Challenging Journeys

Challenging Journeys:

A Romani and a Jewish Tale

What could connect a magical story of Jewish mysticism and a story from oral folklore shared by a Romani woman in 1940s Hungary? For one thing, they both transport us to unlikely and unforgettable settings and dimensions, inviting us to leave our comfort zone, and come back transformed – perhaps seeing the world with different eyes.  

Join us for this two-hour online workshop with Maja Bumberák and Jim Brulé. Join us on a journey where you can immerse yourself in storytelling – and in a discussion following each story. Your reflections, personal sharings, thoughts, and questions generated by the story will be a valuable addition to the program, which will be both interactive and – we trust – provoke growth and inspiration in us all!

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Maja Bumberák is a renowned storyteller, singer, and educator based in Budapest, Hungary. She tours the world, sharing stories and songs from Hungarian folklore and other cultures, in Hungarian and English. She also applies and leads story work in various group processes, where self-awareness and the community- and bridge-building role of stories is emphasized. She was a scholarship holder of the Hungarian Academy of Arts from 2018-2022. She researches the oral tradition of Hungarian storytelling and conducts training in oral storytelling for teachers, student teachers, and other professionals. She believes stories can heal a community in a way nothing else can. Maja brings knowledge of stories from traditional Hungarian oral folklore and their cultural background.  

Maja brings knowledge of stories from traditional Hungarian oral folklore and their cultural background.  

Jim Brulé is a storyteller, teacher, coach, and organizational consultant whose experience spans several decades. As a transformational storyteller, he creates opportunities for spiritual growth and transformation through encounters with stories, whether in performances, classes, or individual guidance. He also serves as an interfaith chaplain in hospitals, jails, and psychiatric facilities, and is active as a “death doula.”

Jim serves on the board as President of Northeast Storytelling and has delivered programs to storytelling organizations around the world. He teaches digital storytelling at the university level, and has crafted training programs in leadership, collaboration, and issues of implicit bias for commercial, non-profit, and religious institutions.