The first Metrowest Shabbat Retreat in Nature will be held August 17 - 19. It will be a weekend of Judaism outdoors in the woods and will include Kabbalat Shabbat beneath the sky, outdoor services, walks in the woods, meditation, storytelling, music, arts & crafts, environmental education, activities for kids and adults, havdalah under the stars, and more. It will begin at 4 PM on Friday and end at 1 PM on Sunday.
Registration for the retreat is now open, and the options for attendance are many. It is possible to come for an afternoon, a day or the whole the weekend, and to sleep under the stars, in a tent, in a lean-to, in a cabin, or at home. Everyone, of every age and every background, is welcome. Dietary laws will be observed, meals will be vegetarian, and food will be mostly local.
Programs in place include Jewish meditation led by Cantor Sarra Spierer and storytelling by Bruce Marcus, who will recount his experiences in the woods and fields and also will invite participants to share their stories. Dan Balter and Pablo Vezquez of Fireseed Arts will lead an environmental art workshop, Robin Reiner, biologist and educator, will lead a workshop on Mammals of New England, including examining skins, skulls, teeth, horns, and more, plus Hebrew names, and Peter Sultan, astronomer, will share his knowledge of the starry sky if the night is clear. Nature walks will be led by Rabbi Katy Allen, Nature Chaplain Lisa Greber, and others. Other workshops, as well as Shabbat and daily services, are also planned.
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The Shabbat Retreat in Nature is sponsored by Ma’yan Tikvah of Wayland and supported by Kerem Shalom of Concord, Temple Israel of Natick, Congregation Beth Elohim of Acton, and Temple Beth Sholom of Framingham.
Fees for the weekend vary, and the maximum is $125 per person. For more information contact Rabbi Katy Allen. To register go to www.mayantikvah.org/metrowest-retreat/.
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This program is supported by the Metrowest Jewish Community Fund of Combined Jewish Philanthropies.
