This application is for joining the Seeking a Just Divine: A Jewish Justice Theology Retreat on April 17th-19th.
Description
With all that's going on in the world, the level of burnout for activists can be pretty high. As many of us know, spiritual community is something that is nourishing and reinvigorating. But it can also be pretty hard to find a community that is both politically aligned and spiritually grounding.
For the weekend of April 17th-19th, Jewish activists and spiritual seekers are gathering to spend a weekend in community, building connections to each other and to the divine. This retreat will be focused on developing a notion of Jewish justice that is spiritually grounded. The hope is that participants will leave feeling refreshed and spiritually grounded, and will take with them new theological resources to motivate Jewish communities to action.
In addition to opportunities for communal prayer and personal meditation/reflection, the retreat will feature sessions focused on developing a Jewish justice theology through the lens of creation, revelation, and liberation.
Cost, Location, & Room/Board
In order to help cover costs, this retreat costs $36. The participation fee covers sleeping arrangements, food, and snacks for the entire weekend.
Location is at Bethel Farm in Hillsborough, NH -- approximately a 1.5 hour drive from Boston.
There will be multiple beds in each room. Please let us know if you have roommate preferences.
Transportation will not be provided, however a carpool sign-up will be sent out.
Need-based Stipends
We have a small amount of scholarships available to help cover the cost of the retreat or to mitigate travel costs. If either of these would prove a barrier to you, please send an email to avirwaxman@gmail.com outlining your circumstances. Scholarships are limited, and size will be determined based on need and how many people apply for aid.
Application process:
- Fill out this application!
- Meet with our facilitator/educator for a brief 10 minute call
- Pay the $36 participation fee
FAQ
- How long is this application? The application has many questions, but it's just designed to get a sense of who might be joining this retreat. While you are welcome to write personal essays, each question can be answered with a two or three sentences.
- Who is this retreat for? This retreat is for Jewish leftists, activists, and spiritual seekers in New England who are looking to create a connection to a Jewishly rooted and justice-oriented notion of God/the divine. Participants must be at least 22 years old to join.
- Am I Jewish enough to attend this event? Yes! If you identify as a Jewish activist who wants to explore this topic -- this retreat is for you!
- Am I too Jewish for this event? This retreat is open to Jews of all level of observances! If you are shomer kashrut, shomer shabbos, or need to ensure a certain type of prayer practice, please be in touch and we will do our best to make sure your needs are met.
- I'm not in New England -- can I still come? Possibly! This retreat is designed for New England residents, and space is limited. Please feel free to fill out the application, and we will be in touch if there's room.
- What's the deal with the God-talk? There will be a lot of God-talk this weekend. Although certain conceptions of the divine will be put forward for discussion, you do not need a certain conception of the divine to join this retreat. This retreat is designed as a weekend-long conversation around the topic, and the expectation is that most people will disagree or feel discomfort at some point. Both of those are welcome and space will be made for them. All that being said, it is probably easiest if you enter the retreat with some conception of the divine; radical atheists will likely have difficulty fully engaging in the retreat.
- What's going to happen with my data from this form? As part of our grant, we are required to share names, emails, dates of birth, and city/state with Mem Global, so they can track who is joining for this retreat. If you have any concerns, or would like to flag your data not be used in a certain way, please include this in your application or reach out with questions.
- Who do I talk to if I have questions? AvirLev is going to be our facilitator and educator for the weekend. Please reach out to him at avirwaxman@gmail.com with a subject line that includes [Finding a Just Divine] somewhere in the subject heading.
Special thanks to Mem Global for generously providing the funds to make this retreat affordable.
