Mission: At Mitziut we find how the text, liturgy and holidays teach us to live in the world today. Many of us having searched elsewhere, we foster community and Divine experience by singing, dancing, praying, drumming, working for social justice and eating together. We welcome all regardless of race, class, religion, sex, sexuality, gender and gender identity, age, ability or knowledge and experience of Judaism.
Current offerings include Shabbos and holidays, a Jewish drum circle, classes and spiritual guidance. We also have started going to festivals, like Burning Man, and setting up Jewish camps and hope to do more.
Other future plans include a community center with such elements as a kosher cafe, copy center, computers, book swap library, offices for local non-profits and other needs of the Jewish and local community. A monthly spiritual recharge for social justice workers, non-profits workers and activists is in the works. We also envision a study, prayer and meditation program for those who want to engage thusly several hours a day. These folks would potentially help run the community center as part of their program.
Mitziut's work as embodied in Rabbi Menachem Cohen transcends geographical boundaries. I first met Menachem in 2003 at Burning Man which is held annually in the Northern Nevada desert. This festival involves some 40,000 people gathered to share in performance art and various spiritual modalities.
Rabbi Cohen has had an enormous impact on the Jewish element of this festival. He has fed the spiritual lives of those attending through leading of services and special classes and personal encounters. His brand of Judaism makes classical traditions come alive to people who have often left their participation in communal Jewish life.
For me personally my annual trek to Burning Man and encounter with Mitziut's Rabbi energizes my participation in "normal" Jewish Temple life for the rest of the year!