CircleWorks - Women's Groups & Trainings
Based on a synthesis of psychology and Jewish wisdom, Chaya has developed a groundbreaking form of group work called CircleWorks. These are women's groups that offer a deepened sense of community, support, and spiritual growth -- all within a Jewish setting. The circles offer an uncommon blend of personal exploration, spiritual growth, and therapeutic group work.
CircleWorks groups have been running in Israel for the past 5 years. Versions of the work have been put into action in neighborhood/community settings, in Women's Midrashot & Torah learning Institutions, and even in inpatient settings for women & girls with eating disorders.
Through Torah sources and exercises, participants have the opportunity to:
- Explore and deepen their self-understanding, working to clarify their life's path and calling.
- Gain tools for interpersonal communication, conflict resolution and authentic self-expression.
- Learn how to share and receive honest and illuminating feedback.
- Learn and practice methods for facilitating an other's growth process.
The skills that are learned and practiced within the group are then taken home for the enhancement of all of the participant's relationships.
*Chaya is currently running training programs to EMPOWER other women to facilitate these unique circles in their own communities. These training cohorts have women from an array of Jerusalem neighborhoods as well as other cities such Tsfat, Modiin and Beit Shemesh. Looking forward to seeing CircleWorks groups popping up all over the country!
CircleWorks groups have been running in Israel for the past 5 years. Versions of the work have been put into action in neighborhood/community settings, in Women's Midrashot & Torah learning Institutions, and even in inpatient settings for women & girls with eating disorders.
Through Torah sources and exercises, participants have the opportunity to:
- Explore and deepen their self-understanding, working to clarify their life's path and calling.
- Gain tools for interpersonal communication, conflict resolution and authentic self-expression.
- Learn how to share and receive honest and illuminating feedback.
- Learn and practice methods for facilitating an other's growth process.
The skills that are learned and practiced within the group are then taken home for the enhancement of all of the participant's relationships.
*Chaya is currently running training programs to EMPOWER other women to facilitate these unique circles in their own communities. These training cohorts have women from an array of Jerusalem neighborhoods as well as other cities such Tsfat, Modiin and Beit Shemesh. Looking forward to seeing CircleWorks groups popping up all over the country!
MIRIAM’S CODE
The following offers a glimpse of some of the central tools for communication, interpersonal dynamics, therapeutic group work and personal growth. They are all culled from the two enigmatic verses that describe Miriam leading the Israelite women in song and dance at the splitting of the Sea of Reeds. We call these verses "Miriam's Code" because they encode the essence of the principles that we utilize in these groups.
These tools are built from a unique synthesis of Torah and psychology. They guide us in how to communicate with "circle consciousness"; a sensitive, enlightened and enlightening manner of interaction.
At the core of the idea of circle consciousness is the interpretation of Miriam's song from the Hassidic commentator the Meor V'Shemesh. Basing his writings on Kabbalistic principles, he points out that Miriam and the women were able to access a higher state of consciousness than Moses, history's greatest prophet.
First the verses:
כ -- וַתִּקַּח מִרְיָם הַנְּבִיאָה אֲחוֹת אַהֲרֹן, אֶת-הַתֹּף בְּיָדָהּ; וַתֵּצֶאןָ כָל-הַנָּשִׁים אַחֲרֶיהָ, בְּתֻפִּים וּבִמְחֹלֹת.
20 And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances.
כא -- וַתַּעַן לָהֶם, מִרְיָם: שִׁירוּ לַיהוָה כִּי-גָאֹה גָּאָה, סוּס וְרֹכְבוֹ רָמָה בַיָּם.
21 And Miriam sang unto them: Sing ye to the LORD, for He is highly exalted: the horse and his rider hath He thrown into the sea.
Miriam’s Code Principles ~ Rules & Tools
The following points, culled from Miriam’s circle dance, are suggestions for how to communicate using principles of circle consciousness. Each session will be devoted to a different principle.
1. PRESENT TENSE – Miriam’s song is in present tense. Be present. Use “I” language. Breath and emotions are portals to the present moment. Mine those.
2. NAME/CALLING - “Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aharon.” This is the first time that Miriam’s name appears in the Torah. Being in the circle allowed the fullness of her being, her name and calling, to be actualized. This is done in relationship, by being an achot, a sister.
3. EQUALITY – Circles are non-hierarchical. Everyone is equidistant from the center. Ask provoking questions rather than give advice.
4. FACING EACH OTHER – In a circle, all members face each other. See each other. We speak face to face, rather than behind the back. Our faces (panim) bring our insides (b’fnim) to the surface.
5. SUPPORTIVE – The circular shape creates safety and support. The circular letter samech shares its root with ‘samuch’, supported. Strive for empathy, warmth & support for each other.
6. MIRRORING – Miriam simply repeats that which Moshe had just sung. She ‘mirrors’ what he said. Reflective listening is a powerful tool of circle consciousness.
7. DEPTH – Aim for depth not breadth. The line goes somewhere, covers ground, has breadth. The circles job is to simply circle, sinking deeper in with each revolution.
8. CONCISE - When sharing, strive to be terse. Moshe’s Song at the Sea is 19 verses…Miriam’s is one verse, 9 words long. Avoid unnecessary details.
9. ANAVUT – Humility. Miriam didn’t push in front of Moshe, nor did she silence herself. She waited, and when it was her time to sing, she did not hold back! Anavut is about occupying the space that is rightfully yours. Not too much, nor too little.
10. CHALLENGING MATERIAL – Miriam’s terse description includes the darker truth of the triumph; horse and rider were killed. She recognizes the harsh facts. One of our goals is to find the most productive and authentic way to talk about darker material.
a. One tool for this is using AND, not BUT – The 2 verses above begin with vavs. The vav can either mean ‘and’ or ‘but’. Here they clearly mean ‘and’. Whenever you are tempted to say ‘but’, remember the dual meaning of the vav and retrain yourself to say ‘and’ instead.
11. RESPONSIVE – “And Miriam answered them…” Be responsive, communicative, interactive, take the risk of responding to what someone else says.
12. EMUNA - Have faith in the process and the unfolding. The women brought their drums out of Egypt with them because they had faith that they would have cause to celebrate.
13. CREATIVITY – Note that omanut/creativity has the same root as emunah/faith. The women danced, played drums, sang, channeled. Be creative/expressive/bold.
14. LEADERSHIP – “And the women followed after her – ahareha”. Miriam is clearly the leader here. Hold the tension between equality and the genuine benefit of having a leader/facilitator.
15. INCLUSIVITY – “Kol hanashim” ALL the women went out with her. If someone in the group is looking alienated, have the guts and caring to ask them why. If you yourself are feeling alienated, think about why & have the guts and caring to share it.
(Copyrighted Material, please do not share without permission.)
The following offers a glimpse of some of the central tools for communication, interpersonal dynamics, therapeutic group work and personal growth. They are all culled from the two enigmatic verses that describe Miriam leading the Israelite women in song and dance at the splitting of the Sea of Reeds. We call these verses "Miriam's Code" because they encode the essence of the principles that we utilize in these groups.
These tools are built from a unique synthesis of Torah and psychology. They guide us in how to communicate with "circle consciousness"; a sensitive, enlightened and enlightening manner of interaction.
At the core of the idea of circle consciousness is the interpretation of Miriam's song from the Hassidic commentator the Meor V'Shemesh. Basing his writings on Kabbalistic principles, he points out that Miriam and the women were able to access a higher state of consciousness than Moses, history's greatest prophet.
First the verses:
כ -- וַתִּקַּח מִרְיָם הַנְּבִיאָה אֲחוֹת אַהֲרֹן, אֶת-הַתֹּף בְּיָדָהּ; וַתֵּצֶאןָ כָל-הַנָּשִׁים אַחֲרֶיהָ, בְּתֻפִּים וּבִמְחֹלֹת.
20 And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances.
כא -- וַתַּעַן לָהֶם, מִרְיָם: שִׁירוּ לַיהוָה כִּי-גָאֹה גָּאָה, סוּס וְרֹכְבוֹ רָמָה בַיָּם.
21 And Miriam sang unto them: Sing ye to the LORD, for He is highly exalted: the horse and his rider hath He thrown into the sea.
Miriam’s Code Principles ~ Rules & Tools
The following points, culled from Miriam’s circle dance, are suggestions for how to communicate using principles of circle consciousness. Each session will be devoted to a different principle.
1. PRESENT TENSE – Miriam’s song is in present tense. Be present. Use “I” language. Breath and emotions are portals to the present moment. Mine those.
2. NAME/CALLING - “Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aharon.” This is the first time that Miriam’s name appears in the Torah. Being in the circle allowed the fullness of her being, her name and calling, to be actualized. This is done in relationship, by being an achot, a sister.
3. EQUALITY – Circles are non-hierarchical. Everyone is equidistant from the center. Ask provoking questions rather than give advice.
4. FACING EACH OTHER – In a circle, all members face each other. See each other. We speak face to face, rather than behind the back. Our faces (panim) bring our insides (b’fnim) to the surface.
5. SUPPORTIVE – The circular shape creates safety and support. The circular letter samech shares its root with ‘samuch’, supported. Strive for empathy, warmth & support for each other.
6. MIRRORING – Miriam simply repeats that which Moshe had just sung. She ‘mirrors’ what he said. Reflective listening is a powerful tool of circle consciousness.
7. DEPTH – Aim for depth not breadth. The line goes somewhere, covers ground, has breadth. The circles job is to simply circle, sinking deeper in with each revolution.
8. CONCISE - When sharing, strive to be terse. Moshe’s Song at the Sea is 19 verses…Miriam’s is one verse, 9 words long. Avoid unnecessary details.
9. ANAVUT – Humility. Miriam didn’t push in front of Moshe, nor did she silence herself. She waited, and when it was her time to sing, she did not hold back! Anavut is about occupying the space that is rightfully yours. Not too much, nor too little.
10. CHALLENGING MATERIAL – Miriam’s terse description includes the darker truth of the triumph; horse and rider were killed. She recognizes the harsh facts. One of our goals is to find the most productive and authentic way to talk about darker material.
a. One tool for this is using AND, not BUT – The 2 verses above begin with vavs. The vav can either mean ‘and’ or ‘but’. Here they clearly mean ‘and’. Whenever you are tempted to say ‘but’, remember the dual meaning of the vav and retrain yourself to say ‘and’ instead.
11. RESPONSIVE – “And Miriam answered them…” Be responsive, communicative, interactive, take the risk of responding to what someone else says.
12. EMUNA - Have faith in the process and the unfolding. The women brought their drums out of Egypt with them because they had faith that they would have cause to celebrate.
13. CREATIVITY – Note that omanut/creativity has the same root as emunah/faith. The women danced, played drums, sang, channeled. Be creative/expressive/bold.
14. LEADERSHIP – “And the women followed after her – ahareha”. Miriam is clearly the leader here. Hold the tension between equality and the genuine benefit of having a leader/facilitator.
15. INCLUSIVITY – “Kol hanashim” ALL the women went out with her. If someone in the group is looking alienated, have the guts and caring to ask them why. If you yourself are feeling alienated, think about why & have the guts and caring to share it.
(Copyrighted Material, please do not share without permission.)
