Rosh Hashanah

September 29 – October 1, 2008 or
September 29 – October 2, 2008

This retreat has a two-night or three-night option.

Welcome the New Year with inspiring services led by Rabbi Shawn Zevit and Arielle Cohen. Participate in deep Torah discussions and a variety of alternative programming including yoga and meditation, guided nature walks, farm tours, late night song sessions and much more.

Rosh Hashana services and Torah study will reflect a multi-denominational egalitarian style. Services will follow the traditional structure of the liturgy, but will also include meditation, chanting and musical instruments. Daily yoga will also be offered.

Children are welcome and there will be children's programming available during specific times. At all other times, parents must supervise their children.

Both two- and three-night stays are available. See Registration Information (below).

Program Fees

Adults: $175
Children: $85

Service Leaders

Rabbi Shawn Zevit serves as a consultant for numerous organizations in the areas of spiritual life, leadership, social justice, community building, money and values, creativity and Jewish men's issues. He is the Director of Outreach and Tikkun Olam for the Jewish Reconstructionist Federation and has consulted with over 500 institutions and faith communities across North America. Rabbi Zevit is a founding member of Shabbat Unplugged, Playback Philadelphia, the Institute for Contemporary Midrash and the Davenning Leader’s Training Institute. He performs traditional and new music that is available on his CDs. See www.RabbiZevit.com.

Arielle Cohen is a second-year rabbinical student at the Jewish Theological Seminary, a vinyasa yoga teacher and the rabbinic intern for Hazon. Arielle worked with Rabbi David Ingber to co-found Romemu, a renewal style minyan in New York City's Upper West Side, and has worked for Encounter, a peace and dialogue organization in the Middle East, and The Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life. Arielle has also led many group trips in Israel, and has a background in meditation and conflict resolution.

Registration Information

The program fee for both two-night and three-night options is $175 per adult and $85 per child. Fees are per person, and do not include the cost of Room and Board (below). For a two-night stay, there is an additional charge of $60 per person built into the two-night Room and Board Fee listed below. This charge covers facility and meal costs through the end of the Rosh Hashana holiday. We strive to make our programs affordable to everyone. Please see Financial Assistance information 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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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.