
• Ritual Objects: Discover the rich array of ritual objects crafted by ancient and modern Jewish communities, from spells and talismans to charms and bowls, across regions including Mesopotamia, the Levant, the Middle East, North Africa, and the United States.

Course Activities:

• Interactive Discussions: Participate in group and dyad discussions to deepen your understanding.
• Lectures and Visuals: Enjoy lectures complemented by a wealth of images, iconography, and symbols.
• Embodied Experiences: Engage in experiential activities to integrate your learning

Join us as we peek into the fascinating world of Jewish magic and folklore, and gain a deeper appreciation of its place in our history and culture.

Ruach D'vorah Grenn, Ph.D is a Kohenet/priestess, Mashpi’ah Ruchanit / spiritual guide and Yoreshet / lineage-holder of a female Kabbalist tradition.

She founded The Lilith Institute, A Center for Feminist Spirituality in 1997, co-directed the Women's Spirituality MA Program at ITP/Sofia University, founded Mishkan Shekhinah, a movable sanctuary honoring the Sacred Feminine across traditions, and was a founding theorist of the Kohenet Hebrew priestess movement. She has taught Jewish Magic & Folklore, The Sacred Feminine in Judaism, Women’s Sacred Conversations with G’d; Lilith classes; and Humanities/Philosophy classes as Adjunct Faculty at Napa Valley College. She also co-teaches the Tree of Life annually with Yerusha’s Rabbi Nadya Gross.

Publications include: “For She Is A Tree of Life: Shared Roots Connecting Women to Deity”, her dissertation on beliefs and rituals among U.S. and South African Lemba women of Jewish ancestry; Lilith’s Fire; Talking to Goddess, an anthology of writings from 72 women in 25 traditions; "The Kohanot: Keepers of the Flame" in Stepping into Ourselves: An Anthology of Writing on Priestesses; “Lilith’s Fire: Examining Original Sources of Power” in Feminist Theology Journal; Jewish priestess and Lilith entries in the Encyclopedia of Women in World Religions; “Spiritual Brokenness and Healing Presence of the Sacred Feminine”, FEMSPEC feminist journal. She led her Women’s Intuitive Leadership Program in 2022, has recorded podcasts including the Revelation Podcast Project and Breaking Down Patriarchy, co-hosted “Tending Lilith’s Fire” with Kohenet Annie Matan for two years, and recently presented on her feminist metaformic thealogy at Mago Academy’s S/He Divine Studies conference. 

Host or Publisher Yerusha