Women’s Retreat 2010
The Second Annual Nehirim Women’s Retreat
March 12-14, 2010
Isabella Freedman Retreat Center
Falls Village, CT
Information will be posted on the 2010 Womens Retreat in November, 2009. In the meantime, below is the information for the 2009 Womens Retreat, for reference.
Please join us for our inaugural Nehirim Women’s Retreat. The Women’s retreat, for LBTQ Jewish women and their partners and allies, will be a soulful, heartful gathering where you can connect with your community, relax and refresh, and explore your spiritual path, forming connections that last a lifetime. It will feature:
-Stimulating workshops designed to rejuvenate mind, body & spirit
-A top-notch faculty including Miryam Kabakov, Dr. Mara Benjamin, and others
-Delicious organic Kosher food
-Children’s programming for all ages with Camp JRF’s Shulamit Izen & music with ShirLaLa
-Hot tub & fireplace nestled in a Berkshire Mountains setting
-Inclusive community of women of diverse identities & experiences
-Supportive social activities
-Prayer, study, music & much more
All self-identified women are welcome.
Tachlis: What does it cost, where do I register
-The retreat will be held at Isabella Freedman Retreat Center in Falls Village, CT. For directions and transportation information, please visit the Isabella Freedman website. To offer or request a ride to the retreat, visit our Ride Board.
-If you need to be picked up or dropped off at the Wassaic train station (for MetroNorth service from New York City), you must email info[at]nehirim.org and let us know by close of business on Tuesday, March 17. There will be a $15 charge per person each way (non-refundable after March 17). Pickup is available on Friday, March 20 for the 2 PM train. Dropoff is available on Sunday, March 22 for the 2:30 PM train.
-For other pickup times or locations, Lakeville Taxi, (860) 435-8000, is available. Lakeville Taxi is a reservation service. Voicemails for the purpose of reserving rides must be left before 5pm and at least 24 hours in advance. Credit card information must be provided with your reservation. Your card will be charged if you cancel a ride with less than 24 hours notice.
-The weekend lasts from 2:00 on Friday until 2:00 on Sunday. We do ask that retreatants stay for the entire weekend.
Prices
We are committed to enabling all self-identified women to attend the Women’s Retreat and look forward to a wide range of sexual, gender, economic, religious, and ethnic diversity. Please note that we do offer some financial aid on a first-come, first-served basis.
| Early bird (by Feb. 1) | Regular | |
| Triple Room (price per person) | $150 | $200 |
| Double Room with Shared Bath (price per person) | $200 | $250 |
| Double Room with Private Bath (price per person) | $275 | $325 |
| Single Room with Shared Bath (price per person) | $300 | $350 |
| Single Room with Private Bath (price per person) | $375 | $425 |
| Child (Children 2 and Under are Free) | $75 | $100 |
Blue text indicates children’s programming
Friday, March 20th - the 24th of Adar
2:00-4:00 Arrival, snacks, and registration
4:00 Welcome and opening program with Chani Getter and Shoshana Jedwab
4:00 Making a Moon-Coming into the Newness
5:00 Get ready for shabbat/ optional mikvas
5:15 Adult Women’s Mikva with Rabbi Jill Hammer
5:15 Kids’ Mikva in Pool – Jumping into Shabbat (for Elementary School and older)
5:15 Mishpacha Facilitators meet with Chani Getter
5:45 Tots’ Mikva with their grown ups – Shabbat Shalom Dippers
6:00 Adult Human’s Mikva with Ri
6:45 Candle-lighting with Dr. Mara Benjamin (6:51)
Shabbat Services with Shoshana Jedwab and Shir Lala
8:00 Shabbos Dinner, Kiddush with Chani Getter
9:30 – 10:20 Mishpacha Group
9:30 – 10:20 Kids’ Mishpacha Group – tweens and teens
10:30 – 11:30 “Joining a club that will not have you as a member-traditional LBTQ women” with Miryam Kabakov
11:35- 12:00 Hanging out and building community
Shabbat, March 21st - 25th of Adar
Parashat Vayakhel-Pekudei — Shabbat Parshat HaChodesh
7:30-8:15 Cold breakfast available in dining hall
8:00-8:50 Morning spiritual practice
* Morning yoga with Rabbi Tzipi Radonsky
* Silent meditation with instruction with Ri Turner
* 12-Step meeting with Chani Getter
* Kids’ Playtime
* Board Games (older children)
8:15-9:15 Breakfast
9:00-9:45
* Secular Torah Study with Judy Hollander
* Shir Lala Shabbat for Tots and their grown ups
10:00-12:00 Shabbat Morning Davening
* Cafe Planet
* Traditional Egalitarian Minyan with Dr. Mara Benjamin and Julie Seltzer
* Renewal with Shosh, Shira, Chani, Rabbi Jill Hammer
* Babysitting for the tots
* Kids’ Davennen and Parsha play rehearsal
12:00 – 12:15 Children’s Parsha Play Performance
* All are welcome
12:30-1:20 Lunch
1:30-2:30 Afternoon Session 1
* Dina Has Four Mommies and other tales of co-mothering in the Torah with Dr. Mara Benjamin
* Shabbat nature walk – learning about hitbodetut for upper elementary and older kids
* Shabbat in our bodies – making Hebrew letters with our bodies and other songs and movement games about shabbat
2:40-3:40 Afternoon Session 2 (choose one)
* Balance yourself with Miryam Kabokov
* Betzal’el: Maker of the Mishkan with Julie Seltzer (Torah Study)
* Kids’ Guided Sensory Meditation with Laura Evonne Steinman ALL AGES
3:50 – 4:50 Afternoon Session 3 (Choose one)
* The Divine Feminine with Rabbi Jill Hammer
* Kids’ ultimate frisbee
* Session TBA with Becky Emet
5:00 – 5:50 Afternoon Session 4
* Create Your Own Discussion Group
Sign up Board where coffee is..
* Shabbat Nap
* Shabbat Nature Walks
* Shmooze N Lounge
* Babysitters available at sign up board
* Sat night program leaders meet
6:00-6:50 Seudah Shlishit (Third Meal/Dinner)
7:00-7:50 Mishpacha Groups
Kids’ Mishpacha Groups with Shulamit Izen
8:00-8:50 Havdala ALL AGES
8:50- 9:05 Maariv/ Evening service
* Traditional Maariv with Dr. Mara Benjamin
9:05 - 10:30 Talent Show, MC’d by Judy Hollander
Sunday, March 22 - 26 Adar
7:30-8:00 Cold breakfast available in dining hall
8:00-8:50 Morning spiritual practice
* Silent meditation with instruction with Ri Turner
* 12-Step meeting with Chani Getter
* Shacharit with Julie Seltzer
* Board Games (older children)
* Adults hang out
8:00-9:10 Breakfast
9:00-9:30 Pack up and checkout of rooms
9:30-10:30 Sunday session 1 (choose one)
* In the beginning, God created the Aleph-Bet with Julie Seltzer
* Is it DRAG or is it YOU with Chani Getter
* Fabric Arts PART I (must be at both sessions) (Challah covers) with Laura Evonne Steinman
* Passover Holiday Family singalong for tots and grownups with Shir Lala
10:45-11:45 Sunday session 2 (choose one)
* Writing the erotic with Corinn Adams
* Fabric Arts PART II (must be at both sessions)
* Passing or Shining? A workshop on class with Ellie Barbarash
12:00-12:50 Lunch (Mishpacha leaders have lunch together)
1:00-2:30 Closing session & final mishpacha group (ALL AGES)
We will be joined this year by the following Visiting Faculty members:
Nehama Benmosche, Retreat Co-Director
Nehama Benmosche is a rabbinical student at the Reconstructionist Rabbincal College and a doctoral student in education at the Jewish Theological Seminary. Her doctoral work focuses on dimensions of difference, pluralism and diversity in a Jewish summer camp. She has worked for many years in the Jewish communities of New York, Atlanta, and Philadelphia. Her background ranges from primary school education in day schools, to adult education courses in Hebrew and Judaism. She spent the last two years working as a rabbinic intern at a small Conservative congregation in Woodbury, NJ. Next year she will begin working at the West End Synagogue, a Reconstructionist congregation in New York City, coordinating the teen communal service projects and a 3rd and 4th grade family education program. She recently received the Tikkun Olam award at RRC for her work in organizing and maintaining the davening community at the college and will serve on RRC’s Keshet Committee on sexual orientation and gender identity.