Kirva - Inside Out Wisdom and Action

Applications are open for Kirva’s Disability Wisdom as Soul Care (DWASC) cohorts, beginning this September, led by Rabbi Lauren Tuchman, DWASC’s Program Director, and Kohenet Dr. Harriette Wimms, who we’re thrilled to share will be joining as a new co-facilitator this year.

DWASC cultivates vibrant Jewish learning communities for people with disabilities, led by leaders with disabilities. Grounded in the wisdom of Mussar (applied Jewish ethics) and Chassidut (applied Jewish mysticism), the program offers spiritual nourishment, meaningful connection, and embodied Jewish practice, while centering disabled experience. Rooted in the belief that disabled people bring essential wisdom to Jewish life, DWASC creates space for connection, growth, and healing. We hope you’ll join us! Apply by June 15th. Learn more and apply at the link in our bio!

Image Description: Graphic with text on the left and a background of purple and light blue swirling texture, along with two headshots, one of Rabbi Lauren Tuchman and another of Kohenet Dr. Harriette Wimms. Text reads, “APPLY TODAY Disability Wisdom as Soul Care Cohorts with Rabbi Lauren Tuchman & Kohenet Dr. Harriette Wimms. On Zoom, Starting September 2026, Applications Close June 15th. Apply at bit.ly/disabilitywisdom26

Thank you to Jake Green for sharing these powerful words as we approach Shavuot and Pride Month amidst so much heartbreak.

As we grieve alongside our Muslim neighbors and communities in light of the horrific Islamophobic attack at the Islamic Center of San Diego, we are moved by Jake’s invitation to understand anger not as something to suppress, but as a sacred call toward solidarity, collective action, and deeper connection.

What does it mean to receive Torah in the wilderness — in moments of uncertainty, grief, and rupture? What might holy anger ask of us right now?

Read “Holy Anger in the Wilderness This Shavuot” at the link in our bio.

Image description: Quote graphic that shows text on a photo of an orange sunrise over a jagged mountain range. Text reads, “Today, we encounter tragedy so regularly that it feels constant. And because of our 24-hour news cycle, we have that encounter collectively, too. Within moments, we all bear witness to what is broken — to violence in schools, synagogues, churches, clubs, museums, and mosques. This collective experience asks for something we can share, too. We must not only witness together or mourn together, but build together. To channel our holy anger toward a world where everyone can gather in community safely and freely.” —Jake Green, written in Kirva’s Rosh Chodesh Sivan Blog, Holy Anger in the Wilderness this Shavuot

We’re thrilled to announce the newest cohort of Ovdim, Kirva’s leadership cohort for experienced Jewish changemakers working at the intersection of spirituality, justice, culture, and collective transformation.

This year’s cohort brings together twelve visionary leaders from across movements, organizations, creative practice, organizing strategies, education, and communities. Together, they represent a wide range of work and wisdom, and a shared commitment to building a more just, courageous, and interconnected world.

Learn more Ovdim, and about each cohort member at the link in our bio.

Image Description: Graphic with an abstract aqua swirling background, with a grid of twelve photos, each showing a member of the cohort, including Kohenet Shoshana A Brown, LMSW, they/she, Diaspora Alliance Eddie Chavez Calderon, National Council of Jewish Women Sarah Cohen Domont, she/her, Jewish Social Justice Roundtable Photo of Emilia looking at the camera headshot of Eric looking at the camera Photo of Adam performing, playing the guitar and speaking into a microphone Emilia Diamant, Avodah: The Jewish Service Corps Eric Greene, UCLA Adam Horowitz, Artist and Consultant Headshot of Cynthia smilling and looking at the camera Photo of Susan smiling looking at the camera Headshot of Sasha, smiling and looking at the camera Cynthia Katz, HIAS Susan Lubeck, JUFJ, Collaborative for Jewish Organizing Sasha Raskin-Yin, she/her, T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights Headshot of Violeta, smiling and looking at the camera Headshot of Marcella, smiling and looking at the camera Headshot of Tikvah, smiling and looking at the camera Violeta Stolpen, she/ella, Jewtina y Co. Marcella White Campbell, Author and Consultant Tikvah Womack, Counselor, Expressive Arts Therapist. Text at the top reads, “Meet Kirva’s 26/27 Ovdim Cohort!”

Join us for our upcoming Disability Wisdom as Soul Care Info Session on Wednesday, May 6 at 7 PM ET / 4 PM PT.

During this session, we’ll share more about the program and its next chapter, walk through the application process for this year’s cohorts, and leave space for your questions.

Image Description: Graphic with text on the left and a background of pink and purple clouds, along with a photo of Rabbi Lauren Tuchman, smiling. Text reads, “Disability Wisdom as Soul Care INFO SESSION. Wednesday, May 6th, 7-8 PM ET on Zoom. Learn about the next phase of the program! With Rabbi Lauren Tuchman. bit.ly/dwasc-info-session”.

On this day, when many celebrate the founding of the State of Israel, we must also face the reality that people who believe in Jewish supremacy are actively influencing policy in Israel with lethal consequences to Palestinians. As Rabbi David Jaffe shares in his Rosh Chodesh Iyar blog, this is a crucial moment to revisit the concept of Tzelem Elokim, and its universal application. Our work at Kirva asks us to use the world as a mirror to reflect on where we may need to grow in our belief in the application of Tzelem Elohim. However you mark this day, we invite you to reflect with some Cheshbon Hanefesh/soul accounting or journaling. Ask yourself, “Am I treating myself like a Tzelem Elokim? Am I treating others as Tzelem Elokim? Where may I harbor feelings and beliefs of superiority?” You’re welcome to share reflections in the comments.

Read the full piece, "Countering Supremacy with Tzelem Elokim", here: https://www.kirva.org/post/countering-supremacy-with-tzelem-elokim

Image description: Text graphic with text on top of a gold rectangle, on top of a photo of a golden sunrise, with the sun peaking over a mountain and trees. Graphic reads “ From Countering Supremacy with Tzelem Elokim - “With our new month of Iyar being the time Jewish sovereignty in Israel is celebrated with Yom Ha’atzma’ut (Independence day) and Yom Yerushalayim (Jerusalem day), this is a crucial moment to revisit the concept of Tzelem Elokim and its universal application.” - Rabbi David Jaffe, written in Kirva’s Rosh Chodesh Blog

We’ve had two wonderful sessions so far! Join every Tuesday from 5-5:30 PM ET on Zoom through May 19th to count the Omer, explore the middah of the week through a short teaching, a guided meditation, and a brief practice.

Whether or not you count the Omer every day, you’re warmly invited to drop in, once or throughout the remaining weeks. No prior experience is needed. All are welcome. This program is offered at no cost and will be held on Zoom. We hope you’ll join us! Register at bit.ly/kirva-omer or at the link in our bio.

Image Description: Graphic with text on the left and a background photo of a forest with the sunrise peaking through thin pine trees. Text reads, “WEEKLY DROP IN PRACTICE SPACE - Counting the Omer with Kirva, Join us every Tuesday through May 19th. Weekly Zoom Sessions 5-5:30 PM ET, bit.ly/kirva-omer”

Starting this week! Join Rabbi Lauren Tuchman and our friends at to explore the intersection of Jewish mindfulness practice and lived disability experience in a 4-part series intentionally designed by and for practitioners with disabilities. The program starts THIS THURSDAY, April 23rd on Zoom at 12 PM ET, and will take place on Zoom. Learn more and register below or at the link in our bio.

https://www.orhalev.net/opening-to-presence

Image description: Graphic with dark blue background and white text. At the top is a photo of Rabbi Lauren Tuchman smiling. Text be;pw reads, “LAST CHANCE TO REGISTER - Opening to Presence: Where Jewish Mindfulness Meets Lived Disability Experience, a 4-part online series with RAbbi Lauren Tuchman. Starting April 23 // On Zoom”. Below text are the logos of five sponsors: Or HaLev, Disability Torah Project, Matan, JBI Library, and Kirva.

Rosh Chodesh Iyar begins tonight at sundown.

As we enter this new month, we’re holding the question of what it means to confront dehumanization and supremacy in our communities and within ourselves.

In his newest piece, Countering Supremacy with Tzelem Elokim, Rabbi David Jaffe explores the teaching that every person is created in the Divine image, and what it asks of us in a time like this.

We hope you’ll read his words: https://www.kirva.org/post/countering-supremacy-with-tzelem-elokim

Chodesh tov and Shabbat shalom!

Image description: Blog image with a photo of a sunrise over a hazy golden mountain range, trees, and hilltops fading in the fog off in the distance Text reads, “Iyar 5786 by Rabbi David Jaffe”.

Join our friends at to explore the intersection of Jewish mindfulness practice and lived disability experience in a 4-part series intentionally designed by and for practitioners with disabilities. The series begins on April 23rd - learn more and register today at the link in our bio. This program will be led by Rabbi Lauren Tuchman.

Out of an acknowledgement that too often practice spaces have been inaccessible to practitioners with disabilities, we will together co-create a field of practice and learning in which all parts of ourselves are warmly welcomed as they are. We need not choose between a richly Jewish practice and honoring the wisdom of our lived experience in all of its multifaceted truth.

Through cultivation practice, we will together explore tending to our inner garden, planting seeds of supportive mind states and qualities like pleasantness and compassion. Living in times as challenging as these, it is even more important that we touch into and resource ourselves to meet our experiences with gentleness.