Nehirim: GLBT Spiritual Retreat
A soulful, heartful gathering where you can connect with your community, relax
and refresh, and explore your spiritual path.
May 30-June 1, 2008
Join us for a retreat full of workshops, classes, services and performances that are joyful, creative, and energetic. Participants come from a diverse array of religious observance levels (and, yes, non-Jewish partners are welcome), sexual and gender identities, and age and socio-economic backgrounds (full student scholarships are available).
Participants come for transformative spiritual experiences, diverse and welcoming community, or simply to have fun and meet people in a beautiful natural setting. All are welcome! Last year's retreat sold out, so please register early! (Registration will be open February 14th, 2008.)
For more information including retreat schedules and past participant feedback, please visit www.nehirim.org.
Register now:
Teachers
Amichai Lau-Lavie is the Founder and Executive Director of Storahtelling. He is an Israeli-born teacher of Judaic Literature, described as “one of the most interesting thinkers in the Jewish world” by the NY Jewish Week. Amichai is a member of the Synagogue 3000 Leadership Network, a member of the advisory council for the Six Points Fellowship and a consultant to the Reboot Network.
Jay Michaelson is the director of Nehirim: GLBT Jewish Culture and Spirituality, the chief editor of Zeek: A Jewish Journal of Thought and Culture. His most recent books are God in Your Body: Kabbalah, Mindfulness, and Embodied Spiritual Practice (2006) and Another Word for Sky: Poems (2007).
Rabbi Dawn Rose, PhD, brings with her a broad background in the pulpit rabbinate, academia, and the arts. A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of UC Berkeley in Literature, Rose took a several year hiatus from academia to pursue vocal training in classical music. At age 30, she entered the Jewish Theological Seminary where she earned an MA in Rabbinic Studies and a Ph.D. in Jewish Philosophy. Having taught part time first at JTS and then at the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College in Philadelphia, Rose became the Director of RRC's Center for Jewish Ethics.
David Brodsky, PhD., is assistant professor and co-chair of the department of Rabbinic civilization at the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College. He teaches courses on Talmud, Midrash and other aspects of rabbinic literature and civilization. Before coming to RRC, he was the Perlow Lecturer in Classical Judaism in the religious studies department at the University of Pittsburgh. He has also taught courses at New York University, the Jewish Theological Seminary and the Academy for Jewish Religion.
Rabbi Jill Hammer, PhD is an author, educator, midrashist, myth-weaver and ritualist. She is the co-founder of Kohenet: The Hebrew Priestess Institute, and the director of Tel Shemesh, a website and community celebrating and creating Jewish earth-based traditions. She is also the Director of Spiritual Education at the Academy for Jewish Religion, a pluralistic Jewish seminary. Rabbi Hammer is the author of two books: Sisters at Sinai: New Tales of Biblical Women (Jewish Publication Society, 2001) and The Jewish Book of Days: A Companion for All Seasons (Jewish Publication Society, 2006). Rabbi Hammer conducts workshops around the country on ancient and contemporary midrash, bibliodrama, creative ritual and Jewish cycles of time. She was ordained at the Jewish Theological Seminary and holds a doctorate in social psychology from the University of Connecticut. 
Shoshana Jedwab is a prize-winning Jewish educator and the Jewish Studies Coordinator at the A.J. Heschel Middle School in New York City. She is the founding facilitator of the Makom Drum Circle at the JCC in Manhattan and is a percussionist and performance artist who has trained in bibliodrama and psychodrama. Shoshana has provided empowering drum circles to singles, student, training and bereavement groups. Shoshana has performed with Storahtelling, Chana Rothman, Debbie Friedman, Akiva Wharton, A Song of Solomon, Hebrew Mystical Chant with the Kirtan Rabbi Andrew Hahn, and Tel Shemesh seasonal events. She is Kohenet's ritual drummer and also serves on the Kohenet faculty.
Additional teachers will be listed in early 2008; check back soon.
Registration Information
The program fee for this class is $85. Fees are per person, and do not include the cost of Room and Board (below).
Financial Aid
For information about financial assistance for this retreat, please contact Nehirim.
Room and Board
Room and board includes housing, meals, evening activities, hot tub, 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. 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.
Deluxe rooms
Deluxe rooms have private bathrooms. Single and double occupancy are provided with queen-sized beds, triple occupancy has twin beds. Handicap accessibility available, please call (800) 398-2630 x307.
| Deluxe Rooms |
Two
Nights |
| Single Occupancy |
560 |
| Double Occupancy |
340 |
| Triple Occupancy |
230 |
Plus rooms
Plus rooms have private bathrooms. A limited number of queen-sized beds are available for a $15/night surcharge, please call for availability.
| Plus Rooms |
Two
Nights |
| Single Occupancy |
480 |
| Double Occupancy |
290 |
| Triple Occupancy |
190 |
Standard rooms
Standard rooms share a bathroom with one other room. A limited number of queen-sized beds are available for a $15/night surcharge, please call for availability.
| Standard Rooms |
Two
Nights |
| Single Occupancy |
400 |
| Double Occupancy |
240 |
Economy rooms
Economy rooms have twin beds with the bathroom in the hall.
| Standard Rooms |
Two
Nights |
| Single Occupancy |
310 |
| Double Occupancy |
190 |
Dormitory rooms
Dormitory rooms are either triple or quadruple occupancy with bunk beds and bathrooms on the hall. Campers supply their own tents and equipment. The commuter fee includes all meals and snacks, use of the facility and its amenities, and participation in any open programming provided, such as prayer, meditation, or yoga.
| Dormitory Rooms |
Two
Nights |
| Dormitory |
160 |
| Camper |
140 |
| Commuter |
120 |
Children's Rates
Infants and toddlers under three are complimentary. Children aged 3-17 are welcome to share the room with at least one parent or guardian per room.
| Children's Rates |
Two
Nights |
| Children |
90 |
Financial Assistance
Financial Aid for Room and Board
We provide limited scholarship funding to reduce room and board fees for those in extreme financial need. Financial aid is only available for dormitory rooms with hall baths for single adults and economy rooms for couples and families. If you would like to request financial aid, please complete the financial aid form. Please note financial aid requests must be received at least three weeks prior to the retreat.
Student Aid Provided by The Lasko Foundations
Up to 50% scholarship is available for graduate students in rabbinical school, cantorial school or in Master’s degree programs in Jewish Studies. To apply for this scholarship, please complete the Lasko Scholarship form. Lasko awards may not be combined with any other financial aid provided through Isabella Freedman.
Financial Aid for the Jewish Arts Institute
A grant from the Mazer Family Fund of UJA-New York covers up to 50% of the program fee for the Jewish Arts Institute. To apply for this grant, please complete the financial aid form.
The Harold Grinspoon Foundation's
Jewish Experience Fund for Adults
Thanks to a generous grant from the Harold Grinspoon Foundation, adults 21 years of age or older who are residents of Western Massachusetts and want to participate in a program at Isabella Freedman are eligible to apply for up to a 50% subsidy of the total cost of the program to a maximum of $500 per program. This funding can be applied to Program Fees and Room and Board Fees. To apply for this grant, please contact The Harold Grinspoon Foundation directly.
Cancellation Policy
Payments made will be refunded in full (less a $75 processing fee) if you cancel more than 10 days prior to a retreat for which you are registered. If you cancel within 10 days or less, a non-refundable credit (less a $75 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 less than 24 hours prior to or on the workshop’s 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. A full transportation refund is available if you cancel at least 3 days (72 hours) in advance. No transportation refund is available with less than 3 days notice.
If you are participating in a Training Institute and you miss or cancel one retreat session, 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 Program Fee refund for any remaining pre-paid retreats.
