Details
Facilitated by
Rabbi Shirah C Kraus
Date/Time
Tuesdays | 6:30 pm-8:00 pm 7:00-8:30 pm | Oct 20- Nov 10
Cost
Free to Members | $99 for Non-Members
Location
The Hive: A Center for Contemplation, Art, and Action | In Person
1628 Hoffner St Cincinnati, OH 45223
About the Class
Domains
Description
An exploration into the art of rest with Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel's The Sabbath.
“Six days a week we wrestle with the world, wringing profit from the earth; on the Sabbath we especially care for the seed of eternity planted in the soul. The world has our hands, but our soul belongs to Someone Else.” ~ Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel, The Sabbath
What is the Sabbath (Shabbat)? And why do we need it?
In this community of curiosity and practice, we will explore the idea and practice of Shabbat (Sabbath) through Abraham Joshua Heschel’s The Sabbath. The Sabbath, originally published in 1951, continues to be a relevant and profound statement on the sacredness of time.
In this class, we will tell stories, discuss texts, and find ways to embody and practice sabbath. This course will draw on wisdom from contemporary sources and Jewish tradition, as well as the wisdom of experience and insight of each member of the class.
This class is for everyone who is interested in exploring rest, resistance, and sacred time. Judaism is the primary wellspring of wisdom inspiring this class and its facilitator, but anyone can benefit from this wisdom.
Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel
Abraham Joshua Heschel is a 20th century scholar, teacher, and activist known for his indelible contributions to Jewish scholarship, religious theology, and American civil rights. Heschel grew up in Europe, but immigrated to the U.S. to escape the horrors of the Holocaust. He learned English quickly and well, writing several books and essays with depth and poetry. Heschel was prolific and versatile. He wrote books on prophets and theology, marched with Martin Luther King, and spoke out against the Vietnam War.
This Class Is for You If…
You’re longing for a rhythm of rest that feels sacred, intentional, and sustaining
You’re curious about the Jewish wisdom of Shabbat and how it might speak to your own life
You feel the pressures of constant doing and want to explore a countercultural practice of being
You’re drawn to Abraham Joshua Heschel’s vision of “a cathedral in time” and want to understand it more deeply
You’re seeking a community where stories, questions, and lived experience are honored
You want to explore rest as both spiritual nourishment and quiet resistance to a world of endless productivity
You’re looking for practices that help you reconnect with your soul, your values, and what truly matters
You’re not Jewish but feel drawn to the beauty, wisdom, and spaciousness of Shabbat
You’re Jewish and want to deepen or reimagine your relationship with Sabbath practice
You’re simply curious—about sacred time, about Heschel, about rest, about what becomes possible when we pause
Intention of the Hive
When you join a Hive experience, you're invited into our intention to create a group experience that's inclusive, rooted in mindfulness, and dynamically relational. We aspire for each Hive experience to model these intentions, and even to refine them as we continue to learn how to gather in a way that's transformative! The embodiment of these intentions by Hive facilitators, Members, and class participants is what makes the Hive the unique and healing social container that many experience it to be. To view our Hive Intentions for gathering, click here.
Rabbi Shirah C Kraus
is an ordained Reform rabbi with a passion for learning, teaching, and community building. She grew up in Cincinnati and has been connected to The Hive for several years. Rabbi Shirah grew up celebrating shabbat with her parents, siblings, and synagogue. She continues to enjoy Friday night dinners with her extended family -- including the two cutest nieces ever!