Romemu Brooklyn Community and Classes
Community is the human expression of Divine love. It is where I am valued simply for who I am, how I live and what I give to others. It is the place where they know my name.
Adult Online Learning
Join our 2025 Spring online classes! See the descriptions and dates below.
Black Fire, White Fire, and Hidden Secrets – Exploring the Weekly Parashot
Rabbi Juliet Elkind-Cruz
According to our ancient rabbis, absolutely everything can be found in Torah. Jewish mystical tradition teaches that our scriptures are full of secrets waiting to be uncovered. We talk of “black fire” as the letters on the scroll, and “white fire” as the spaces between them with their hidden meaning. It is in the “white fire” that we find ourselves, as well as the voices of the marginalized.
So often, studying Torah is an intellectual venture. This class cuts through the intellect from the start and allows you to dive right in on a soul level, finding yourself within texts and commentaries on the weekly Torah portion. Using ancient contemplative practices that open channels to connect to Divine Flow, we are ready to receive the lessons needed to live life in an authentic, heart-centered way, to face all that gets in the way, and discover the blessings that might come through.
At a time when the world feels so unhinged, this class offers a calming, intimate, feminine-energy environment to ground you as you make your way through the coming weeks.
This online series will take place weekly on Wednesdays at 8:00pm through Zoom.
Course dates: April 23, April 30, May 7, May 14, May 21, May 28, June 4, June 11, June 18, June 25.
Cost: $300 for Romemu members / $400 for non-members. Installment payment options available.
*If you would like to attend this series but need Ezrah (financial assistance), or if you want to partially participate in this series, please contact Sela, Romemu Brooklyn’s Community Director.
Rabbi Juliet has been associated with Romemu since 2011 when she walked into the Manhattan sanctuary one fateful day. Having identified as an atheist most of her life, she found spiritual connection through Judaism by surprise that day. She was almost 50 years old, and could barely read Hebrew, but her passion quickly grew. After a lifetime of practicality, she was inspired to make the very impractical decision to become a rabbi.
All these years later, perhaps what defines her most as a rabbi is her belief in authenticity. She likes to talk openly about the hard things while looking at them through a spiritual lens with love and acceptance. She believes in loosening boundaries that have traditionally been held tight. She is on a quest to heal wounds, both personal and those that Judaism may have caused. To learn more about her and her work, check out her personal website.
Spiritual Gourmet
Spiritual Gourmet is intended for people in their 30s to 50s who don’t have (or don’t want to bring their own) kids.
Our once-a-month Shabbat dinners are gourmet potlucks hosted by community members. Can there be such a thing as a potluck that is also gourmet? Why yes, yes it can. Let loose your inner spiritual gourmet.
Hesed Committee
The pure righteous do not complain of the dark, but increase the light; they do not complain of evil, but increase justice; they do not complain of heresy, but increase faith; they do not complain of ignorance, but increase wisdom.
Our Hesed team makes sure that the community is taken care of and supported after births, during illnesses, and during shivas and periods of mourning. We make homemade soup and deliver it when it’s needed most.
Community Choir and Community Band
If you love to sing and would like to harmonize with other members of the Romemu Brooklyn community, you’re invited to join the Community Choir!
If you have professional-level skills on a musical instrument, you are invited to bring your talents to our musician circle.
Please email Sela at sela@romemu.org to learn more and join in!
Past Program Highlights
Couples Spirituality Workshop
How do you go from “me” to “we”? Romemu Brooklyn’s Couples spirituality workshop will help you explore what it’s like to blend two cultural, religious, spiritual backgrounds. And what happens if children show up? We’ll talk that through too. In these three sessions, Rabbi Scott will help you as a couple find a relationship around your spiritual identities that makes space for both of you, and honors how you’re going to grow together. Couples of all backgrounds are welcome.
Is Monogamy Dead? A Jewish Lens on Sex, Love, and Relationships
Join us for an open and frank discussion about how Jewish wisdom can inform a contemporary spiritual approach to monogamy and polyamory. As traditional conceptions of marriage and fidelity come under strain from changing financial realities, social norms, and technological developments — and as non-monogamous relationship models become more mainstream — what can and should we expect from our partners? We’ll share learnings from Jewish sources, contemporary psychology, and our own experiences that can help navigate these changing dynamics and new paradigms. All sexualities and gender expressions are welcome. Facilitated by Zvika Krieger and Jericho Vincent.
Man’s Search for Meaning
Being a man isn’t what it once was…and that’s for the best. But what should it mean to be a man, especially a Jewish man, in an intentional, thoughtful way? How do men of every definition deal with the pressures of family or singlehood, children or infertility, the job or not being able to find one? What does it mean to embrace manhood while leaving behind a certain kind of masculinity? This monthly group is going to be the place where you can share what’s really on your mind, and hear from other men of every stripe as we thoughtfully navigate life together. Open to anyone who identifies as a man.