Isabella Freedman Jewish Retreat Center

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Holy Drumming Institute

With Akiva Wharton and Friends

Register now:

Aug 2 - 8


Teachers

Akiva Wharton
Akiva Wharton

This institute is currently in session and is closed to new participants.

Have you always wanted to bring your drum into holy space? Do you dream of drumming with people at prayer? Elat Chayyim invites you to take part in the world's first two-year Holy Drumming Intensive.

Led by popular Master Drummer Akiva The Believer Wharton, this four-week training program is conducted over the course of two years. Each participant will graduate as a Holy Drummer - a title that conveys respected musicianship and familiarity with the role of the drummer during Jewish prayer services.

The four weeklong retreats are designed for beginners and experienced drummers alike, for people studying to become professional drummers and for those who want to accompany and co-create with prayer leaders at synagogues or havurahs.

Learn how bring thoughtful musical drumming into weekday, Shabbat, Festival and High Holiday prayer services. Gain or hone basic and advanced techniques with an array of percussion instruments that can be artfully used to deepen people's experiences during prayer. Discover secrets for accessing healing drum energy and prepare yourself to play for dance celebrations, drum circles and special events.

Retreats will feature guest appearances by professional drummers and prayer leaders. All participants will have opportunities to accompany people at prayer. Knowledge of Hebrew is not required and all instruction will be tailored to accommodate a wide range of familiarity with Jewish prayer. Just bring an open mind, a willing heart, a drum and one additional percussion instrument. A variety of drums and other percussion instruments will be available for purchase during the first weeklong retreat.

  • Week 1: August 2 – 8, 2009
    With special guest Shoshana Jedwab

  • Week 2: January 11 – 17, 2010

  • Week 3: August 2 – 8, 2010

  • Week 4: Winter 2011

Register now:

Aug 2 - 8


Teachers

Akiva Wharton is a Master Drummer and a passionate percussionist who has helped reintroduce holy drumming into Jewish prayer settings. He performs solo concerts, leads services and teaches workshops all over the world, often accompanying well-known artists and groups such as Shefa Gold, Craig Taubman and Storahtelling. Akiva is the author of the forthcoming book Holy Drumming: A manual for any drummer who wants to accompany people in prayer. He is working on a CD called The Rhythm of G!d.

Shoshana Jedwab is a prize-winning Jewish educator and the Jewish Studies Coordinator at the A.J. Heschel Middle School in New York City. She is the founding facilitator of the Makom Drum Circle at the JCC in Manhattan and is a percussionist and performance artist who has trained in bibliodrama and psychodrama. Shoshana has provided empowering drum circles to singles, student, training and bereavement groups. Shoshana has performed with Storahtelling, Chana Rothman, Debbie Friedman, Akiva Wharton, A Song of Solomon, Hebrew Mystical Chant with the Kirtan Rabbi Andrew Hahn, and Tel Shemesh seasonal events. She is Kohenet's ritual drummer and also serves on the Kohenet faculty.

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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 Aid, please see below. Our Children's Program is also available during the summer retreats of this Institute.

Room and Board

Room and board includes housing, meals, evening activities, 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. Children's rates apply to ages 4 - 17. 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.

Economy Rooms: Daisy, Elm and Kaufman

Economy rooms have twin-sized beds and a shared bathroom in the hall.

Economy Rooms Six
Nights
Triple Occupancy 430
Double Occupancy 510
Single Occupancy 864

*These rates include an Institute Administrative Fee.

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Standard Rooms: May, Scheuer, Pine, Cedar, Maple, Blue Heron

Our standard rooms have either a private bathroom or a shared bathroom with one other room. Most standard rooms have twin-sized beds; queen-sized beds may be available on a limited basis.

Standard Rooms Six
Nights
Triple Occupancy
with Private Bath		 660
Double Occupancy
with Shared Bath		 660
Double Occupancy
with Private Bath		 810
Single Occupancy
with Shared Bath		 1080
Single Occupancy
with Private Bath		 1320

*These rates include an Institute Administrative Fee.

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Standard Plus Rooms: Weinberg

Our standard plus rooms have private bathrooms and queen-sized beds.

Standard Plus Rooms Six
Nights
Double Occupancy 900
Single Occupancy 1542

*These rates include an Institute Administrative Fee.

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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 meditation, yoga or non-holiday prayer.

Camping Rates Six
Nights
Each Camper 390

*These rates include an Institute Administrative Fee.

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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 such as meditation, yoga or non-holiday prayer.

Commuter Rates Six
Nights
Each Commuter 270

*These rates include an Institute Administrative Fee.

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Children's Rates

During summer sessions, children are welcome to participate in our Children's Program. During winter sessions, we do not offer a Children's Program. There is no charge for infants and children ages 3 and under. Room and Board rates for children ages 4 – 17 for six nights is $270 per child. Children ages 4 – 17 must share a room with at least one parent or guardian. Young adults ages 18 and above must pay the regular rates.

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Financial Assistance

We strive to make our programs affordable to everyone. We provide limited scholarship funding of up to 30% of room and board fees for those in extreme financial need. This financial support is only available for dormitory rooms with hall baths and economy rooms for couples and families. If you would like to request financial support, please complete the Application for Room and Board Support. In your request, please consider that we have a limited pool of resources. We are committed to helping you in any we can, and we ask you to help us help others by limiting your request to your genuine need. All requests must be received at least three weeks prior to the retreat.

Cancellation Policy

Payments made will be refunded in full (less a $50 processing fee) if you cancel more than 14 days prior to your arrival. If you cancel between 13 days and 72 hours prior to a retreat for which you have registered, a non-refundable credit (less a $50 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 within 72 hours of a retreat or on the retreat 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.

Inclement Weather: Isabella Freedman reserves the right to cancel a retreat due to inclement weather if, in its judgment, it will be unable to operate safely. In the event of such a cancellation, a full refund will be made to all registrants. In the event that the retreat proceeds as scheduled, no refund or credit will be available.

Shuttle and Transportation Fees: A full transportation refund is available if you cancel a transportation reservation at least 3 days (72 hours) in advance. No refund is available if less than 3 days notice is given.

Training Institutes: If you are participating in a two-year training institute and you miss or cancel one of the weeklong retreat sessions, 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 refund on your program fee for any remaining pre-paid retreats.

Travel Insurance: We recommend you contact your travel agent to purchase travel insurance in the event that you need to cancel or change your travel plans.

Exceptions: Exceptions to these policies may be available in the event of severe weather emergencies or the death of a close family member. To request a non-transferable credit for one of these reasons, please submit a written request to registrar@isabellafreedman.org no more than three days after the start of the event.
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Isabella Freedman Jewish Retreat Center 116 Johnson Road Falls Village, CT 06031