Rabbi Jill Hammer

Website: www.telshemesh.org
Residence : New York, NY

Biographical information

Rabbi Jill Hammer, PhD, has been a weaver of myths, legends, and rituals since she began writing creative poetry on biblical themes as a college student at Brandeis University. While pursuing a doctorate in social psychology at the University of Connecticut, Hammer began to publish her poetry, stories, and rituals in journals and anthologies. In 1995, she entered the Jewish Theological Seminary to pursue her dream of becoming a rabbi. While a rabbinical student, she served as editor of Living Text: The Journal of Contemporary Midrash, publishing the poems, essays, artwork and stories of others and helping the field of modern midrash grow. She was ordained in 2001. That same year, her first book was published: Sisters at Sinai: New Tales of Biblical Women, a collection of contemporary midrash rooted in rabbinic tales as well as creative imaginings (Jewish Publication Society, 2001).

Since then, Rabbi Hammer has continued in the field of writing and spirituality, serving as the editor of Journey, the journal of Ma’yan, the Jewish Women’s Project of the JCC in Manhattan (2001-2005). She is a celebrated adult educator who conducts workshops on ancient and contemporary midrash, bibliodrama, creative ritual, and Jewish cycles of time. In 2004, in response to her childhood love of the woods and her passionate belief in nature as a vessel of the Divine, Hammer has founded Tel Shemesh, a website and community celebrating and creating Jewish earth-based traditions (http://www.telshemesh.org). Rabbi Hammer lectures at the Academy for Jewish Religion on contemporary midrash and its rabbinic roots. She is also the author of The Jewish Book of Days (Jewish Publication Society, forthcoming 2006), a book of Jewish legends for every day of the Jewish year, , including an overview of the Jewish calendar from a nature-centered perspective.

Discussion topics

• Sisters at Sinai: One Writer’s Experiment with Contemporary Midrash
  A discussion of the author’s book of original midrash on a variety of biblical women and the ancient stories that inspired her.
• Inner Pilgrimage: The Ancient Practice of Jewish Spirit Journeying
  Study source texts, experience guided meditation, and learn how to use creative visualization to deepen your spiritual life using ancient Jewish stories and sources.
• Nature’s Ways: How The Seasons of the Earth Shape the Jewish Calendar
  With Jewish ritual items from citrons to menorahs, learn rituals and stories that help Jews to celebrate and appreciate nature through the Jewish holidays.
• Make Your Own Ritual
  A hands-on workshop on how to create life-cycle ceremonies for every possible occasion.
• Shekhinah Stories: Tales of the Divine Presence
  Rabbi Hammer tells enchanting mystical legends of the Shekhinah, the Divine Presence, also know as the Sabbath bride, the Holy Apple Orchard, and the indwelling of God within the earth.
• The Jewish Book of Days:
  How the Seasons of the Earth Shape the Jewish Calendar
  Find out about Rabbi Hammer's new book and learn ancient stories and rituals that help Jews to celebrate and appreciate nature every day of the Jewish year.

« Go back to FSB home page

For more information please contact Carol Fass Publicity & Public Relations at 212.691.9707