Avodat Halev: Cultivating a Heart-based Approach to Jewish Prayer
A Shabbat Retreat for Lay Leaders
with the Institute for Jewish Spirituality
July 10-13, 2008
Trinity Retreat and Conference Center
West Cornwall, Connecticut
Join IJS Rabbis Rachel Cowan, Sheila Weinberg and Jonathan Slater for a soulful Shabbaton, a time for silence and reflection, song and connection.
With some of the leading teachers of contemporary Jewish spirituality, in an exquisite retreat setting, we will investigate the experience and practice of prayer in our own lives.
We will use a variety of forms study, song, davening, body-prayer and meditation supported by contemplative silence, to help us see more clearly how we pray, and when, to wake up to the movement of prayer in our souls, cradled in the beauty of Shabbat and the warmth of community.
One of the core practices of the IJS is contemplative silence. We offer periods of intentional silence in the form of mindfulness meditation each day, and incorporate periods of quiet during prayer and study. We believe that when we step back from the impulse to speak, we offer our souls the space in which they can more fully manifest. In no way is this silence meant to stifle expression rather, it is intended to expand the opportunities for greater self-knowledge and more intentional, compassionate expression and action.
Our daily program will include formal prayer services each morning, as well as to welcome Shabbat. We invite you to bring a kippah, tallit and tefillin (if you use them). We will provide prayer books. We also offer opportunities to bring mindful awareness to the body through formal yoga sessions, as well as silent walks and other activities. The program begins at 5pm on Thursday and will end at lunchtime on Sunday.
Cost: $475pp for a shared room; $650pp for a single Please register by: June 16, 2008
Questions about the retreat: Please contact Pat Fettinger at pat@ijs-online.org or 413/665-7324
Cost for the retreat: $475pp for a shared room, and $650pp for a single. To make this retreat available to as many people as possible, we are only charging for the cost of room and board. At the conclusion of the retreat you will be invited to donate as generously as you are able to support the teachers.
Cancellation Policy: There will be no refunds for cancellations within two weeks of the start of the retreat [i.e. no refunds will be given for cancellations after June 26th]. Any cancellations before that time will be refunded the full amount, minus a $50 processing fee.