Wisdom Circles
Creating sacred space for dialogue, learning,
and belonging.
Picture an evening gathering - in a cozy living room, or around a backyard fire - where twelve eager Jews settle in. Participants take grounding breaths, sing a nigun together, and share an emotion they are bringing to the space, establishing an environment of vulnerability and mutual support. A teaching on the current holiday or Hebrew month and introduction of a midrashic text leads to a hevruta conversation and responsive art-making, inviting creativity, dialogue and shared experiences.
You would never guess that the co-leaders of this learning and ritual had never facilitated a communal Jewish experience before joining one of Ma’alot’s unique circles.
Wisdom Circles are small cohorts that foster relational learning and grassroots leadership through monthly gatherings.
These identity-based groups, currently men, women and queer, bring together 8–16 participants for monthly gatherings stretched over an 18 month period. Each gathering fosters connection, vulnerability and meaning through Jewish text, embodied practice, and peer facilitation. Wisdom Circles take an interactive, participatory, and community-centered approach to education, where learners are actively engaged in the co-construction of knowledge and understanding with peer support.
Our Identity-Based Circles
Led by Rabbi Joshua Lesser and Dan Arnold, LCSW, the Men’s Wisdom Circle is a monthly cohort for male-identified adults who want to…
Take time to slow down and speak honestly about work, identity, relationships, and fatherhood
Strengthen their capacity for meaningful ritual and Jewish community life
Engage with Jewish texts, art, mindfulness, and shared story casually and without judgement
Build relationships that are steady, respectful, and generative
Led by Rabbi Malka Packer and Jaime Stepansky, LSCW, the Women’s Wisdom Circle is a monthly cohort for anyone that has lived experience as a girl, woman and/or with femininity who want…
An intergenerational space grounded in personal reflection, collaborative learning and Jewish wisdom
To briefly step away from the demands of everyday life while being heard, seen and supported in that challenge
To create art, engage in mindful practices and share stories around a monthly curriculum of Jewish texts
To grow relationships that are deep, meaningful and supportive in all seasons of life
Led by Rabbi Malka Packer, this Circle is a monthly cohort for adults who have lived experience with queer identity, inclusive of trans, non-binary, and cis individuals, looking for space to...
Speak openly about the joys and challenges of everyday life around a framework of art, mindful practice and Jewish text.
Grow and enhance their community building skills across both similarities and differences
Deepen their connection to queer community
Build lasting relationships grounded in support, empathy and a shared love of Jewish wisdom and learning
Our Facilitators
Each Wisdom Circle is Co-led by a team of a Jewish Educator and Social Worker
Jaime Stepansky, LCSW
Women’s Circle
Rabbi Malka Packer
Women’s & Queer Circles
Rabbi Josh Lesser
Men’s Circle
Dan Arnold, LCSW
Men’s Circle
The Vision
Wisdom Circles cultivate a Jewish, embodied, relational way of living—one that honors the wisdom of the body, the complexity of lived experience, and the power of sustained community, rooted in our own homes. We call on the insights of our ancestors while paying attention to what is happening within us and between us: how emotion, history, identity, and power shape our participation and our relationships in Jewish life and the world.
Through ritual, reflection, Jewish learning, and collective care, we develop the capacity to speak honestly, listen deeply, and remain present through discomfort. Over time, this builds resilience as the ability to stay connected, responsive, and grounded in a world that pushes us toward burnout and asks us to go it alone. In Wisdom Circles, we wander together—returning again and again through practice, open curiosity, repair, and meaningful relationships.
Why Wisdom Circles
Ma’alot has been piloting Circles for the last two years, creating unique educational environments where participants exchange learning and insights alongside intimate relationship building, discovering new ways to think about Judaism and ritual with trusted peers. The format encourages deep listening and respect for another’s point of view. For those thirsting for new Jewish experiences, circles offer a vital alternative to traditional synagogue attendance, providing a consistent and accessible forum for learning, experimentation, and dialogue that affirms their Jewish experience and identity.
For many, circles serve as their main touchpoint for Jewish life and a source of empowered learning, as past a participant shares:
“Our Circle helps me feel that Judaism is not just something that’s out there, but that it is alive for me, something that I am discovering and learning more about. Being a Jewish woman is not just something that I am, but something I am learning how to do…we talk about what we want to do in the circle–what rituals to lead ourselves, how we want to present the information, what we want to offer and share. It’s scary and vulnerable to say, I’m going to lead you in an exercise, or I’m going to tell you a story–but so powerful to step into that role.”
You Might be Wondering…
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Closed circles are fixed cohorts that have gone through our application process and are committed to the program, ensuring you will see the same faces around each circle each month.
Open circles are just that: open, free opportunities to try out our unique program. We host several of these sessions each year for each identity group.
To find out when the next open circle is happening for your identity group, check our upcoming events or subscribe to our newsletter at the bottom of the page!
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During the training period, we expect that participants will attend all 6 sessions. If you cannot make a session, they will be recorded so you can still review and complete the information from that session.
Once training has ended and we enter monthly home gatherings, we expect participants to commit to attending 10 out of 12 gatherings over the year.
Ready to get started? Apply here →
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The first 6 months of closed circles will include a monthly training session where participants will learn valuable interpersonal skills and Jewish study skills to foster communication and learning.
After that training period, there will be 12 additional months of wisdom circles held. These will be led by participants in their homes. The intention is for each participant to open their home by hosting and (lightly) nourishing their fellow circle members at least once.
The curriculum will be centered around monthly Jewish learning with different participants empowered to create a ritual activity that speaks to them each month. This could be artistic, movement, sharing, or an interactive game.
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The social worker is there to help navigate interpersonal conflict that can arise in community spaces. Conflict and miscommunication are both a normal and healthy part of thriving communal dialogue, but we do not want participants to feel responsible for managing those instances without structured support.
That’s why our social workers have backgrounds in conflict resolution and navigating challenging circumstances. We want to empower our wisdom circle community to be vulnerable in these spaces, which means ensuring that there is an expert at the room to navigate any of the turbulence that might occur.
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Wisdom Circles are not just about passively building community. They are specifically designed to empower and activate community builders. Part of that learning is strengthening our capacity for being in community with others through the lens of Jewish texts and traditions, which requires more skill training than you might think!
Wisdom Circle graduates emerge trained and empowered to discover ways their inner wisdom - their experiences, knowledge, leadership, intuition, spirituality and creativity - interplays with Judaism’s rich tradition, and apply these new skills to build community.
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In the face of polarization, we prioritize community connection.
At Ma’alot, our work is rooted in building spaces of spiritual wellness, relational depth, and human dignity. As we navigate an increasingly polarized world, we support Jews in reaching toward one another’s humanity and strengthening communal belonging.
Our intention is to protect the integrity of our spaces and support people in staying connected through complexity. Reach more about our approach here →