Lev Shomea: Introductory Week
August 16 - 22, 2010
Classes will meet in the mornings
Spiritual Direction offers a unique opportunity to explore our relationship with the Holy, the mystery we call God.
In individual or group settings, spiritual directors companion others as they reflect on their spiritual journeys and learn to recognize how the Source of Life invites us daily into deeper connection with ourselves, with others and with creation. Understanding that spiritual growth is an ongoing process of reflection and response, commitment and practice, directors support people to cultivate their inner lives and expand their awareness of the sacred dimensions that underlie both the ordinary and extraordinary events of life.
The Kotzker Rebbe said: "God is present where we let God in." Spiritual direction is a practice that supports us to let God in.
What is a Jewish Spiritual Director?
A Jewish Spiritual Director recognizes the spiritual hunger of contemporary Jews. Throughout Jewish history, mentors such as the mashpia, chaver or mashgiach, provided spiritual guidance for their settings and eras.
Drawing on our heritage to create a contemporary model of spiritual companionship, a Jewish Spiritual Director helps people to connect experiences of the holy to Jewish vocabulary and tradition, explore Jewish pathways that sustain the inner life, panimiyut, and inspire participation in kehillah, spiritual community.
This class will serve as an introduction to a two-year training program in becoming a spiritual deirector. Participants in this introductory week are not required to commit to the full institute. Join us if you'd like a taste!
Register now:
Teachers
Rabbi Howard Avruhm Addison, teaches Humanities and Religion at Temple University. He is certified as an Enneagram teacher by Helen Palmer and as a fellow in Contemplative Group Leadership by the Shalem Institute. Ordained by JTS with over thirty years experience in the active rabbinate, Avruhm is the author of several books on Kabbalah, the Enneagram and interfaith traditions of Spiritual Guidance.
Barbara Eve Breitman, DMin, LCSW, itrains spiritual directors and teaches Pastoral Counseling at the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College. She is a psychotherapist and a teacher. A pioneer in the field of Jewish spiritual guidance, she is a certified fellow in Spiritual Direction by the Shalem Institute and co-editor, with Addison, of the book Jewish Spiritual Direction. Bobbi has been designated a Mashpia Ruchani by Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi.
Registration Information
Lev Shomea classes will meet in the morning. The program fee for this class is $375 for the week. Fees are per person, and do not include the cost of Room and Board (below). We strive to make our programs affordable to everyone. For information about Financial Aid, please see below.
Register for this retreat and participate in Merkavat Hamakol: Institute for Embodied Spirituality, which is an afternoon retreat, for only $150 more.
You will receive a confirmation email once you have registered and made a payment online or by phone. If you do not receive this email within 24 hours of registering, please call us at (800) 398-2630 ext. 4.
Room and Board
Room and board includes housing, meals, evening activities, yoga, meditation and full use of our facility. All rooms are air-conditioned in the summer and heated in the winter. Adults fees apply to ages 18 and higher. Children's rates apply to ages 4 - 17. Rates are per person, and include all meals. For double or triple occupancy, you may either request a roommate, or be matched with one by our staff.
Economy Rooms: Daisy, Elm and Kaufman
Economy rooms have twin-sized beds and a shared bathroom in the hall.
| Economy Rooms |
Six
Nights |
| Triple Occupancy |
430 |
| Double Occupancy |
510 |
| Single Occupancy |
864 |
Standard Rooms: May, Scheuer, Pine, Cedar, Maple, Blue Heron
Our standard rooms have either a private bathroom or a shared bathroom with one other room. Most standard rooms have twin-sized beds; queen-sized beds may be available on a limited basis.
| Standard Rooms |
Six
Nights |
Triple Occupancy
with Private Bath |
660 |
Double Occupancy
with Shared Bath |
660 |
Double Occupancy
with Private Bath |
810 |
Single Occupancy
with Shared Bath |
1080 |
Single Occupancy
with Private Bath |
1320 |
Standard Plus Rooms: Weinberg
Our standard plus rooms have private bathrooms and queen-sized beds.
| Standard Plus Rooms |
Six
Nights |
| Double Occupancy |
900 |
| Single Occupancy |
1542 |
Camping
Campers supply their own tents and equipment and have access to bathrooms and showers. Camping fee includes all meals and snacks, use of the facility and its amenities, and participation in any open programming provided, such as meditation, yoga or non-holiday prayer.
| Camping Rates |
Six
Nights |
| Each Camper |
390 |
Commuter
The commuter fee includes all meals and snacks, use of the facility and its amenities, and participation in any open programming provided, such as such as meditation, yoga or non-holiday prayer.
| Commuter Rates |
Six
Nights |
| Each Commuter |
270 |
Children's Rates
There is no charge for infants and children ages 3 and under. Children ages 4 – 17 must share a room with at least one parent or guardian. Young adults ages 18 and above must pay the regular rates.
| Children's Rates |
Six
Nights |
| Each Child |
270 |
Financial Assistance
We strive to make our programs affordable to everyone. We provide limited financial aid of up to 50% off Room and Board fees. This financial support is only available for dormitory rooms with hall baths and economy rooms for couples and families. If you would like to request financial support, please complete the Application for Financial Aid. In your request, please consider that we have a limited pool of resources. We are committed to helping you in any we can, and we ask you to help us help others by limiting your request to your genuine need.
All requests must be received at least three weeks prior to the retreat.
Please note that we are not able to make any refunds in order to grant an aid request. If you choose to register prior to being awarded aid, and your remaining balance is less than the aid award, you will forfeit any award in excess of your outstanding balance.
Cancellation Policy
Payments made will be refunded in full (less a $50 processing fee) if you cancel more than 14 days prior to your arrival. If you cancel between 13 days and 72 hours prior to a retreat for which you have registered, a non-refundable credit (less a $50 processing fee) will be held for one year from the date of issue. This credit is non-transferable. No credit or refund is available if you cancel within 72 hours of a retreat or on the retreat arrival day, if you do not show up, or if you leave a retreat early for any reason.
Isabella Freedman reserves the right to cancel any program at any time. In the event of such cancellation, you will be given a complete refund.
Inclement Weather: Isabella Freedman reserves the right to cancel a retreat due to inclement weather if, in its judgment, it will be unable to operate safely. In the event of such a cancellation, a full refund will be made to all registrants. In the event that the retreat proceeds as scheduled, no refund or credit will be available.
Shuttle and Transportation Fees: A full transportation refund is available if you cancel a transportation reservation at least 3 days (72 hours) in advance. No refund is available if less than 3 days notice is given.
Training Institutes: If you are participating in a two-year training institute and you miss or cancel one of the weeklong retreat sessions, your room and board fee will be refunded according to the policy above, but the program fee for a missed or cancelled retreat session is still due. Withdrawal is permitted only after the first retreat session. If you withdraw from a training institute after the first retreat session, or if you are asked by faculty to leave the institute, you will receive a full refund on your program fee for any remaining pre-paid retreats.
Travel Insurance: We recommend you contact your travel agent to purchase travel insurance in the event that you need to cancel or change your travel plans.
Exceptions: Exceptions to these policies may be available in the event of severe weather emergencies or the death of a close family member. To request a non-transferable credit for one of these reasons, please submit a written request to registrar@isabellafreedman.org no more than three days after the start of the event.
