If Talmud Study Is So Much Fun, How Can I Join the Party?

August 25–28, 2008

The Talmudic sages were not squeamish about life: they were interested in the pleasures of sex, the struggles with honesty, the purpose of suffering, good jokes, how to transform your existence and the journey of the soul.

Participants do not need any experience or foreign language skills for this class — only an open mind, a sense of humor and a desire to study Talmud. The main focus will be on the women of the Talmud — both some who are named and some who are not.

Find out why our ancestors spent much of their lives with this extraordinary spiritual document. And join the club.

Teacher

Arthur Kurzweil spends much of his time studying Talmud, performing magic, teaching and writing. His books include On the Road with Rabbi Steinsaltz, Kabbalah for Dummies, From Generation to Generation and The Torah for Dummies.

Back to top

Registration Information

The program fee for this class is $300. 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 Assistance, please see below.

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	Three Nights
Single Occupancy	750
Double Occupancy	450
Triple Occupancy	315

Back to top

Plus rooms

Plus rooms have private bathrooms.

Plus Rooms	Three Nights
Single Occupancy	615
Double Occupancy	375
Triple Occupancy	255

Back to top

Standard rooms

Standard rooms share a bathroom with one other room.

Standard Rooms	Three Nights
Single Occupancy	510
Double Occupancy	315

Back to top

Economy rooms

Economy rooms have twin beds with the bathroom in the hall.

Economy Rooms	Three Nights
Single Occupancy	390
Double Occupancy	240

Back to top

Dormitory rooms

Dormitory rooms are either triple or quadruple occupancy with bunk beds and bathrooms on the hall.

	Three Nights
Dormitory	210

Back to top

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 prayer, meditation, or yoga.

	Three Nights
Campers	195

Back to top

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 prayer, meditation, or yoga.

	Three Nights
Commuter	165

Back to top

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	Three Nights
Children	120

Back to top

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.

Financial Aid for the Jewish Arts Institute

Register for the Jewish Arts Institute by December 12 and come for as little as $500 total! 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.