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Description
Mondays, 7:00–8:30 PM | Online via Zoom
January 12 & 26, February 9 & 23, 2026
When we express our spiritual paths, we begin to recognize how everyday moments can evolve into sacred experiences. Crafting a spiritual memoir encourages us to explore our inner lives and pinpoint the pivotal events that have shaped our spiritual journeys. Join Gabrielle Kaplan-Mayer, a writer and spiritual director, for a winter exploration of your lived experiences, inspired by memoirs and poetry from Jewish authors.
Course Overview:
During our time together, we will read excerpts from significant spiritual autobiographies to enhance our understanding of the diverse styles of this writing. As you compose your personal narrative, you will uncover how teachers, symbols, touchstones, as well as doubts and struggles with faith and profound questions, inform your perception of the sacred. We will investigate how your connections to Jewish culture, education, and life-cycle events have shaped your unique understanding of the sacred. Additionally, there will be ample opportunity to discuss spiritual experiences that extend beyond a Jewish context.
This unique creative endeavor is open to everyone—whether you identify as religious, spiritual, or are simply seeking a spiritual or creative path. No prior creative writing experience is necessary. Over our six weeks together, you’ll outline and narrate your significant life experiences, have the opportunity to share in community and receive ideas from the instructor about where to go next in your storytelling.
Topics We Will Explore Include:
- Understanding the significance of your name
- Exploring family lineage, ancestral resilience/trauma
- Significant Jewish memories
- Places and moments when you have connected to a Divine Presence (or not!)
- And more…
Winter provides the perfect opportunity to get cozy, reflect on your life, and emerge in spring with a renewed appreciation for everything that has shaped your journey.
About the Instructor:
Gabrielle Kaplan-Mayer is a writer, educator, and spiritual director, with a focus on spirituality, creativity, and disability. Her personal essays have appeared in Tablet, Shondaland, NBCThink, Wisdom Daily, WHYY, and many others. She has authored six nonfiction books and a collection of plays for Jewish children.
Teaching expressive writing is her true passion. She produces a weekly Substack titled Journey With The Seasons, which offers a meditative reading practice paired with prompts for creative self-expression. Through her roles as a spiritual director and guide in expressive writing, she works with individuals from all faiths and cultural backgrounds, as well as those seeking a spiritual path through creativity.
Her aim is to teach the art of expression and emotionally resonant writing. She believes that spiritual and creative life can flourish through the simple act of putting pen to paper or fingers to keyboard. Gabrielle holds a BFA in theater and creative writing from Emerson College and an MA in Jewish Studies from RRC. She currently serves as the Director of Virtual Content and Programs for Ritualwell.
No refunds will be issued within 14 days of the event start date. All requests must be made in writing to crs@crsnyc.org.
Date & Time
Jan 12, 2026 7:00 PM - Feb 23, 2026 8:30 PM
Venue Details
Zoom
New York, New York