SEPTEMBER 29 - OCTOBER 1

ROSH HASHANAH RETREAT

ArthurArthur Waskow

R. Jeff RothRabbi Jeff Roth

Phyllis Berman & Rabbis Jeff Roth and Arthur Waskow

Phyllis Phyllis Berman

The Holy-days, the traditional beginning of the annual Jewish spiritual cycle, are ripe with opportunity for personal reflection and growth. This Rosh Hashana, join us for a truly renewing celebration at Elat Chayyim. A unique worship experience combining traditional liturgy with spiritual exercises, this retreat will help you awaken your soul, renew your connection to the Divine, and turn your life in the direction you wish it to go. Explore the themes and rituals specific to Rosh Hashana through prayer, song, text study, meditation, sharing and personal reflection. This retreat format allows for the in-depth affirmative and joyful experience that we seek at the beginning of the Jewish New Year.

SEPTEMBER 29 - OCTOBER 1
ROSH HASHANAH RETREAT
Phyllis Berman;Rabbis Jeff Roth;Arthur Waskow

OCTOBER 6-9

YOM KIPPUR: SEALING THE BOOK OF LIFE: COMPLETING THE TESHUVAH PROCESS

Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish Calendar, provides for total immersion in the reservoir of Divine compassion, allowing us to open, to heal, to move forward. This year, we will spend Shabbat Shuvah and Yom Kippur together in contemplative practice. We will davven as a community on Shabbat and again beginning Sunday evening, delving deeply into the teachings of Yom Kippur, sharing silent practices, chanting, and learning Torah. . We have arranged for three separate class opportunities during the weekend; you choose the experience that best suits your interests. Throughout the retreat, we will live together in sacred silence.

Rabbi Miles Krassen

Rabbi Rabbi Miles Krassen

Yom Kippur completes a forty day process of self examination and identification of barriers separating us from our Source. In these final days, from Rosh Hashanah to Yom Kippur, we prepare for re-union through deep contemplation and liberation of God's holy female countenance. In this class, we will learn Kabbalistic and Hasidic teachings concerning the stages of sealing the energy of our teshuvah work for the new year. These teachings will be accompanied by specific meditations and melodies for transforming our learning into practice.

OCTOBER 6-9
YOM KIPPUR: SEALING THE BOOK OF LIFE: COMPLETING THE TESHUVAH PROCESS
Rabbi Miles Krassen

OCTOBER 6-9

THE INNER WORK OF YOM KIPPUR

Mindy Ribner
This is a precious opportunity to be in supportive community while exploring who we are and who we wish to be. Through Kabbalistic learning, meditation practices, and group processes, we will reflect upon and confront the ways we limit ourselves and others. We will be encouraged to do the inner work needed to truly let go and move forward in our lives. We will experience the magnificence of who we are, opening our hearts and souls to more goodness, love and divine light than we previously allowed.

OCTOBER 6-9
THE INNER WORK OF YOM KIPPUR
Mindy Ribner

OCTOBER 6-9

THE HEART OF FORGIVENESS

Rabbi Jeff Roth

Rabbi Rabbi Jeff Roth

In these intense days of personal preparation, our meditation will focus on paying attention to the inner workings of our hearts and minds. We will also learn a contemplative blessing practice with the power to open our hearts. Together, these practices can give us rich insight into our sense of self, including those areas of brokenness which are the focus of teshuvah (turning). This will will lead us to a place of inner forgiveness as we approach Yom Kippur.

OCTOBER 6-9
THE HEART OF FORGIVENESS
Rabbi Jeff Roth

OCTOBER 13-15

DWELLING WITH THE PRESENCE: UNITING JOY AND VISION

SUKKOT

Mile Krassen

Rabbi Rabbi Miles Krassen

The traditional celebration of Sukkot, commemorating the years of our ancestors' wandering in the desert while preparing to enter the Promised Land, is characterized by special ritual objects seen only at this time of year. How do we prepare to enter a new relationship with God in this modern era? Do the Sukkah, lulav and etrog have significance beyond being material symbols of nomadic life? On this retreat we will study Hasidic writings, stories and insights that address these questions in order to cultivate a renewed vision of the God-field. We will also explore the tradition which ombines one of the Sephirot and a pair of male and female ancestral archetypes with each day of the festival. Text study will include selections from the Zohar, B'ney Yisaskhar, Liqqutey Halakhot, S'fat Emet,and the writings of the Radziner Rebbe. Study will be integrated with meditations and niggunim for joining mind and heart.

OCTOBER 13-15
DWELLING WITH THE PRESENCE: UNITING JOY AND VISION
Mile Krassen

OCTOBER 13-15

Basherte Two: Harvest of Our Hearts

Efraim Eisen & Rosalie Harris-Eisen
Join Rosalie and Efraim for an advanced Basherte workshop designed for people who have been to their workshops before. They will be exploring in new depth - sexuality, gender issues and how the Basherte workshop has impacted on your relationship life.

OCTOBER 13-15
Basherte Two: Harvest of Our Hearts
Efraim Eisen and Rosalie Harris-Eisen

OCTOBER 13-15

FROM TERROR TO JOY

Rabbi Lawrence Kushner
Moving from terror to joy, from nothingness back to something: The mystery of dwelling in flimsy huts. We shall examine how the Jewish Spiritual and Mystical Imagination understands the transition from being afraid you're gonna die on Yom Kippur to how to literally reconstruct and dwell in a world of your own making. Through classical texts, discussion and exercise, we will explore some of the themes of this z'man simchataynu, this season of our joy and create strategies for making our lives and the lives of the people around us a little more joyous also.

OCTOBER 13-15
FROM TERROR TO JOY
Rabbi Lawrence Kushner

OCTOBER 13-15

ENTERING THE SHELTER OF FAITH

Rabbi Marcia Prager

Rabbi Rabbi Marcia Prager

When Sukkot comes, we leave our homes
And come under the shade of the Sukkah.
Then our hearts are filled with trust, faith and enjoyment. -Zohar

The sheltering, embracing shade of faith is called tzila d'm'hey-menuta. Here, the Holy Zohar challenges us to separate our sense of security from our material surroundings, and ask ourselves what it means to truly feel secure. On Sukkot we place ourselves in this frail shelter to remind ourselves that real security does not come from physical strength, walls and roofs or money but from the emotional well we call emunah - faith. Come on a journey into this deep reservoir. Blending traditional teachings, song, prayer, chant, sacred story and our own sharing, we will explore what the realm of faith can be, and find the gifts our own faith can offer us.

OCTOBER 13-15
ENTERING THE SHELTER OF FAITH
Rabbi Marcia Prager

OCTOBER 13-15

Sukkot Wandering - By Bike!

Dove
Sukkot festival commemorates our ancestors' years of wandering in the desert as well as the fall harvest. Tradition encourages us to spend as much time as possible out of doors. This year Sukkot occurs in mid-October, coinciding with the peak week for the turning of the foliage in the Hudson Valley. Join Dove for a unique harvest celebration complete with Elat Chayyim style davenning, pleasant gatherings in the Sukkah, and daily rides through the countryside. Discover how truly beautiful it is to dwell outside during this colorful time of year. Ulster County is known as a haven for both experienced cyclists and leisure riders. The area around Elat Chayyim is hilly to mountainous, so be prepared for a few hard rides, but mostly rolling hills. Bike and helmets rental is available for an extra fee.

OCTOBER 13-15
Sukkot Wandering - By Bike!
Dove

OCTOBER 13-15

SEASONS OF THE SHAMAN: SUKKOT AS AN ANCIENT SHAMANIC JOURNEY

Rabbi Gershon Winkler
For the ancient Hebrews, sukkot was more than eating gefilte fish in a lean-to. It was the festival of the final harvest, a sacred rite of passage on behalf of the individual, the community and the planet, celebrated through a seven day journey into the mystery of the seven chambers, or heichalot, of the earth. This journey prepared the people for personal and collective renewal, so that the ensuing winter moons then became a period of re-wombing and re-birthing. In this course we will explore this long lost shamanic heritage of the Jewish people, through ancient texts, meditations, ceremonies and hefty doses of humor.

OCTOBER 13-15
SEASONS OF THE SHAMAN: SUKKOT AS AN ANCIENT SHAMANIC JOURNEY
Rabbi Gershon Winkler

OCTOBER 27 - 29

CONTEMPLATIVE SHABBAT

Sylvia Boorstein & Rabbi Jeff Roth

Rabbi Rabbi Jeff Roth

"U'vayom hashvi'i shavat vayinafash" - And on the seventh day, the Creator ceased and rested." This special retreat offers a Shabbat experience like the first one - filled with true rest, inner peace and joy. This weekend, you will cultivate an intimate appreciation of the spirit of Shabbat through contemplative practices that bring clarity of mind and fullness to each moment. Prayer, chant, silent meditation and private time create serenity and spaciousness. Teachings and discussion deepen understanding and impact of the meditative and Shabbat practices. In a world focused on creating and doing, there are fewer opportunities for truly being. No meditation experience is required to give yourself the gift that will enhance your Shabbat and your life.

OCTOBER 27 - 29
CONTEMPLATIVE SHABBAT
Sylvia Boorstein;Rabbi Jeff Roth

NOVEMBER 3 - 5

NINTH ANNUAL JEWISH MEN'S RETREAT

Staff
This retreat is a rare opportunity to spend time in a group of men interested in renewing> themselves and their Judaism. This annual tradition brings together men-- younger and older, straight and gay, secular and religious--to celebrate Shabbat in a warm, open and spiritual environment and create a community that fosters closeness and personal growth. The weekend will be filled with heartfelt davenning and deep sharing, song and dance, laughter and tears, fellowship and food. We will learn and explore, guided by the weekly torah portion and utilizing experiential modalities such as art and bibliodrama. This retreat is open to all men who seek growth and healing, for themselves, their communities or their planet.

NOVEMBER 3 - 5
NINTH ANNUAL JEWISH MEN'S RETREAT
Staff

November 5-8, 2000

MEDITATION RETREAT FRO RABBIS AND JEWISH PROFESSIONALS ON THE WEST COAST

Sylvia Boorstein & Rabbi Jeff Roth
With the support of the Nathan Cummings Foundation, Sylvia Boorstein and Rabbis Jeff Roth and Sheila Peltz Weinberg will facilitate a Jewish meditation retreat for rabbis and Jewish professionals at no cost. At this retreat, we combine sitting and walking meditation, Jewish prayer, and chanting. Except for teachings, chanting and question/answer periods, we live in silence, day and night, mealtime, and personal time. At the end of retreats we share our experiences. This can be an opportunity for your own rest and renewal, increased self-understanding and deeper connection to God. It can also offer an additional form, which you can use when you lead and teach. This retreat will take place at the Spirit Rock Meditation Center in California. The retreat is designed for all levels of meditation experience.

November 5-8, 2000
MEDITATION RETREAT FRO RABBIS AND JEWISH PROFESSIONALS ON THE WEST COAST
Staff

NOVEMBER 10-12

RENEWAL SHABBAT

Rabbi Shefa Gold

Rabbi Rabbi Shefa Gold

The Covenantal Journey: Going Forth as a Way of Coming Home

On this weekend of Shabbat Lech L'cha, as Abraham is called by God to go out and begin his spiritual journey, we will examine our own spiritual paths. The stories of our ancestors create a map which will guide us through seven stages of the covenental journey - Leaving, Descent, Acquiring the tools for service, Initiation, Expansion, Prophesy, and Covenant. Using the meditative tools of Sound, Silence, Movement, Stillness, Dream, and Imagination, we will explore and celebrate the Torah of our lives.

NOVEMBER 10-12
RENEWAL SHABBAT
Rabbi Shefa Gold

NOVEMBER 10-12

WOMEN AND SPIRITUALITY

Blu Greenberg
It goes without saying that in all areas of women's lives, there have been significant changes. Inasmuch as no single sphere of life is independent of any other, these changes have impacted powerfully on the ways in which woman expresses her spirituality. In these sessions, we will explore the old and new ways of Jewish women's spirituality: women as model of prayer in our sacred texts; the historical record --which grows day by day -- of changing modes of women's spiritual expression; the rich literature of women's tkhinnes (prayers) and how these speak to us; the new learning of women as an expression of relatedness to God and community; the denominational differences in women's spirituality. We shall ask whether and in what ways Jewish women's spirituality might be said to differ from men's. Finally, we shall try to define what spirituality means, both as a communal concept and for each of us individually.

NOVEMBER 10-12
WOMEN AND SPIRITUALITY
Blu Greenberg

NOVEMBER 10-12

ON BECOMING HUMAN: JUDAISM AS A HUMAN NURTURE SYSTEM

Rabbi Yitz Greenberg
This workshop will explore the fundamental Jewish conception of humanity - that the human being is created in the image of God. First, we shall derive this "great principle" of the Torah and establish the three fundamental dignities of every human being. Then we shall explore how the tradition, norms and practices of Judaism seek to nurture a human being in the image of God. We will examine three areas: the first of which is speech. The second we be sexuality, exploring communication and relationships. Then last but not least, the balance between work and leisure, the dialetic of weekday and shabbat. From there we will derive an ethic for each area based on tzelem elokim (image of God) and tikkun olam (healing the world.).

NOVEMBER 10-12
ON BECOMING HUMAN: JUDAISM AS A HUMAN NURTURE SYSTEM
Rabbi Yitz Greenberg

NOVEMBER 10-12

THE THIRTEEN PETALLED ROSE

Arthur Kurzweil

Arthur Arthur Kurzweil

For a growing number of students of Kabbalah, Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz's book The Thirteen Petalled Rose, has become an extraordinary tool, leading to a deeper understanding of the profound ideas of Jewish theology. We will take a close look at this powerful text, identifying its main ideas and exploring the ways that Rabbi Steinsaltz's book can help us to orient ourselves in our spiritual work. If you have never encountered this text, or have had difficulty with it, this intensive experience will provide a doorway to a clear grasp of the fundamental concepts contained in Kabbalistic tradition. Books and additional materials will be provided.

NOVEMBER 10-12
THE THIRTEEN PETALLED ROSE
Arthur Kurzweil

NOVEMBER 10-12

MINYAN: 10 PRACTICES FOR LIVING SPIRITUALLY

Rabbi Rami M. Shapiro
Drawing upon the nondual theology of Jewish mysticism and the practice of rabbinic, kabbalistic, musar, and Hassidic sages, this course offers a practical program for Jewish spiritual living leading to d'vekut, God consciousness. Blending lecture, text study, discussion, practice and journaling, Rami will help you integrate Jewish spiritual practice into your daily life. The way of Minyan includes meditation, repetition of a sacred phrase, inspirational reading, focused attention, dream interpretation, ecokashrut, tzedakah, gemilut Hasidim, teshuvah and Shabbat. No prior experience with meditation is required.

NOVEMBER 10-12
MINYAN: 10 PRACTICES FOR LIVING SPIRITUALLY
Rabbi Rami M. Shapiro

NOVEMBER 23-26

BASHERTE WORKSHOP - THANKSGIVING

Efraim Eisen & Rosalie Harris-Eisen
Basherte - The Groundbreaking Workshops for Jewish Singles Basherte workshops are where conscious, fun loving people come to meet conscious partners. Basherte is Yiddish for soulmate. Basherte workshops create a joyful, comfortable community where it is easy to be yourself. If you are searching for a loving relationship, this workshop will assist you in reaching your goals. You will have the opportunity to:
  • Explore your patterns and beliefs about relationship
  • Understand a deeper wisdom from our ancestors and sages about souls and soulmates
  • Practice conscious communication, which leads to intimacy
  • Clarify the essential attributes that you want in a partner and a relationship
  • Experience the mystical aspects of connection, through a renewed celebration of Shabbat.

    Song, movement, prayer, hevruta (study partnership), and meditation will be part of your journey through the Kabbalistic Four Worlds of connecting body, heart, mind, and spirit. The Basherte Workshop is open to all Jewish singles and has received rave reviews from Seattle to New York to Jerusalem. See website at www.basherte.com.

    • NOVEMBER 23-26
    BASHERTE WORKSHOP - THANKSGIVING
    Efraim Eisen; Rosalie Harris-Eisen

    DECEMBER 24 - JANUARY 1, 2001

    THE TURNING OF THE SECULAR YEAR: AN EIGHT-DAY MEDITATION RETREAT

    Shoshana & Rabbi David Cooper and Rabbi Jeff Roth

    Rabbi Rabbi Jeff Roth

    David and Shoshana will be returning once again this year to lead our popular, silent New Year's retreat. The first days after the Winter solstice are an especially powerful time for the inner gathering of the new life we hope to birth into the world during the next solar year. This retreat is designed to provide a special time and space for this work by connecting with the greater insight of our magid, or inner guide. We will meditate in silence and chant together, learn mystical teachings, and work with guided, kabbalistic meditations that help heal on a soul level. The majority of our seven-day retreat will be spent in silence in order to more fully hear the magid's 'still, small voice.' All of our work this week will be done with emphasis on developing a powerful meditation practice that each retreatant, whether a beginner or one who is advanced, will take home. No previous experience in meditation, Judaism, or Kabbalah is required, but retreatants should be prepared to make considerable effort in the practice sessions. People of all ages and backgrounds have found this inner work enormously rewarding. Living in deep, personal silence in this kind of environment creates a spaciousness of mind that opens the heart to compassion and the mind to wisdom, leading to richer experience in everyday life.

    DECEMBER 24 - JANUARY 1, 2001
    THE TURNING OF THE SECULAR YEAR: AN EIGHT-DAY MEDITATION RETREAT
    Shoshana; Rabbi David Cooper; Rabbi Jeff Roth