Homework, exams, papers, presentations. Such is the stuff of student life that can take on a life of its own. But what about spiritual growth and development? Especially for rabbinical students, who are preparing to become leaders of religious communities, how is it possible to rise to the challenge of academic rigor without neglecting the need to deepen spiritual connection?

For Hebrew College rabbinical students, the answer is the IKVOTECHA spiritual direction program, now in its third year under the direction of Rabbi Carol Glass. Drawing on 16th century models that remain central to Christians seeking to deepen their spiritual lives–and extant in some modes of Jewish life–the program this fall matches trained Jewish spiritual directors with 24 rabbinical students for a shared exploration of personal spirituality.

As former Dean of Students at the Rabbinical School of Hebrew College, Glass obtained funding for the program from the Carpenter Foundation in 2004. Her goal was to introduce spiritual direction to the Rabbinical School by training a cohort of 10 Boston-area Jewish professionals to become spiritual directors. With that training now complete, the directors will serve the school for at least three years, while continuing their own monthly supervision and guided spiritual direction. "It's a wonderful opportunity for personal and professional growth," says Rabbi Allan Lehmann.

Within spiritual direction sessions, the director and rabbinical student join in meditation and conversation to focus on moments of holiness. With practice, students can learn to recognize and direct their lives toward these holy moments. Glass, a 2003 graduate of Lev Shomea (A Healing Heart), describes the practice as "an opportunity to develop consistently in a way that enhances personal spiritual life." An evaluation conducted after the program's second year reflected its value to rabbinical students; many commented on its great importance to their spiritual growth.

IKVOTECHA draws on both Jewish and Christian expertise. Barbara Breitman and Rabbi Howard Avruhm Addison, the co-founders and directors of Philadelphia-based Lev Shomea, one of two national retreat-based Jewish spiritual direction programs, conducted five intensive training sessions. In addition, IKVOTECHA directors participate in monthly supervision meetings with Dr. Nicki Verploegen and Sister Nancy Sheridan, two experienced spiritual directors affiliated with the Center for Religious Development in Cambridge, a Jesuit institution.

The supervision's interreligious dimension is proving to be one of its highlights. "It's important to have a supervisor who is steeped in this practice, and at this point few Jews are," says Rabbi Sue Fendrick, an IKVOTECHA director. Rabbi Allan Lehmann also acknowledges that to learn about spiritual direction, the Jewish community is looking to other religious traditions. He is grateful for the knowledge, expertise and caring of their supervisors, whom he calls "powerfully effective and present in their work." For the Christian supervisors, this first-time opportunity to guide Jews in spiritual direction has proved enlightening as well. "I have gained such an incredible appreciation of the Jewish experience," says Dr. Verploegen.

In turn, spiritual directors say the program has helped them clarify and further evolve their own Jewish experience. Dr. Roslyn G. Weiner, a psychologist and a 2001 graduate of Lev Shomea, says that spiritual direction gives her "a chance to look more closely at what stirs in me in my work with the rabbinical students, and to look at my own growing edges as a spiritual director, in my relationship with God, and at times, to go deeper."




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