Deepening the quality of communal prayer to activate the body, touch the heart, engage the mind, and nuture spiritual growth.
This institute is currently in session and is closed to new participants. Current participants may register online now for the February 11–16 retreat.
The Davennen' Leadership Training Institute (DLTI) offers a unique learning experience to help those who lead worship in a Jewish context to deepen the quality of communal prayer so that it activates the body, touches the heart, engages the mind, and nourishes spiritual growth and insight. Employing the participatory approach of an intensive master class, this program coaches you in the high art of leadership of public ritual and prayer.
In this program consisting of four retreats, you become part of a living and learning fellowship — deeply engaged in the process of communal prayer and ritual. Throughout each retreat you join with core faculty and guest master-teachers in ongoing davvenen', text study, group discussions and coaching.
Leadership Skills for Building Community
Prayer can be electric and alive. Prayer can touch the soul, burst forth a creative celebration of the spirit, and open deep wells of gratitude, longing and praise. Jewish prayer in its essence is soul dialogue and calls us into relationship within and beyond.
We intuitively know when group prayer is working. Through the power of ancient and modern words and melodies, we venture into realms of deep emotion and find longing, sorrow, hope, wholeness, connection and peace. When guided by skilled leaders of prayer and ritual, our complacency is challenged, we can break through outworn assumptions about God and ourselves, and emerge refreshed and inspired to meet the challenges our lives offer. As rabbis, educators and prayer leaders, we aspire to meaningful prayer and ritual. How does one learn to create transformational spiritual experiences that will vitalize our communities?
The Davennen' Leadership Training Institute is a living-learning experience that will enable participants from all Jewish environments to gain:
- Deep understanding, experience and skill with the evolution, practice and meaning of Jewish prayer.
- Grounding in liturgical sources and the inner structure of services, with special emphasis on Shabbat.
- Advanced skills in the inspirational use of personal presence.
- Practice and experience in creating prayerful environments, working with group energetics, and balancing structure with spontaneity.
- Each session is further enriched by special programs and trainings with DLTI special guest faculty.
This program is designed for both the experienced leader and someone emerging into leadership.
Application Process
Week One
August 11-17, 2008
Week Two
February 11-16, 2009
Week Three
August 3-9, 2009
Week Four
February 10-15, 2010
External Website
The training program also has it's own website: http://dlti.homestead.com.
Registration Information
Program Fees
The tuition for this institute is $2000 (including a $1200 deposit) and does not include the cost of Room and Board. 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 | Training Institute |
| Single Occupancy | 1,875 |
| Double Occupancy | 1,015 |
| Triple Occupancy | 715 |
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Plus rooms
Plus rooms have private bathrooms.
| Plus Rooms | Training Institute |
| Single Occupancy | 1,540 |
| Double Occupancy | 940 |
| Triple Occupancy | 640 |
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Standard rooms
Standard rooms share a bathroom with one other room.
| Standard Rooms | Training Institute |
| Single Occupancy | 1,275 |
| Double Occupancy | 790 |
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Economy rooms
Economy rooms have twin beds with the bathroom in the hall.
| Economy Rooms | Training Institute |
| Single Occupancy | 975 |
| Double Occupancy | 600 |
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Dormitory rooms
Dormitory rooms are either triple or quadruple occupancy with bunk beds and bathrooms on the hall.
| Training Institute |
|
| Dormitory | 525 |
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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.
| Training Institute |
|
| Campers | 450 |
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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.
| Training Institute |
|
| Commuter | 340 |
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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.
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.
