“I loved being guest speaker at this event in a beautiful country setting in the Elbe Marshes with a multinational multicultural Jewish and non-Jewish group celebrating the longest shabbat of the year with the poetry of Shakespeare and Wordsworth and Zohar and niggunim and yoga and a genuine wrestling with texts led by Micki Weinberg and a genuine engagement with our images in memory, perception and dreams led by me. SHIUR is an inspiring project and I am happy to be part of it.”

“The experience was great and interesting for me. Exploring the thoughts of diverse opinions at SHIUR was great, and the thing I liked the most it that we went beyond politics and ideologies and spoke from humanist perspectives.”

“This experience—especially during these turbulent times, when our countries, or rather the politicians, try to divide us—has helped me continue believing that there are still people with open eyes, open ears, and open hearts.

People who see that our differences don’t have to separate us, but can instead create harmony. Who draw closer, not further apart. I’m grateful for the SHIUR and the sense of freedom and peace it brings me. I’m thankful to still believe in our ability to be human—To love, To care, Regardless of who we’re told we are,

Or who we’re told we should be.”

“It was a pleasure to meet the SHIUR community, and to welcome me into this amazing community that strengthens love and light in the middle of darkness…the SHIUR community has taught me that there is unconditional love in the world by meeting different people from different backgrounds and that's what the world need especially in times of darkness…”

"SHIUR creates a unique and inclusive atmosphere in which sophisticated and experimental teaching and learning can take place. Micki Weinberg's great love of books and highly original ideas and connections evokes much enthusiasm and creates remarkable commitment amongst his students. The welcoming space that SHIUR crafts enables a very lively exchange amongst people of diverse backgrounds and identities."

“Shiur creates a multidisciplinary environment unlike anything I have ever experienced. From the very first event I attended, I was captivated—every sense awakened, every thought challenged. It is a space that sparks intellectual curiosity while curating a rich fusion of art, culture, music, dialogue, and the most fascinating people. Truly, it is one of the most unique and inspiring communities I have ever been part of.”

“When we brought Shiur to Miami a few months back, people felt it right away. In a city that moves fast and often stays at the surface, this felt different…Miami has its own rhythm, but there aren’t many places where people can slow down and actually connect without the performance. Shiur creates that. It makes people present. It makes the conversation real. For me, Shiur has always been about possibility. How one question opens another, how strangers suddenly feel like collaborators. It happens naturally, when the energy in the room feels right. A residency here wouldn’t be about joining a scene. It would be about building a community Miami is ready for.”

“This was my first SHIUR retreat, and it was even better than I expected. I loved the way the weekend was organized around keeping Shabbat and engaging in communal ritual that brought us together and helped us exit from the stress of our everyday lives at a much needed moment. But at the same time, there were so many opportunities to connect with others and in a forward thinking way. Not only did I make new friends who I hope to build something together with in Berlin, but I felt a sense of renewal and hope within myself that I had been looking for. I liked the mixture of people, wise elders and big personalities who each brought something to the table. The food was also amazing. Thanks a lot to Micki and everyone else for building an intellectual community that has really meant a lot to me and given me a sense of purpose in dark times.”

“As an Israeli artist at the beginning of my career, I often carry both the financial and emotional burden of speaking out against antisemitism and hatred toward Israel. I had been needing to step away for quite some time, but simply didn’t have the means. The SHIUR retreat offered more than just a break—it was a deeply generous and soul-nourishing experience beyond anything I could have imagined.

For the first time, I turned off my phone for Shabbat—and I plan to make it a regular practice. SHIUR created a space not only for Jewish learning, but for affirmation, belonging, and joy. It was a rare and powerful feeling to connect through celebration and creativity, rather than through the constant effort of defending identity.

Throughout the retreat, I was surrounded by open hearts, creative minds, and thoughtful spirits—all seeking not only personal growth, but genuine transformation in the world around us. The gift of time—of devoting several full days to this kind of deep engagement—made it all the more profound.

I returned not only refreshed, but reoriented, with a renewed sense of purpose, connection, and creative clarity. SHIUR’s vision of “retreating in order to return” resonated deeply. I’ll carry with me Roger’s teachings on dreams—focusing on feelings over narratives, and becoming aware of when we slip into reactive patterns—into both my daily life and my creative process. My art has been struggling under the weight of the current cultural climate, often defined by polarization and antisemitism, and this retreat offered the inspiration and space I’ve been needing.

And I have to say—the Israeli catering was an absolute delight and the location stunning.

Thank you again for investing in experiences like this. Your support made something truly meaningful possible—for me, and for the others.”

“I've been involved with SHIUR since early 2023, and it's played an important role in my life ever since. In addition to the access to non-ideological and non-dogmatic discourse and ability to engage in Jewish community outside of religiosity, I have built strong social bonds through SHIUR as well. I've made some of my closest friends in Berlin through various events, and I even met my longterm girlfriend, Rachel, at a SHIUR event. We got to know each other over the course of events and retreats, as we shared our ideas about the content in the discourses and mutually developing a shared Jewish community in a new city. I have SHIUR to thank for this and I am incredibly grateful!”

“Thanks to Micki and the team for an incredible retreat! It was great to spend the weekend engaging with a wide variety of different topics and meeting like-minded people — I already know I’ve found some great news friends. I felt a profound sense of intellectual and spiritual fulfillment after returning to Berlin, and am excited to dig in to my new reading list.”

“My experience with Shiur was outstanding. I really appreciated the chance to engage in texts both ancient and new with fellow participants; the discussions we had were substantive, warm, and genuinely meaningful.

Micki put together a beautifully balanced program: the sources were carefully chosen, the musical performances elevated the atmosphere, and the facilitation kept the discussion focused, inclusive, and deep. I left feeling inspired, enriched, and eager for the next gathering.

SHIUR fills a real need in Miami because it can be surprisingly hard to find others who crave this kind of serious, soulful learning; SHIUR not only brings us together, it fosters a new kind of community and connection across neighborhoods and backgrounds.”

“The retreat really was an eye-opening experience for me. The texts and Micki’s way of introducing them to us gave me a deeper understanding of the meaning of Shabbat and how I, even as a non-jewish person, can incorporate it into my life and benefit from it. Everything from logistics to food and the program was very well planned and executed. Micki and his team made everyone feel welcome and included. I loved the stimulation of not only the mind, but also the body by different, seemingly unrelated practices like yoga, breathwork and dancing - yet they contemplated each other prefectly and I was able to take something valuable from each workshop. The diversity of the group and the different perspectives from everyone widened my horizon and the calmness and beauty of Netherlands countryside supported my journey of contemplation and transformation. I will definitely come back and would highly recommend visiting a SHIUR retreat!”