Uncategorized

Dear Friends, The Jewish year 5785 was one of the most difficult many of us have ever experienced in our lives. The need for healing for our world and in our lives has never been greater. So, in the midst of this chaos, we here at AriYael feel privileged to be refining and deepening our work. In the past year we have engaged in a lot of soul searching and have, with the help of our friends and colleagues, recalibrated our focus. We have come to realize that we need to shift our model from straight program development for [...]

Our Founding Donors In gratitude to the founding donors of AriYael, we honor the support and care of Dr. David Goldblatt and Cooky Goldblatt from our organization's inception.   Dr. David Goldblatt I was a private practice Neuroradiologist for more than 30 years. I retired at the beginning of Covid. I am completing a 3-year program in Jewish Spiritual Direction (Hashpa'ah). This primarily involves deep listening. My main interests are in the spiritual aspects of healing with a particular concentration in End of Life care. I am a devoted Grandfather of two amazing boys. My beloved wife Cooky and [...]

Local program redefines what it means to age wisely — and Jewishly Local program redefines what it means to age wisely — and Jewishly BY LESLIE KATZ MAY 30, 2025 in JWeekly.com   What does it mean not just to grow old, but to grow into an elder? That’s the question at the heart of From Older to Elder, a nine-month program that invites participants 64 and up to explore the challenges and opportunities of aging, all through a Jewish lens. The program is run by Wilderness Torah, a Berkeley-based nonprofit that focuses on earth-based Jewish experiences, traditions and [...]

A Bay Area Jewish healing center expands as it embraces mourning, celebration AriYael Jewish Healing Center has expanded over the past year and hopes to fill a void left when the Bay Area Jewish Healing Center closed. BY LESLIE KATZ APRIL 15, 2025 in JWeekly.com Photo courtesy of J (Aaron Levy-Wolins/J. Staff) On a clear, crisp December morning a month after her 39-year-old husband, Evan, died of cancer, Mikaela Dunitz immersed herself in a Berkeley neighbor’s hot tub as Zoë Francesca Goldblatt recited the Shema, the Shehechiyanu and other prayers with her. Calming music with soulful lyrics played in the background. [...]

A friend of ours, Drew Porter, let us know that his mother was dying and that he was going to Colorado to see her for what was likely the final time.  Following his visit, he sent the following email: I returned to California yesterday after having witnessed a miracle.  I left California two weeks ago to say good-bye to my mom.  I did say good-bye yesterday, but it was followed with, "I'll see you in April."  I have referred to my mom on various occasions as the Energizer Bunny and 'one tough broad.'  She exhibited both in the [...]

The original artwork found throughout the AriYael website was created by Cooky Goldblatt between 2015-2020. Cooky Goldblatt, Artist’s Statement, January 2023: I am deeply engaged with bold, saturated color. Each of my original, digital artworks is a vibrant, abstract statement that is gathered by observing and processing our beautiful and confusing world, in a search for positivity, possibility and sparks of beauty. Each work is a visual improvisation with no set destination. There is instead...potential. I trace my affinity for abstract art to my years as a classical cellist and playing and composing “songs without words,” priming me for exploration without [...]