That they would spend a weekend exploring the practice, and in some cases travel from out of state to do so, points to a growing hunger among Jews for spiritual sustenance.
Meditation helps to satiate that hunger, say conference organizers.
Nearly 600 are expected to attend. The conference, believed to be the first of its kind, will draw Jewish meditation teachers from around the country and as far away as Israel to lead group sessions, discussions and workshops. We want people to feel invited regardless of where they're coming from. Though Jewish meditation can be traced as far back as the fifth century, it was something of a lost practice until relatively recently. While a small number of teachers have always continued to teach the traditions to devoted students, the Jewish mainstream remained largely unaware of the practice.