Jewish Ancestral Herbalism

Join Sephardic-Ashkenazi herbalist Danièle Fogel and Ashkenazi herbalist Lia Leibman for a transformative 3-part Jewish ancestral workshop exploring the sacred traditions of Jewish folk healing, herbalism, and protection magic. In this 3-part series, we will immerse ourselves in the ancestral wisdom of Jewish folk medicine, Jewish healing worldviews, the evil eye, spirits, and common herbs, practices, and rituals that many Jews have relied upon for millenia. From garlic to Saint John’s Wort to rose, we will discuss how and why certain herbs were grown and used, weaving in both botanical folklore and medicinal uses. 

We will gather for three in-person sessions, each session rooted in a different aspect of Jewish folk healing. Participants will be invited to learn through meditation, journaling, group work, and more. Each session will include a hands-on medicine making portion, aligned with the session’s focus. It is our hope that, by the end of each session, you will leave with a deeper connection to your ancestral wisdom and traditions that you can take forward into your own life.

Danièle and Lia lift up the fact that these practices and herbs are ancient and have helped many generations through times of hardship and crisis, like the one we are in now. Their prayer is that these old ways can heal lineages and communities, and bring peace and liberation to all people.

What you can expect: 

• To learn about, connect to, and engage with Jewish ancestral practices from Sephardic & Ashkenazi lineages. (Sephardi practices encompass Jewish practices from Arab and Persian lands)
• To root in your ancestral traditions
• To make medicine with a group of Jewish people from various lineages & take home your creations

How we hope you will feel:

• Grounded and rooted in your ancestral traditions

• Strengthened by this ancestral reconnection, coming away with the ability to bring more joy and beauty into life
• Inspired and uplifted 

What makes this workshop unique:

• It is expansive in its scope of covering multiple lineages and forms of Judaism
• It is a 3-part in-depth series of amazing ancestral Jewish goodness
• It is in-person
• Danièle and Lia are cousins which is fun and magical 

Dates and Times:

Monday, Nov 4th - 6:30-9PM

Tuesday, Nov 12th - 6-8:30PM

Tuesday, Nov 19th - 6-8:30PM

Price: The full price for the full 3-part workshop is $300, but we offer a $150-$350 sliding scale to make this valuable knowledge more accessible. Please pay the full price or more if you have the means, so that the workshop can run and those with more financial needs can attend.

Location: Berkeley Herbal Center, 1250 Addison St STE G, Berkeley, CA 94702

Session 1: Introduction to Jewish Folk Healing, Jewish Herbalism & Protection Magic

In our first session, we’ll root ourselves in the world of Jewish folk healing, Sephardic & Ashkenazi Jewish herbalism, and protection magic. We’ll explore the landscapes from which these practices emerged, and discuss how these traditions evolved, shifted, and adapted as Jews moved across the various geographies that they call(ed) home. We’ll learn about ancient Jewish cosmologies from both Sephardic and Ashkenazi lineages, and deepen our understanding of beliefs and practices around spirits, the evil eye, and protection. Together, we’ll honor the central role women played as healers, keepers of knowledge, and protectors of their communities. 

We’ll also dive into the medicinal, magical, and protective power of garlic across Jewish traditions—exploring its rebellious spirit—and create our own batch of garlic honey, a potent remedy for participants to take home. 

Collective medicine making: garlic honey 

Session 2 Description: Cures and Remedies, Annointing Oils

In our second session, we’ll dive deep into the magical world of Sephardic & Ashkenazi cures and remedies, or segulot. We’ll explore the various practices our ancestors used to heal and protect themselves, their families, and their communities, including anointing oils, name changes, water, sugar, honey, salt, herbs, colors, prayers, and songs. We’ll learn about the protective and healing qualities of cedar, rosemary, and myrrh, and together will craft an anointing oil that participants will get to take home. 

Collective medicine making: anointing oil

Session 3 Description: Herbal Medicine, Folklore, & Protection, Herbal Amulets

In our third and final session, we’ll explore the role of amulets in Jewish herbal medicine, folklore, and protection. We’ll learn about Rue, Saint John’s Wort, Cloves, Linden, and Rose, common herbs used by Sephardic and Ashkenazi Jews for healing and protection, delving into their medicinal and folkloric uses. Together, we’ll make herbal amulets that will carry the protective, healing, and sacred qualities of these plants. 

Collective medicine making: herbal amulets

Danièle Fogel Bio:

Danièle Fogel (she/her) is an herbalist, educator, and plant tender who guides people to re-orient towards nature and our inherent belonging to the earth. She graduated from Ecoversity’s Herbalism Certification Program and is a current Sacred Vibes Apprentice with Master Herbalist Karen M. Rose. Danièle has been teaching young people and adults for nearly two decades, and holds a PhD in education from UC Berkeley, a masters in education from UC Berkeley, a masters in teaching from NYU, New York & California State Teaching Credentials, and a BA from Oberlin College. Danièle believes that re-learning the ancestral language of herbs is essential for our times, as it connects us to our inner power and facilitates a greater sense of wholeness and wellbeing. She has personally experienced this through teaching and learning about Sephardic herbalism, a topic she is deeply passionate about. You can find out more about her work at www.yervika.com, or on instagram @yervika.herbs. 

Lia Leibman Bio:

Lia Leibman (she/they) is a clinical herbalist, medicine maker, botanist, and avid plant-human match-maker. She graduated from the California School of Herbal Studies, from both the Roots and Community Herbalist programs, and holds a B.A. in biology from Whitman College. Lia is a devoted apprentice to their ancestral traditions and is overjoyed to teach Jewish ancestral herbalism, as well as many botany and human physiology courses. She is passionate about helping connect people to the plants, traditions, and healing practices that can help them thrive. You can find her @herbalist.lia on instagram.

COVID info: 

This class will be held indoors. Berkeley Herbal Center’s policy is masks optional, tests optional. We encourage people to mask and/or test. Please reach out with any concerns.

Host or Publisher Lia Leibman and Danièle Fogel