The Complexity of Joy

Adar sits at a powerful moment in Jewish time. Both the final month of the lunar cycle and the midpoint of the Jewish year, it holds the layered story of Purim: silliness and celebration alongside themes of danger, resilience, antisemitism, and survival.

How do we hold joy alongside complexity?
How do we cultivate joy in deeply challenging times?
What does it mean to make joy an imperative?

An Experiential Evening

Join Rabbi Jessica Shimberg for a soulful, experiential evening exploring these questions and sharing practices for cultivating joy in our minds, bodies, souls, and surroundings.

Together, we will welcome the layered sweetness of Adar through beverages and fruits, scents and sensations, and gentle practices designed to invite delight, strength, and empowerment (adir / אדיר).

Come As You Are

Please come in comfy clothes and bring anything that supports your comfort. Supplies will be provided. If you enjoy journaling, doodling, or drawing, feel free to bring materials that support your practice. You are also welcome to bring an object that sparks joy for you.

About Rabbi Jessica Shimberg

Rabbi Jessica Shimberg is a Jewish Renewal rabbi, facilitator, and community builder with decades of experience nurturing vibrant Jewish communities. She is a new member of the Pinellas County Jewish community, having recently relocated to St. Petersburg.

Rabbi Shimberg most recently served the Glacier Jewish Community in northwestern Montana and previously helped build a thriving Jewish community in Columbus, Ohio. Her path to the rabbinate also includes years of work as a lawyer, mediator, and facilitator of conflict transformation.

She received rabbinic ordination through ALEPH: Alliance for Jewish Renewal and has been nourished by all streams of Judaism across a lifetime of Jewish engagement.