Maggid Jonathan Furst
Founder and Head of School
For nearly 20 years Maggid Jonathan has delighted in sharing the spiritual and outdoors practices which have transformed his relationship to Spirit and helped him re-integrate with the wild community.
Jonathan is an acclaimed teacher-trainer and instructor in wilderness skills, Earth-based Judaism, nature-connection mentoring, and Holocaust resistance education. He serves as maggid (story-carrier / spiritual facilitator) for Keneset HaLev in San Francisco, a position he has held since 5765/2005. He is also a founding steward of the JeWitch collective and a teacher in the Reclaiming tradition of spiritual activism.
Jonathan trained in wilderness survival and nature-connection mentoring with Lynx Vilden, Jon Young, April Cotte (z''l), and Tom Brown, Jr. His mentors / teachers in ritual arts and Judaic studies include Maggid Jhos Singer, Antero Alli, Starhawk, Rabbi Michael Shapiro, Rabbi Jonathan Seidel, and Rabbi Amashé Etz Alon, from whom Jonathan received maggidic s'micha (ordination).
Starhawk
Instructor / Advisor
Starhawk is an internationally renowned author, activist, and permaculture trainer. She is a pioneer in the revival of Earth-based spirituality and Goddess religion, including modern feminist Judaism and ancient Hebraic practice. She directs Earth Activist Training, teaching permaculture design and regenerative land management grounded in spirit, with a focus on nature connection, organizing and activism.
Starhawk is the author or coauthor of thirteen books including the classic The Spiral Dance, The Earth Path, The Empowerment Manual: A Guide for Collaborative Groups, and The Fifth Sacred Thing. She also cofounded the international Reclaiming community of magic and activism.
Rabbi Jonathan Seidel
Instructor / Advisor
Rabbi Jonathan has been devoted to Earth-based Judaism and environmental justice since the 1970s and is an active member of Truah: the Rabbinic Call for Human Rights. He serves as Resource Rabbi and Rosh haYeshiva for the Aquarian Minyan, as well as Rabbi for Or haGan in Eugene, Oregon.
Jonathan was ordained as a Rabbi by ALEPH the Alliance for Jewish Renewa, and has taught Religion and Judaic Studies at UC's Davis, Santa Cruz and Berkeley, as well as Stanford, the University of Arizona, ASU, Portland State, Oregon State U. and the University of Oregon.
Rabbi Amashé Etz Alon
Instructor / Advisor
A lifelong teacher of Earth-centered, indigenous Hebraic practice and Jewish ancestral arts, Rabbi Amashé also has many years of experience as a holistic land manager and outdoor educator. They are a kabbalist, clergy/maggidic mentor, and Intersex and Transgender rights activist.
Amashé is a lineage holder in the RavMagus tradition, a wisdom line of Hebraic culture and shamanic practice, which their family traces back to King David and pre-Temple times. Amashé has spent their life immersed in the study of authentic spirituality that is rooted in ancient wisdom and is accessible for today's people. They received s'micha (ordination) from Rabbis Gershon Winkler and Zalman Schachter-Shalomi (z''l), among others.