Freedom is an open heart

November 15-22, 2025

Mar de Jade, Chacala, Mexico

Mindful Practice & Jewish Wisdom for Challenging Times

with Rabbi George Gittleman and Cantor Kerith Spencer Shapiro Mar de Jade Retreat and Wellness Resort, Chacala, Mexico

Our week together will be a rich mix of sitting and walking meditation, study, instruction, prayer, and song as well as daily yoga. Rabbi George Gittleman and Cantor Kerith Spencer-Shapiro are longtime meditators, and certified Jewish Mindfulness Meditation teachers with years of experience working with people on their inner lives. The beautiful meditation hall where we spend most of our time is just a stone's throw from the ocean. The soothing sound of the surf is a constant companion throughout our time together. The retreat will be mostly silent Saturday evening through Wednesday evening, allowing time for excursion and/or R&R on Thursday and Friday with a Shabbat celebration Friday evening. The schedule will be simple - sitting or walking meditation interspersed with learning and instructions with time to "just be" and enjoy the beauty of Mar de Jade. All backgrounds and levels of experience are welcome. 

Flights (not included) should be booked by participants. Mar de Jade is 90 minutes north of Puerto Vallarta International Airport (PVR). Remember that you will need a passport to travel outside of the US.

Transportation from airport - Mar de Jade is happy to arrange for transfer. Other options are car rental or taxi/Uber.

how do i know if this is for me?

This Retreat Is Perfect For…

Meditation Enthusiasts of All Levels: From beginners to seasoned meditators, our daily sessions are accessible to everyone. Experience guided mindfulness practices, contemplative exercises, and teachings that meet you where you are on your journey.

Seekers of Jewish Wisdom: Explore timeless Jewish teachings that illuminate the path to mindfulness and spiritual growth. Through texts, stories, chanting, and reflection you’ll discover how these traditions can deepen your understanding and connection to yourself and the world.

Those Looking for Inner Peace: If you're yearning to step away from the busyness of life, this retreat offers tools and practices to help you cultivate a sense of calm and clarity through meditation, breath work, and moments of stillness.

Individuals Seeking Balance and Renewal: Feel the need to recharge your mind, body, and soul? This retreat provides a harmonious blend of mindfulness practices, restorative activities, and time for personal reflection.

Community Builders: Connect with like-minded individuals who value mindfulness and spiritual exploration in a warm and inclusive environment.

Nature and Beach Lovers: Chacala’s pristine beaches, vibrant marine life, and lush jungle trails make it a paradise for nature enthusiasts. Between retreat sessions, you can unwind on golden sands, swim in the sparkling ocean, or explore the breathtaking surroundings.

Accessibility: This retreat is not accessible for people who have issues navigating stairs or hilly terrain.

Shabbat Observance: Mar de Jade’s retreat schedule goes from Saturday to Saturday. For those who want to limit their Shabbat travel, you may consider coming a day early and staying at Mar de Jade (if available) or nearby.

Each participant will have the opportunity to have a one-with-one check-in with George or Kerith during the retreat.

Join Us in Chacala, Mexico, to Connect, Reflect, and Renew Your Spirit Through Mindfulness Meditation and Jewish Wisdom.

What’s included?

7 nights accommodation

At Mar de Jade, a wellness and retreat center in the Riviera Nayarit. Nestled on the beautiful beach of Chacala, Mexico, a quiet fishing village surrounded by lush rainforest. Since 1982, Mar de Jade has been home to various retreats, projects and community service programs.

MEDITATION AND PRAYER

Led by Rabbi George and Cantor Kerith. At the heart of this retreat is a space for meditation and prayer, designed to help you deepen your spiritual practice and nurture an open heart. Guided mindfulness sessions will blend contemplative Jewish teachings with meditation techniques to create a meaningful and accessible experience for participants of all levels.

Delicious, healthy meals

Mar de Jade is happy to accommodate special diets, allergies, and vegan or vegetarian options. All of our raw foods are carefully sanitized and washed with purified water. served on our outdoor terrace, where you can relax and enjoy a panoramic view of Chacala Bay. Offering organic, fresh, local and healthy products. Most of these come from the organic farm.

Airport transfers

Provided upon request by Mar de Jade from PVR.

DAILY YOGA

Whether you are an experienced practitioner or it is your first time, we are sure that you will enjoy this experience. Yoga classes are offered by certified professional teachers, who adapt to any level of practice.

Opportunities for excursions (extra fee)

Jungle hikes • Boat rides and fishing • Horseback riding • Surfing in “La Caleta” • Snorkeling in “Isla Coral” • Excursion to Altavista (pre-Hispanic petroglyphs) • Boat ride through a mangrove swamp full of exotic birds and wildlife (“La Tovara”) • Tour of Mar de Jade organic ranch.

register now

  • Registration limited to 19 participants

  • Accommodations are in various rooms at Mar de Jade - are filled by preference on a first-come, first-served basis.

  • Pricing (including accommodations and retreat fee) ranges from $1550-$3200, based on level of accommodations.

  • “Cantor Kerith Spencer-Shapiro is a skilled teacher of meditation, grounded in the Jewish tradition and informed by her deep practice of yoga. Her years of service in synagogues—guiding young people and old, consoling mourners, comforting the sick, celebrating joyful moments—only enhanced her already expansive heart and soul. She is expert in creating meditation instructions and then supporting the practitioner in taking the instructions in and connecting experience to wisdom. Everyone who practices with her will grow in body, heart, mind and soul.” – Rabbi Jonathan Slater, Institute for Jewish Spirituality

  • Rabbi George Gittleman has been my "dharma buddy" for more than twenty years and I've had the privilege and pleasure of watching him develop and deepen his interest in mindfulness and, over the years, incorporate it into his role as spiritual leader. His deep knowledge of Judaism combined with his candor and the immediacy of bringing all of himself, his love of poetry, his concerns for the environment, his appreciation of the natural world, his devotion to his family and his community and, of course, his experience of bringing contemplative practice into the Jewish community make him a friend I love and respect. Sylvia Boorstein, co-founding teacher, Spirit Rock Meditation Center Author of "That's Funny, You Don't Look Buddhist: On Being a Faithful Jew and a Passionate Buddhist.

  • “Cantor Kerith Spencer-Shapiro is a skilled leader of Jewish meditation, interweaving deep teaching, music, and silence to help others cultivate inner stillness and wisdom.” – Rabbi Marc Margolius, Institute for Jewish Spirituality