Preparation for Pesach

The Purification of the Heart

April 11-13, 2008

Each year as we embark upon Pesach’s journey from slavery into freedom, we are apt to get so caught up in the details of cleaning, searching the house for chametz, cooking and preparing for guests, that we ignore the internal preparation for the purification of our hearts.

Participants in this workshop will use the modalities of text study, chant, meditation, imagery and inner journeying to explore the landscape of the heart and search for the hidden chametz — those soured places within us that can lead to the leavening or inflation of the ego. We’ll use the Song of Songs and a 13th century text by the grandson of Maimonidies to map our journeys toward freedom.

Register now:

April 11 - 13

Teachers

Rabbi Shefa Gold is a leader in ALEPH: the Alliance for Jewish Renewal and received her ordination from both the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College and from Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi. She is the director of C-DEEP: The Center for Devotional, Energy and Ecstatic Practice in Jemez Springs, New Mexico. Shefa composes and performs spiritual music, has produced ten albums, and her liturgies have been published in several new prayerbooks. She is the author of Torah Journeys: The Inner Path to the Promised Land, published by Ben Yehuda Press.

Registration Information

The program fee for this class is $125. 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.

Deluxe Rooms	One Night	Two Nights	Three Nights	Four Nights	Six Nights	Week-long Meditation Retreats	Training Institute
Single Occupancy	280	560	750	1000	1,500	1,690	1,875
Double Occupancy	170	340	450	600	810	915	1,015
Triple Occupancy	115	230	315	420	570	645	715

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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.

Plus Rooms	One Night	Two Nights	Three Nights	Four Nights	Six Nights	Week-long Meditation Retreats	Training Institute
Single Occupancy	240	480	615	820	1,230	1,385	1,540
Double Occupancy	145	290	375	500	750	845	940
Triple Occupancy	95	190	255	340	510	575	640

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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.

Standard Rooms	One Night	Two Nights	Three Nights	Four Nights	Six Nights	Week-long Meditation Retreats	Training Institute
Single Occupancy	200	400	510	680	1,020	1150	1,275
Double Occupancy	120	240	315	420	630	710	790

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Economy rooms

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

Standard Rooms	One Night	Two Nights	Three Nights	Four Nights	Six Nights	Week-long Meditation Retreats	Training Institute
Single Occupancy	155	310	390	520	780	880	975
Double Occupancy	95	190	240	320	480	540	600

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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.

Dormitory Rooms	One Night	Two Nights	Three Nights	Four Nights	Six Nights	Week-long Meditation Retreats	Training Institute
Dormitory	80	160	210	280	420	475	525
Camper	70	140	195	260	360	405	450
Commuter	60	120	165	220	270	305	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.

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.