Contemplative Silence is encouraged in our dining room and main building from the moment we rise through breakfast. This gentle mindfulness practice enables us to be more available to the present moment and to the day of learning that is ahead.
Prayer on Elat Chayyim retreats is designed to provide an experience that opens the heart and facilitates our connections to community, the Divine and our deepest truths. Prayer sessions generally follow the structure and rhythm of traditional Jewish services and also include chanting, musical instruments and meditation. Please see specific program descriptions for more details.
Mishpacha Sharing Circles offer opportunities for retreatants to speak their feelings, reactions, enthusiasm, values and thoughts during an Elat Chayyim retreat. Pre-assigned groups of 5 -10 people, including participants and teachers, meet each evening with a trained facilitator. Mishpacha ("family") groups enable people to make close connections with others as they share their reactions to retreats on any of the four levels of reality: physical, emotional, intellectual/imaginable and spiritual. For many participants the mishpacha group experience inspires peak retreat insights.
Our Children’s Program during the Elat Chayyim Summer Program gives children the gift of a joyous and engaging Jewish experience. Children ages 4 – 14 receive a balance of creative learning, arts, environmental and organic farming education, sports and outdoor activities. Educators are trained to provide an emotionally safe environment to form a respectful and vibrant children’s community. Two or three age-groups are formed based on the number of children at each formal program. For more information, please see the Children's Program info on our Family Retreats page.
The Elat Chayyim Center for Jewish Spirituality is an integral part of Isabella Freedman’s programs on Jewish Learning, Spirituality & Celebration. Now in its second year at Isabella Freedman, the center is a living laboratory for the development and renewal of contemporary Jewish spiritual life. Elat Chayyim retreats promote practices that draw on the wisdom of Jewish tradition and reflect the values and consciousness of our evolving society. Experiential approaches to Jewish learning, ritual and prayer are designed to help participants in their search to cultivate awareness of the Divine presence in all aspects of life.