Jewish Learning Retreats

Retreatology is the premier training in the art of Jewish Retreat-Making. Participants (or “Retreatologists”) learn how to create a Jewish gathering for their friends and community from start to finish. From goal-setting to venue selection to experience design, we cover it all. We are looking for community builders, creatives, and people who dream big! Retreatologists are eligible for a grant of up to $5,000 to plan and execute the Jewish learning retreat they have always dreamed of creating. Whether it’s creative writing, Jewish mindfulness, Jewish food or Torah yoga, Retreatology and Moishe House are here to make it possible.

*Newly added retreat!* Civic engagement is the process of “working to make a difference in the civic life of our communities and developing the combination of knowledge, skills, values and motivation to make that difference. It means promoting the quality of life in a community, through both political and non-political processes" (American Democracy Project). Judaism describes the scene at Mount Sinai as the people being “as one person with one heart” – a powerful statement of an engaged and enthusiastic community. Join us for a unique retreat where we will explore the Jewish values of being engaged in issues pertinent to our home communities, discuss these issues and how they manifest, and strategize for action upon our return!

Many of us didn't get the education we need to understand how to navigate personal finance. This is crucial not only as a life skill, but also for identifying the life that one seeks to lead. Together we will explore the issues at the intersection of Jewish values and money: conscious consumption, ethical giving, and giving circles. An onsite Certified Financial Planner (CFP) will be available for financial planning sessions to work with you on your financial future. We will dive deep into the Jewish ethics of giving and receiving and come away with practical skills to take back to your home community.

Many of us find creating things with our own hands to be a wholesome and cathartic process - from tying lanyards at summer camp to designing your own furniture or creating your own makers space. Some of the questions we will explore on this retreat include: How and why does art and crafting bring us joy? What is distinctively ‘Jewish art’? How do I blend my passion for art and my love for Jewish community? You will leave this retreat with ideas for how to blend these two passions. If you have a craft that you love, we encourage you to bring it and share with others on the retreat!

Retreatology is the premier training in the art of Jewish Retreat-Making. Participants (or “Retreatologists”) learn how to create a Jewish gathering for their friends and community from start to finish. From goal-setting to venue selection to experience design, we cover it all. We are looking for community builders, creatives, and people who dream big! Retreatologists are eligible for a grant of up to $5,000 to plan and execute the Jewish learning retreat they have always dreamed of creating. Whether it’s creative writing, Jewish mindfulness, Jewish food or Torah yoga, Retreatology and Moishe House are here to make it possible.

Passover is the most celebrated Jewish holiday around the world. We encounter one of the greatest stories ever told and are challenged to see ourselves as if we were slaves from Egypt, but how do we actually do that? On this retreat,you will see with new eyes and discover your own story of freedom. You will leave this retreat with inspiration and newfound skills to enhance and host your own Passover Seder in 2020 and for years to come!

Retreatology is the premier training in the art of Jewish Retreat-Making. Participants (or “Retreatologists”) learn how to create a Jewish gathering for their friends and community from start to finish. From goal-setting to venue selection to experience design, we cover it all. We are looking for community builders, creatives, and people who dream big! Retreatologists are eligible for a grant of up to $5,000 to plan and execute the Jewish learning retreat they have always dreamed of creating. Whether it’s creative writing, Jewish mindfulness, Jewish food or Torah yoga, Retreatology and Moishe House are here to make it possible.

The North American Jewish experience is often told from the perspective of Jews whose ancestors come from Eastern Europe (Ashkenazi). This retreat will highlight other Jewish historical narratives, in particular the Mizrahi (Middle Eastern Jews) and Sephardi (Southern European) communities. We will grapple with these questions and more: What is Ashkinormativity? How do other Jewish cultural narratives differ from my own? How can we create more culturally inclusive Jewish spaces? Together we’ll uncover new ritual and program ideas from the diverse Jewish experience and you will leave this retreat with a greater understanding of Jewish narratives that aren’t the same as your own.

Mindfulness -- the practice of living in the present moment -- is a kind of meditation that comes with mental, emotional and psychological benefits for those who dedicate time to developing a practice. Judaism can inform and enhance the evolution of your mindfulness practice, whether you are developing one for the first time or whether you are already advanced. On this retreat we will explore what Judaism has to say about mindfulness, what distinctly Jewish ideas and rituals are also mindful ones, and how the intersection of Judaism and mindfulness can enhance your well-being. You will leave this retreat refreshed and eager to further develop your mindfulness routine at home and with others in your community.

Have you ever wanted to spend Shabbat under the stars? This is your chance! With professional outdoor guides, we will venture into the wilderness of Rocky Mountain National Park for an amazing weekend of hiking, rock climbing, and exploring the Colorado Rockies. We will also explore the intersection of Judaism and the environment at this critical juncture in the health of our planet. Join us for an incredible Shabbat of a shared outdoor experience that you won't forget.

Coalition building is the process by which parties form a temporary alliance or partnering of groups in order to achieve a common purpose or to engage in joint activity. According to Jewish text, participating and making an impact on one’s community is not an option but a religious obligation. Going beyond the Jewish community and building relationships and partnerships is an important step to make the world a more just and peaceful place. Take a weekend to explore coalition building in order to build partnerships when you return home.

Sukkot is the most underappreciated holiday! The Jewish harvest festival compels us to have dinner parties with our friends outside and celebrate!l & With practices to eat and sleep in the sukkah, how do we elevate the conversation and creative harvest rituals to make our Sukkot (or “huts)week-long community centers. You will leave this retreat inspired to create stellar Sukkot programming to end your High Holy Days on a high note, while also learning practical skills such as how to build and design your own sukkah.

Have you ever wanted to spend Shabbat under the stars? This is your chance! With professional outdoor guides, we will venture into the wilderness of the Nantahala National Forest and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park for an amazing weekend of hiking, river rafting, and exploring the Smoky Mountains. We will also explore the intersection of Judaism and the environment at this critical juncture in the health of our planet. Join us for an incredible Shabbat of a shared outdoor experience that you won't forget.

How can we better include communities that are underrepresented in Jewish spaces? These communities include but are not limited to people with disabilities, Jews of Color, Jews from one-Jewish-parent households, LGBTQ folks, those with differing religious observance or political views than ourselves, and the list goes on. We will explore the questions: Is it possible to create a truly pluralistic space, for all of these groups? What work has already been done in the Jewish community on including these groups, and how can we build off of it in the next decade and beyond? You will leave this retreat with actionable skills to make your community a more open space for all.

Shabbat: the most frequent holiday on the Jewish calendar. For many of us, Shabbat is also an opportunity to decompress/disconnect from our regular life: work, family, social and financial responsibilities, the list goes on. How do we balance the need to create community on Shabbat though meals, song and celebration with our simultaneous need to decompress? Using Marie Kondo’s philosophy of “Spark Joy” we will examine our own Shabbat practices and share ideas for enhancing them back in our home communities!

Retreatology is the premier training in the art of Jewish Retreat-Making. Participants (or “Retreatologists”) learn how to create a Jewish gathering for their friends and community from start to finish. From goal-setting to venue selection to experience design, we cover it all. We are looking for community builders, creatives, and people who dream big! Retreatologists are eligible for a grant of up to $5,000 to plan and execute the Jewish learning retreat they have always dreamed of creating. Whether it’s creative writing, Jewish mindfulness, Jewish food or Torah yoga, Retreatology and Moishe House are here to make it possible.

We exist in a precarious time for our environment and planet. What does Judaism say about our role as caretakers for our planet? Together we’ll use the models of environmentalism and permaculture as lenses through which we can make everyday decisions about our role in consumption culture, our carbon footprint, and our Jewish responsibility to heal and care for the planet. You’ll come home from this retreat with new and innovative ideas to bring your community together and get them outside!