Community Gathering 2010
Sukkat Shalom – Creating and Sustaining Community
The Nehirim Community Gathering
Jan. 8-10, 2010
Easton Mountain Retreat Center, near Albany, NY
Building on the success of past retreats, this weekend is an opportunity for those who have previously attended a Nehirim retreat to come together in a smaller, more relaxed and intimate setting. Co-directed by Zvi Bellin and Becky Emet, the weekend is a time of heartfelt connection, soulful spirituality, and also some of the best retreat food available, not to mention a fireplace and sauna. This year will focus on creating and maintaining “Sukkat Shalom,” a shelter of peace. How can we deepen our connection to ourselves and to each other? Uncover the uniqueness that you bring to Nehirim and how you can share that gift to strengthen GLBT Jewish living. The retreat is community-led and teaching opportunities are available; contact Zvi at zvi[at]nehirim.org to get involved.
If you have not come to a Nehirim retreat before, we warmly invite you to instead join us at one of our other retreats. This gathering is not a full-on retreat, and we are limiting it to people who have joined us before.
Please click a link to learn more:
- Tachlis (Logistics): Registration, Cost, Transportation etc.
- Last Year’s Presenters and Educators
Registration is now open!
Secure online registration at: https://www.eastonmountain.com/assets/Forms/newregform09b.html
Or register by phone by calling Easton Mountain at 1-800-553-8235.
When you call, please indicate room type and whether kosher food is desired (an additional cost of $40.) Questions about kashrut and other specifics of the retreat can be directed to Zvi at Zvi[at]nehirim.org
Pricing:
Triple/quad-$180
Double-$240
Single-$300
Note: add $40 extra if you desire kosher food
Limited Scholarships are Available! For more information, contact Zvi at Zvi[at]nehirim.org
Ride board: Click here to find or offer a ride.
This Year’s Schedule! (new!)
Friday, January 8
1:00 Arrival, registration, snacks
3:20 Mikva #1 for Women (hot tub)
3:40 Mikva #2 for Men (hot tub)
4:00 Mikva #3 Gender Neutral (hot tub)
3:30 Alternative to Mikvah
4:15 Candle lighting and Fore-pray (actual start of Shabbat: 4:18 pm)
4:45 Kabbalat Shabbat and Ma’ariv
6:00 Dinner, D’var Torah and hanging out
7:15 Heart circle Unraveling
9:00 Tisch
Shabbat, January 9
8:45 Breakfast
9:00 Yoga
9:45 Davening
12:00 Lunch
2:00 Interactive Torah Study
3:15 Personal Meaning Dialog Workshop
4:30 Mighty Mincha Dynamic Meditation
5:00 Seudah shlishit
6:15 Havdalah and Heart circle Opening
8:00 Free Community Time
9:00 Massage Workshop
Sunday, January 10
8:30 Breakfast (until 9:30pm)
9:00 Morning Spiritual Salon –
-Open with Silent Sit (30 minutes)
-Then Cleansing Yoga (30 minutes)
-Chant Prayer (45 minutes)
-Cool Down Sivasana Guided Meditation
11:15 Closing Heart Circle Rewrapping
12:30 Lunch — Bookstore will be open, Tzeitchem l’shalom!
Last Year’s Staff and Teachers
Zvi Bellin, co-director
Zvi Bellin has, for the past six years, led a variety of workshops on Jewish spirituality and mysticism. He holds an M.A. in Counseling and Guidance from NYU, and is studying for his PhD in Pastoral Counseling at Loyola College, Maryland. He has worked as a therapist in a number of mental health settings, and has interned as a Psychiatric Chaplain. Zvi’s most recent interests include the spirituality of “dark places” and the formation of meaning outside the “normal and acceptable.” He is a co-founder of the Silver Spring Moishe House, a Jewish community house sponsored by the Forest Foundation.
Becky Emet, co-director
Having worked as a therapist with at-risk youth and families, Becky is currently pursuing an MBA in hopes of starting her own social enterprise one day. Committed to social justice and community building, and striving for an ever-compassionate, present-focused perspective, Becky brings her passion and warmth to the Nehirim community.
Ri Turner
Ri is currently finishing up her/zir undergraduate education in anthropology at Cornell University. She/ze has been involved with LGBTQ organizing since her/zir junior year of high school. She/ze has always felt deeply pulled by Jewish learning and community, but is now only beginning to find ways to discover and build homes within Judaism. Aside from her/zir internship with Nehirim, she/ze is currently engaged with the Kohenet program, a Jewish women’s spiritual leadership training institute taught by Jill Hammer, Shoshana Jedwab (both of whom are also affiliated with Nehirim), and Holly Taya Shere.
Rabbi Jacob J. Staub
Rabbi Jacob J. Staub is Professor of Jewish Philosophy and Spirituality at the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College in Philadelphia, where he served as Academic Vice President for 17 years and where he was ordained. He served as editor of the Reconstructionist magazine. He is the founder and director of the first program in Jewish Spiritual Direction at a rabbinical seminary. He teaches medieval Jewish studies, Jewish meditation, and Jewish spirituality. He is the author of The Creation of the World According to Gersonides and the co-author of Exploring Judaism: A Reconstructionist Approach. He came out as a gay man five years ago.
Daniel Max
is a Nutrition and Health Counselor, Shiatsu Practitioner, and Yoga Instructor. He began his studies in holistic health in Israel, his home country. Leaving Israel, Daniel traveled through Far East Asia studying various modalities of healing arts such as Chinese medical and Indian Ayurvedic therapies. Once settling in the US, Daniel completed his studies in the fields of shiatsu, nutrition and health counseling. Daniel is a graduate of Columbia University affiliated Institute Of Integrative Nutrition and of the former Boston Institute of Shiatsu. Daniel is a nationally certified massage therapist as well as certified by the American Association of Drugless Practitioners.
If you would like more information, email us at info[at]nehirim.org.