Who We Are

Unifying Meditation Institute is a spiritual and educational organization dedicated to helping people experience a deeper unity through Kabbalistic meditation and Jewish tradition. Based in the mountains of Boulder, CO, our retreat center and community invite seekers of all backgrounds and faith traditions to explore spiritual life and deepen their relationship with the Divine. 

Our retreat center provides a home for this work and a gathering place for people seeking meaningful spiritual exploration. We also welcome outside teachers, organizations, and groups to create their own experiences. Through our programming and relationships, UMI is connected to both the local Colorado community and the broader national network of Jewish life.

What We Do

UMI brings people together for immersive Jewish experiences and spiritual exploration. Our retreats and gatherings take many forms—from Shabbat and holiday experiences to meditation retreats, musical gatherings, Torah study, and other creative experiences rooted in spiritual life and Jewish wisdom. Contemplative practice and musical prayer are threads that run throughout our gatherings, creating opportunities to experience the Divine and Jewish tradition in ways that are relevant, embodied, and alive.

Kabbalistic meditation is one of the foundational practices of our work. Our meditation practice is rooted in the Sefer Yetzirah, and we teach it freely to individuals and groups who want to learn. Contact us (link) if you'd like to connect with a teacher and learn more about the practice.

Why We Gather

The sense of connection that emerges from spending a weekend immersed with others and in Jewish spiritual practice is at the heart of what we seek to provide. We create experiences where people feel connected to themselves, to one another, and to the Divine. Through this immersion, the shards of our souls have a chance to re-member Oneness.

There are many ways to engage with UMI. Some join us for a particular retreat, holiday, or gathering that speaks to them. Others return regularly, developing relationships, practices, and a deeper sense of connection over time. For some, UMI becomes a spiritual home—a place their bones remember, where they feel at ease, know what to expect, and feel spiritually, emotionally, and physically nourished.

UMI is not a replacement for synagogues or other Jewish institutions. Rather, we hope to complement them by offering a different kind of entry point into Jewish life—one centered on immersive experiences, extended time, and the power of living in community. 

Our History

Founded by Bob Tarantino and Emanuel Sammartino, UMI grew from Bob's decades of study across meditation traditions from India, China, and Israel. His deep engagement with the Jewish mystical tradition of the Sefer Yetzirah, the Book of Formation, shaped UMI’s history and practice. Together, Bob and Emanuel developed a community centered on meditation, spiritual practice, and openness across traditions.

That spirit of openness remains central to UMI today. Our Jewish tradition is not a boundary, but a foundation from which we learn, explore, and encounter the sacred.