Theater of the Talmud

Encountering Essential
Dramatic Tensions In Our Lives

August 4-7, 2008

The Babylonian Talmud, known as the reservoir of Hebrew law, is an important source of dramatic stories and legends. Become acquainted with the colorful gallery of heroic figures, drama and suspense that molded the spiritual world of our Sages and gave us entry into the seldom-displayed "Theater of the Talmud."

We will focus on the suspense and drama, between:

• Torment & Love in the story of Rabbi Akiva
• Passion & Loyalty in the stories of Rav Chiya Bar Ashi and his wife and Rish Lekish
  
• Leadership & Doubt in the death of Rav Yohanan Ben Zakkai
  
• Life & Death in spiritual legacies

Suffering: A Laughing Matter?

Rabbinic literature tells many stories about the suffering of Rabbi Akiva, the great first-century sage. Rabbi Akiva had a unique approach to tragedy. He often laughed when other sages cried. What can we learn from these and other stories of suffering? How can we make sense of the rabbinic concept of yisurim shel ahavah – sufferings of love? What can this concept mean for us today? Explore these and other questions with a unique scholar of rabbinic legend.

Passion and Loyalty

With neither Dr. Ruth nor Dr. Phil to counsel them, our ancestors turned to the Talmud for marriage guidance. The legends of the Sages offer us an insight into their approach to passion, intimacy and marital relationships, and are offered a unique opportunity to compare their wisdom with contemporary attitudes toward this complex subject.

Leadership and Doubt

The Talmud explores the inner conflict between the auras of decisiveness, confidence and omnipotence attributed to and projected by an admired leader and his own feelings of uncertainty, inadequacy and doubt.

Life and Death

In most cultures, special meaning is attached to the moment of death. Deathbed stories found in the Talmud open a window for a glimpse into the important lessons learned from the Rabbis’ look at man's last breaths.

Teacher

Dr. Ruth Calderon is the founder and head of Alma College. In 1989, Ruth founded and headed the “Elul” Bet Midrash, which had the unique distinction of offering Jewish studies on the basis of equality for men and women, and religious and non-religious scholars. She is the author of The Market, the Home, the Heart, a book that offers a personal homiletic reading of Talmudic legends.

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Registration Information

The program fee for this class is $300. 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	Three Nights
Single Occupancy	750
Double Occupancy	450
Triple Occupancy	315

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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	Three Nights
Single Occupancy	615
Double Occupancy	375
Triple Occupancy	255

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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	Three Nights
Single Occupancy	510
Double Occupancy	315

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Economy rooms

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

Standard Rooms	Three Nights
Single Occupancy	390
Double Occupancy	240

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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	Three Nights
Dormitory	210
Camper	195
Commuter	165

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Children's Rates

Infants and toddlers under three are complimentary. Children aged 3-17 are welcome to share the room with at least one parent or guardian per room.

Children's Rates	Three Nights
Children	120

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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.