“All the people saw the thunder and lightning, the blare of the horn and the mountain smoking… Then Moshe, Aharon, Nadav and Avihu, and seventy sages of Israel ascended; and they perceived the G-d of Israel, and beneath His feet was like the forming of a sapphire brick and like the appearance of the heavens for clarity...” Sh’mot 20:15; 24:9-10

At Mount Sinai, the Jewish people encountered the Holy One in a supreme moment of connection. Ever since then, the idea of coming close to Hashem is one that people strive for in different ways – from prophecy and the holy fire of the times of the First Temple to meditation and prayer.

Today, many struggle to reconnect, to find the wonder and awe in the world and to link to the Divine. Many are trying "quick and easy" solutions – do they "work"? Is it part of our tradition? Is it right? Are they just chemical illusions of intimacy?

Join The Academy, Yochi Ress and guests for a very different journey, aligning our hearts and minds with wonder and awe. We’ll unpack the history of spiritual ecstasy in Judaism, and consider how Halachic and experiential elements of our religion are interwoven. How do we find the connection channels that are more personally resonant and relevant? How does this all fit into our spiritual and physical wellbeing?