Temple of
Sapir
INSTAGRAM
A desert campus designed to nurture spiritual exploration, artistic expression, earth-based connection, and community healing.
Situated in the desert of northeast LA County, Temple of Sapir will be a peaceful haven for spiritual seekers, facilitators, artists, and creatives. Here, we will offer a unique blend of workshops, retreats, ceremonies, and residencies to become a place where creativity meets spirituality. Our mission is to provide and curate a collaborative space for those eager to expand their practices, share their gifts, and find community.

by Temple of Sapir

Guiding Values
Slowness and presence over productivity
Art and spirit as interwoven forces
Stewardship of land and materials
Community over hierarchy
Inclusive design, sliding scale, sensory-considerate spaces
Ancestral reverence and cultural specificity without exclusion
Who we are
Temple of Sapir has two founders, Audra Shapiro Nash and Sadie Shapiro Nash.
Audra is a current rabbinical student, singer, and performer with a strong foundation in Jewish practice.
She grew up going to day school in Washington DC, but it was her discovery of the Jewish Renewal Movement during years of spiritual exploration that called her to pursue rabbinical school. As a leader, Audra combines song, spiritual grounding, and Jewish ritual in ways that aim to feel both accessible and meaningful, especially for those new to this path or healing from religious/spiritual disconnection. Her “Cool Shabbat” dinner, (which invites both Jewish and non-Jewish community members to share a meal and discussion), started in 2022 and became the inspiration for more regular, programmed gatherings, with an intimate and often-changing collection of people. In each of these dinners, guests participate for hours in guided conversations, philosophical debate, and personal storytelling. Watching people connect and learn from each Shabbat led Audra to consider other ways of bringing people together, and how to make it happen
It was in the early days of “Cool Shabbat” that Audra met Sadie, an artist and builder who works across a wide range of materials and mediums.
Sadie studied art and design in New England, focusing on furniture, and eventually shifted into film and event production in Los Angeles. She has a particular interest in designing spaces for community building, after reflecting on the difference in community between students and professionals. The open, coworking nature of art school fostered a reciprocal creative flow that didn't exist as easily when the communal studio was removed and students moved on to become professionals. That kind of reciprocal energy requires the right container. Sadie is a world builder at heart and, after helping construct a “Cool Shabbat” Sukkah, she experienced the kind of community she wanted to create a container for. One of spiritual, philosophical, and artistic openness. Each subsequent gathering held its own wisdom and wonder and, upon realizing they shared a deep vision of the kind of space they wanted to build in the world, Audra and Sadie designed Temple of Sapir, a place that can hold everything their community is and will grow to be.
Why "Temple of Sapir"?
"Sapir" is the Hebrew word for sapphire, a gemstone revered in Jewish mystical tradition. While sapphires are commonly associated with a deep blue hue, they naturally occur in a spectrum of colors, including pink, yellow, green, purple, orange, and clear. This diversity symbolizes the multifaceted nature of wisdom and the myriad paths to spiritual insight. In Kabbalah, the sapphire represents clarity and divine connection, embodying the deep stillness that holds hidden wisdom.
Temple of Sapir is a space of sacred return, allowing us to sit with mystery, recollection, and reflection.
Who It's For
Creative Souls & Seekers
For creative, sensitive, curious people hoping to learn in untraditional environments
Artists & Makers
For artists and makers who long for a space where they can be their full selves and explore their practice without pressure to perform or produce
Teachers & Healers
For those who have gifts they want to share, either in classes, workshops, or ceremonies
Temple of Sapir is for anyone seeking a deeper connection to their creative spirit, a sense of community, and a space for personal exploration and growth.
Whether you are an artist, healer, spiritual seeker, or facilitator, our doors are open to all. We hope to inspire and attract collaboration from our community by providing a supportive and open environment. Ideally, Temple of Sapir becomes a home where anyone can dive into personal development, in whatever form speaks to them. We are rooted in reconnection— with land, with creativity, with community and with truth. We are a space where people can unplug from systems that tend to commodify and alienate, and instead come into contact with something real: expression, community, presence.
Why It Matters
On top of being a pillar for community-building and collective healing, Temple of Sapir will be a hub for collective activism.

To us, activism looks like bridge-building across a spectrum of varied and nuanced opinions, embodied unity practices, and programming that encourages the expansion of consciousness and compassion. Our dream is to become a safe haven for heart-centered people, who promote hearing multiple perspectives and finding commonality in human experience. In these turbulent times, community spaces are becoming increasingly divided, making their existence more important than ever. We are heartbroken by the violent past and present of our indigenous Homeland. Because we hold the pain of Israelis and Palestinians alike, Temple of Sapir will strive to be the common ground on which everyone can meet.
Where we are now…
Temple of Sapir will be built on 10.5 acres in Antelope Valley, Los Angeles County, with a clear view of the Angeles National Forest.
The land features a peaceful and inviting desert landscape, home to Joshua trees and local wildlife like desert hares, quail, and ravens. The mountain backdrop provides a natural sense of isolation and peace despite being only 10 minutes from local businesses and an hour and 20 minutes from downtown LA. This accessibility makes it an ideal location for a number of uses, including special events, workshops, and recreation. With its open spaces and natural beauty, this land will serve as the perfect foundation for Temple of Sapir's sustainable buildings and programs.
Where we are going
Our vision is to build a comprehensive and multi-faceted campus that includes facilities for artists, wellness, workshops, spiritual ceremony, and communal gathering.
Ultimately, we envision Temple of Sapir as a vibrant community grounded in our own programming, yet open to the contributions of others. While our core offerings are rooted in earth-based Jewish ritual and the arts, we welcome outside proposals from aligned individuals or organizations. Whether as a host site for a creative workshop, a philosophical gathering, or a healing retreat, we aim to provide space and tools for people to co-create transformative experiences.
By fostering a culture of collaboration and exchange, we cultivate unity and shared purpose. Together, we can shape a future where creativity, well-being, and deep personal growth will fuel collective healing, whether through our own initiatives or those of our broader community.
Spiritual Framework
Earth-Based Jewish Ritual
Rooted in ancient Jewish mysticism, ritual, and cultural practices
Meditative Practice
Includes meditative practice and embodied ritual
Inclusive Community
Welcomes people of all backgrounds called to respectful participation
This retreat space is rooted in a spiritual lineage that honors ancient earth-based Jewish ritual and indigenous Jewish practices, as carried forward through the Jewish Renewal movement. It is a space for ancestral reconnection and embodied ritual, including meditative practice, psychedelic medicine ceremonies, and traditional Jewish services.
While the spiritual foundation is distinctly Jewish, our community is not exclusive. We welcome people of all backgrounds who are called to respectful participation and shared presence. The spirit of this work is less about rigid dogma, and more about grounded wisdom, deep listening, and the sacred connection between people, land, and spirit. Temple of Sapir is the loom with which we will weave a powerful tapestry of human experience and empathy.
Artistic Framework
Artist Residency
Dedicated studios will be available for artists with ongoing or new projects
Sustainable Architechture
Ongoing hands-on workshops led by sustainable biotecture experts to create sculptural buildings and spaces
Rotating Gallery
Dedicated gallery space for Resident Artists, workshops, and outdoor sculpture
Artist Workshops
Classrooms for workshops of any kind or skill level
At Temple of Sapir, we will foster exploration and curiosity above results. We welcome those with a clear compass as well as those who wander. To us, the destination and the journey are one and the same. Our goal isn't to reach a particular place, but instead, to allow each stop to fuel the next step.
Temple of Sapir will offer programming for all ages through workshops, gallery shows, and various classes/lectures. We will also offer an Artist Residency program that includes living accommodations and dedicated studio space in one of our sustainable buildings. Our property is within 30 mins driving of major supply stores, ensuring artists have access to anything they don't already have. We are open to any and all arts that we are capable of facilitating. We love both traditional media and creative tech, so no proposal will be excluded from consideration.
The Ask
$100,000
Initial Funding (Phase 1)
We are currently seeking $100,000 in initial funding. This will allow us to continue progress with our architect and building partner, Pangea Biotecture. Pangea specializes in alternative and sustainable building practices, combining educational workshops into their process. Funds raised in this phase will go directly to master site-planning, continual architectural design and permitting, off-grid living systems design, and construction prep.
As part of our partnership, we will open our build site to students and community members through hands-on sustainable construction workshops. This approach significantly reduces labor costs while responding to increasing demand for ecological and alternative building education. In light of growing climate challenges and the environmental events created by them, we feel this is an invaluable opportunity for our community.
Our progress is currently being tracked and updated on our Go Fund Me page.
Development Phases
1
Phase 1: Initial Funding & Land Development (Year 1)
  • Engage sustainable and regenerative architect and building partner, Pangea Biotecture, to initiate site planning and design.
We have hired the architect! Remaining funding needs for this phase include:
  • Ongoing design fees, site planning, and permitting
  • Establishment of minimal off-grid systems and campground (site prep, solar, composting toilets) to accommodate build leaders and students
  • Construction materials for communal buildings
2
Phase 2: Communal Structures & Programming Launch (Year 2–3)
  • Begin hands-on sustainable and regenerative building workshops - in partnership with, and organized by, Pangea Academy
    (pangeaacademy.org)
  • Construct multi-use communal buildings (communal kitchen/dining room, communal gathering, bathrooms, showers)
  • Begin programming appropriate to our build status (single events, small gatherings, educational
  • Open as a host site to our roster of collaborators and facilitators
  • Increase camping accommodations with semi permanent structures (yurts, temp geodomes, etc)
3
Phase 3: Growth & Integration (Year 3+)
  • Continue partnership with Pangea Academy to expand the campus. Additions include:
    - Temple
    - Dedicated classrooms
    - Dedicated studios
    - Permanent private cabins
  • Host interfaith, intercultural events and healing gatherings
  • Develop recurring, public-facing programs and educational offerings
  • Cultivate land-based art installations and sacred garden spaces
  • Implement long-term ecological and financial sustainability models
Join Our Vision
Aligned Partners
We welcome aligned investors, grantmakers, and collaborators who believe in supporting regenerative spaces founded in art, spirit, and collective healing. Collaborating with like-minded entities will help enrich our programs and meet the evolving needs of both the community and the environment. This approach aligns with our commitment to creating a transformative and sustainable campus that serves as a beacon of regenerative practices and collective well-being.
Land Stewardship
This first phase enables us to begin realizing the Temple of Sapir vision through land stewardship and early infrastructure. Next steps involve securing additional funding to support the development of sustainable buildings, conservation of current wildlife, and the expansion of educational programs.