Tuesday, January 15, 2013

From Camp Ramah: Retreats for Married Couples with a Spouse Recently Converted to Judaism


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National Ramah Commission, Inc. of The Jewish Theological Seminary
www.campramah.org 
January 2013
Shevat 5773
Dear Rabbinic Colleagues:

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Our first series of retreats:

Fantastic opportunities for young married couples (20's and 30's) 
with a spouse who has recently converted to Judaism
  • celebrate Jewish life 
  • experience a joyful Shabbat 
  • build strong friendships with other couples

Please forward this email to couples from your communities who would benefit from a Shabbat experience designed specifically for them.


Three options for Spring 2013:
  • West Coast: April 12-14, 2013 at Ramah California (Ojai, CA: 1.5 hrs from LA)
  • Northeast: May 10-12, 2013 at Ramah New England (Palmer, MA: 1 hr from Boston)
  • Southeast: May 24-26, 2013 at Ramah Darom (Clayton, GA: 2 hrs from Atlanta)
Retreats begin on Friday afternoon and conclude on Sunday morning. Program cost is $200 per couple per retreat, and includes kosher meals, snacks, lodging and program (subsidized by National Ramah). Due to the generous support of the RA, additional funding may be available to help underwrite the cost of OpenDoor Retreats for couples you recommend.

For additional information, please visit www.OpenDoorRetreats.org, or contact us at (212) 678-8881 or info@OpenDoorRetreats.org.

Please give us your thoughts for more retreats in this 5-minute survey.

Shalom,
Mitch Cohen

  Cheryl Magen

Rabbi Mitchell Cohen
National Ramah Director
Cheryl Magen
Director, OpenDoor Retreats

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Dear Rabbinic Colleagues,

Every year, hundreds of people across North America proudly choose to be Jewish. You and your colleagues work hard to prepare, teach, guide, and celebrate their progress. As you are the rabbinic link to Jews by choice on their Jewish journey, we would like to partner with you by offering an opportunity for a Jewish living experience in the form of a retreat. We believe that retreat programs impact people in powerful ways. Packing your bags and physically going away somewhere, unplugging from the day-to-day concerns and pressures and connecting with like-minded people in a natural setting is a recipe for success! The Ramah Camping Movement has been doing this for years.

The National Ramah Commission and the William Davidson Graduate School of Jewish Education of The Jewish Theological Seminary are proud to announce OpenDoor Retreats, a series of short-term programs for couples, families, and individuals who are celebrating aspects of life's journey or may be challenged by bumps in the road. JTS Chancellor Arnold Eisen feels strongly that we need MORE of this type of experiential education for the Jewish people.

As indicated above, the first series of retreats will take place this spring and is designed for young married couples (20's and 30's) with a spouse who has recently converted to Judaism (no children at this pilot retreat). Please forward this email to couples from your communities who would benefit from a Shabbat experience designed specifically for them.

Other short-term experiences offered in the future may connect people through specific elements of commonality such as (but not limited to) adoptive families, or families who are raising children while also caring for aging parents. Another type of short-term program may be thematic such as (but not limited to): "Healing," "Spirituality," or "God Moments." OpenDoor Retreats may take place at Ramah conference centers in North America or off-site as travel programs.

Please join us as we celebrate this next phase of experiential learning for our communities!

Shalom,

Rabbi Mitchell Cohen, National Ramah Director
Cheryl Magen, Director, OpenDoor Retreats

P.S. Please give us your thoughts for more retreats in this 5-minute survey.