Singing the Fourfold Song: Jewish Spirituality as an Inclusive and Ethical Journey

Program Details

As we continue our 2025-2026 theme of "Seeing Holy Presence," our Lenten series focuses on spiritual practices that help us nurture our relationship with God.

This Lenten season, join us for "Singing the Fourfold Song: Jewish Spirituality as an Inclusive and Ethical Journey" on Thursday, March 5th with Rabbi Howard Mandell.

Have you ever wondered what "Jewish spirituality" is and what Judaism offers? Join us we explore this rich dynamic faith tradition, with its rituals, practices, and beliefs which are continuously changing and evolving. Judaism, in general, and Jewish spirituality, in particular, focus far more on the questions being asked than on the answers being sought, which is reflected in Judaism both by the dearth of dogma and required beliefs and by the number of acceptable answers to most questions.

In this Day Apart, we will consider a number of writings together, with special focus on the “Four Fold Song” by Rav Abraham Isaac Kook. As we explore the Song of Nation, the Song of Humanity, the Song of World-Creation, and the Song of Songs, we will consider questions about the role of "Higher Power" in Jewish Spirituality, and our responsibility to care for those outside our circle. There will be time set aside for singing, journaling, and for personal reflection. It is our hope that each will leave feeling more at peace with our souls having been nurtured in community.

Expand your Lenten Journey by singing the Fourfold Song at Rolling Ridge.

About the Leaders

Rabbi Howard Mandell

Rabbi Howard Mandell attended and was ordained by The Jewish Theological Seminary in New York City. Prior to his having attended rabbinical school, he lived in Montgomery, AL, where he practiced constitutional and civil rights law for several decades. He has served as a board member and chair of the board of the Southern Poverty Law Center and has taught “social justice” as an adjunct professor at Merrimack College. Rabbi Mandell is completing his 13th year as the rabbi at Congregation Beth Israel in Andover, MA. He has made social justice, interfaith work, and spirituality important parts of his rabbinate. He is currently a member of the Institute for Jewish Spirituality and has successfully completed a year-long hospital residency program at Yale University Hospital in New Haven, CT. He has previously taught and led several programs here at Rolling Ridge.