Global Climate Change Leadership Seminar

For Jewish Educators and Community Leaders

August 25 - 28, 2008
Co-sponsored by Hazon, COEJL, Teva and UJA-Federation of New York

God led Adam around the Garden of Eden. And God said to Adam: ‘See My works, how good and praiseworthy they are?! All that I have created, I made for you. But be mindful then that you do not spoil and destroy My world – for if you do, there will be no one after you to repair it.
—Midrash Qohelet Rabbah 7:13; ca. 8th Century C.E.

The Jewish imperative of tikkun olam — repairing the world — implores us to respond as a community to the devastating effects of global climate change. Our dependence on fossil fuels is transforming the planet and life on it. The Earth has already warmed and there is now more carbon pollution in the atmosphere than at any point in the last 650,000 years. Without significant action to reduce carbon emissions within the next decade, scientists predict that the consequences will be severe and potentially irreversible.

Join leading educators and scientists for an in-depth exploration of the scientific, political, ecological and spiritual/ethical dimensions of global climate change. This seminar is designed for Jewish educators and community leaders who wish to become agents of change and models for action within the Jewish community. No scientific or global warming background is needed. Participants will gain a deep understanding of the issues and leave prepared to teach and inspire on the topic of global climate change.

Register now:

Aug 25 - 28

Teachers

Adam Berman has been at Isabella Freedman since 2002. Prior to becoming Executive Director, Adam served as the Director of the Teva Learning Center, a program created at Isabella Freedman in 1995. He teaches widely on issues related to Judaism, ecology and leadership and founded the ADAMAH: The Jewish Environmental Fellowship at Isabella Freedman in 2003. He holds an M.B.A from the University of California at Berkeley.

Tom Wessels is the Founding Director of the Master’s Program in Conservation Biology at Antioch University New England. He is a terrestrial ecologist who has spent over thirty years leading nationwide workshops on forest, desert, and alpine ecosystems, geomorphology, evolutionary ecology, and the interface between landscape and culture. Tom is as an ecological consultant to the Rain Forest Alliance’s SmartWood Green Certification Program. His books include: Reading the Forested Landscape, The Granite Landscape, Untamed Vermont and The Myth of Progress: Toward a Sustainable Future.

Rachel Jacoby Rosenfield launched a Greening Initiative at the Riverdale YM-YWHA where she serves as the Director for Program Development and Jewish Life. An award-winning teacher who developed Jewish service-learning curricula for Spark: Partnership for Service in the areas of public health and literacy, Rachel also serves on the advisory board for Hazon's food curriculum "Min Ha'aretz."

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.

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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.

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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.

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Economy rooms

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

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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.

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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.

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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.