38 | OCTOBER 31 • 2024 J
N

A

cross a picnic table 
on an alpaca farm in 
Southern Israel sat 
two Jewish men in their early 
20s in deep conversation. One 
was dressed in formal Chasidic 
garb, complete with long side 
curls and big yarmulke, and the 
other, a motivational speaker 
who survived the horrific Nova 
massacre, was clean shaven and 
casually dressed.
As Mordechai Wiener, 39, 
watched the two men connect 
with each other despite their 
obvious differences, his heart 
filled. 
To create harmony and unity 
— especially with all the division 
in the country — was one of the 
goals of the Achva Men’s Retreat 
in March, the first of its kind for 
English speakers in Israel.
Wiener, who grew up in Oak 
Park, attended Bais Chabad 
of North Oak Park and was a 
student at Yeshiva Beth Yehudah 
until eighth grade, has been 
interested in men’s groups and 

healing work since 2018. 
“For the unaffiliated, Men’s 
Circles are kind of like group 
therapy,” he explained. “We 
get together weekly, share our 
feelings and support each other to 
process emotions. 
“It’s about being surrounded 
by a judgment-free environment, 
where everyone is encouraged to 
come as they are, to feel free to 
express themselves and process 
their feelings, to be seen and feel 
connected.”
There are many ways to do 
men’s groups, but Wiener prefers 
when they are co-led with no 
official leader. He first joined a 
Men’s Circle in 2018 when he 
lived in Brooklyn, and he found it 
so useful he went on a few men’s 
retreats. 
“
Afterwards, I have these great, 
deep friendships with people 
whom I really know,” he said. 
“That’s healing — it’s all about 
connection through sharing and 
reflecting. Every human needs 
healing. That’s why we’re here, to 

heal and evolve.”
When Wiener moved to Israel 
in March 2023, he was surprised 
to discover that he could find no 
such retreat for English speakers. 

FILLING A NEED
“I thought it would especially be 
cool to have a healing space for 
men who were all members of 
the tribe,” Wiener said. “It would 
be a great opportunity to bring 
Jewish men together. There’s so 
much knowledge in the Jewish 
tradition and in our lineage that 
can support us by doing this work 
together.”
Eager to align his love for Israel 
and his passion for healing work 
and Men’s Circles, Wiener, who 
has a background in business and 
entrepreneurialism, connected 
with Zev Gelber, who also has 
experience with healing work 
and gathering men, and Akiva 
Pamensky, who is a musician and 
community builder. 
Together, the three decided to 
create a two-day healing retreat 

Former Oak Parker 
organizes men’s 
retreat in Israel.

A 
Healing 
Space 
for Men

ROCHEL BURSTYN 
CONTRIBUTING WRITER

ERETZ

A circle in 
the desert

