Celebrate a restful Shabbat in community and nature!
Shabbat Summer Retreat
Friday, July 12
2-5pm – Arrival to set up camp
4:30pm – Challah braiding & crafts for children
4:30pm – Mikveh – ritual dunking in the river
5:30pm – Kid dinner
6:15pm – Candle lighting and Kabbalat Shabbat songs & prayer for all ages
7:30pm – Shabbat Dinner in the white tent
Saturday, July 13
8 am – Breakfast
10 am – Shabbat morning song & prayer and embodied Torah led by Rabbi Aaron Philmus of Ohavi Zedek (with optional Parasha Art for the kids)
12:30 pm – Shabbat Lunch
Afternoon rest & rejuvenation – walk down to the river, lay in a hammock, wander through the forest
4:30 pm – Discussion about Shared Society in Israel led by Ravit Greenberg
6:30 pm – Community dinner
8pm – Story telling and havdalah around the fire
July 14
7:30am – farm & animal chores
8am – Closing circle & breakfast
9:30am- 11am – Give back on the farm! Working together on the farm can be so rewarding as we prepare more contemplative spaces and grow the food that nourishes us.
Enjoy the beauty of Vermont with contemplation, embodied prayer, ancient Jewish wisdom teachings, song, and delicious farm-grown food.
We look forward to collaborating with Ohavi Zedek, Beth Jacob Synagogue & Ruach HaMaqom for a relaxing and rejuvenating weekend.
Friday night we share in family-friendly Kabbalat Shabbat song & prayer experience. This will close the week of Valley Teva Camp as campers share the sparkles and gems of the camp week, and the community settles into Shabbat on the farm.
Saturday morning Rabbi Aaron Philmus of Ohavi Zedek will lead us in morning prayer, song, and Torah learning. Children’s programming will be provided as well. Saturday late afternoon, join us for a discussion about shared society in Israel with Ravit Greenberg. (See full description below)
Meals are included (bring your own snacks), and participants have the option to camp overnight.
Want to come for the whole week and send your child to Valley Teva Camp? Register here for camp and stay the weekend for celebratory family time in nature.
We’re grateful for the support of Jewish Communities of Vermont and the Covenant Foundation; as well as co-sponsors Ohavi Zedek, Beth Jacob, Ruach HaMaqom ,and Nefesh.
Saturday late-afternoon program: Investing in Shared Society in Israel Post Oct 7
Please join Ravit Greenberg, a Living Tree summer resident, to discuss why she believes in investing in shared society in Israel, as opposed to divesting from the country. You will hear about the acute challenges the Arab-Jewish shared society ecosystem faced post-October 7, and the strategic directions she is committed to pursuing.
About Ravit Greenberg
When Ravit Greenberg was at Rutgers University during the second intifada (early 2000s) she was disturbed by the divisive rhetoric promoted by both the Pro-Palestinian and Pro-Israel groups on campus. This is one of the experiences that contributed deeply to her desire to move to Israel, as she wanted to be engaged building a shared, pluralistic and democratic society. Since then, she has chosen to engage in civil society work to support the inclusive development of the Negev, while building an alternative Jewish community in Beer Sheva. In 2016, she sought out Bedouin visionaries with whom she worked to advance socioeconomic projects together with until 2021. Over the past few years, Ravit has become a philanthropic advisor who focuses on ‘shared society’ and Arab society in Israel.