The december project with Sara Davidson

In 2009, journalist Sara Davidson (New York Times bestselling author of Loose Change, Leap! and JOAN: 40 years of Love, Loss and Friendship with Joan Didion) was surprised by a call from the beloved spiritual leader, Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi (a founder of the Jewish Renewal Movement and Berkeley’s Aquarian Minyan), asking her to participate in a series of talks about what he calls “The December Project.” At 85, Reb Zalman wanted to help people “not freak out about dying” and show them how “getting up close with mortality” heightens our ability to relish each day. They met every Friday for two years, which led to Davidson’s latest book, The December Project. Davidson will appear at Congregation Kol Shofar in Tiburon, with Reb Zalman (now 89) joining via Skype from Colorado. Together, in conversation with Rabbi Eric Weiss, Executive Director of the Jewish Healing Center, they will explore the spiritual work that helps us prepare for the mystery. They’ll also discuss expanding our intuition, dealing with pain and memory loss, the art of letting go, and how to cultivate fearlessness and joy—at any age. Audience Q&A and a book signing following program. Free; RSVP’s appreciated to Sharon Brusman at sbrusman [at] kolshofar.org.