Students say, on a regular basis, that Wisdom Work transforms their lives.

The intro and review class welcomes new students, and for veteran students offers a highly recommended review of the basics. Unfortunately, wisdom does not stay with us. We need to train and “re-certify.”

The intro class focuses on the inner life dimension of the basics of psychology of transformation – how to be calm, focused and rational, and not give into inner disruptions. Whatever the problem is, giving in to inner life disruptions will just makes things worse. We will cover a basic contemplative practice, as well.

The intro class will also focus on building and maintaining a Wall of Virtue, so that our inner negativities don’t fill our inner and interpersonal space. We will specifically be addressing restraining anger and speech (including emails and texting) that is hurtful or provokes others to defensiveness or anger as a response. We will also address the problem of defensiveness itself. With a trained virtue practice, our negativity is restrained (not repressed) by the Wall, and gives us space to reflect on what is happening within so that we can process difficult issues with other people.

The Intro Classes focus on regulating the interpersonal life, for its own sake and as preparation for inner life work.

First Class: The inner Wall of Virtue against speaking in anger and the Four C’s – Criticizing, Complaining, Condemning and Escalating Conflict. The Wall includes minimizing Justifying, Explaining, Defending, Denying and trying to give more information to a resistance person / Restraint, not repression / Don’t Talk, Breathe, Go to a Script

Second Class: Review of the Wall of Virtue / Taking no for an answer / Not focusing on what other people do, but rather on the person you want to become / Don’t try to persuade a resistant person.

Third Class: Review of the above / the basics of an insight – contemplative practice/ the “Police Report” / examining needs, expectations, entitlements and demands / introduction to Rational-Emotive Therapy

Fourth Class: Review of the above / concepts of wisdom work – vision, will, skill and evaluation / Bad Theories / Observer Mind, Objective Mind, Rational Mind, Truth Mind

$100 for all four sessions, one person per screen
($80 for members of Ohr HaTorah Synagogue)

$160 for all four sessions, two people per screen
($120 for members of Ohr HaTorah Synagogue)

Once you make your payment, you'll receive an automatic confirmation email with a link to register on Zoom. You must register on Zoom to obtain the meeting ID & PW and the weekly class recordings. Save the email from Zoom (as you only receive it once) and use it every week to log-in.

(Students will be sent a link to a recording of each class. The link to the recording expires after seven days.
We will not be able to accommodate requests for retrieval of the recording after the expiry date.)