Isabella Freedman

Guest Information

Isabella Freedman ignites Jewish passion and enables people to authentically connect to their Jewish roots

Welcome! Thank you for choosing to spend time at Isabella Freedman

Here you will find details about your stay. Take a few minutes to look over the information – especially what to pack, how to get here, and what you can expect when you arrive.

If you have questions that aren’t answered here, or you just want to hear a friendly voice, we would love to hear from you! Reach our main office at (860) 824-5991 Monday through Friday, 9:00 am-5:00 pm. Press “0” for our operator.

Transportation

Isabella Freedman is located at 116 Johnson Road, Falls Village, CT, 06031

By car: approximately two hours from New York City, three hours from Boston. There is free parking on site. 

By train: from New York City – take MetroNorth’s Harlem line to the Wassaic train station (a 2-hour trip). Shuttles or taxis can be arranged in advance for the 30-minute ride from the train station stretch to campus.

By air: the closest airport is Bradley International Airport in Hartford, CT, approximately 50 miles away. Rental cars are available, and taxis can be arranged in advance (about $100 each way).

Accommodations

We invite you to enjoy the simplicity, comfort, and charm of our country lodging. Each of our nine lodges has its own unique character. Our accommodations are air-conditioned during the summer months and heated throughout the winter. Some buildings have rooms with private baths; others offer shared bathrooms for two or three rooms. Handicap-accessible rooms are also available upon request. 

Standard Rooms

Standard Rooms include our Weinberg, Scheuer, May, and Pine Buildings. Most rooms have a queen-sized bed and one twin, with a few rooms having just a queen or two twins. These are our most spacious rooms.

Basic Rooms

Basic Rooms include our Cedar, Blue Heron, and Maple buildings, with each pair of rooms sharing a bathroom down the hall. Most of these rooms have a Queen and a Twin bed, while some only have a Queen or two twins.

Dorm Rooms

Dorm Rooms are in our Elm and Kaufman buildings. These 18 rooms have bathrooms accessed through an interior hallway, and have either two twins or a bunkbed and a twin.

General Information

Bed linens & towels are provided. Limited Pack n plays are available by request. WiFi is accessible in the main building and most guest room lodging.

All Standard and Basic rooms are equipped with a mini fridge.

Food & Dining

Our innovative chefs create farm-to-table magic. The ingredients we use reflect our values in the larger world. We purchase organic, local, and fair trade products to promote environmental stewardship, vibrant local economies, good working conditions, and animal welfare. A significant amount of our produce is grown right here on campus and we employ traditional season-extending methods such as greenhouse and hoop-house growing, pickling, freezing, canning, drying, and root cellar-ing to bring farm food to our table year-round.

Our culinary team prepares three meals a day during each retreat (starting with dinner on your arrival day, through breakfast on your departure day). Our staff can accommodate most dietary restrictions and nutritional preferences with enough notice – please be sure to note these requirements on your registration forms. All meals are served buffet-style.

A self-service beverage bar featuring fair-trade organically grown coffee, hot tea, iced tea, and water is always available, along with some snacks.

Our kitchen and dining room are glatt kosher under supervision of the Hartford Kashrut Commission.

As such, outside food is not allowed in the main building (but is allowed in your rooms). Water bottles are allowed in the main building but not in the dining room. if you would like to bring any kosher mevushal wine or other kosher alcohol to enjoy at our meals or otherwise, they must be checked in by our Mashgiach (kosher supervisor) upon your arrival.

The Adamah Farm employs traditional season-extending methods such as greenhouse and hoop-house growing, lacto-fermentation pickling, cheese making, freezing, curing, canning and drying to bring farm food to the table year-round. Our kitchen purchases local, organic, and fair trade products to promote environmental stewardship, vibrant local economies, good working conditions, and animal welfare. We source pasture-raised meats and poultry from Grow and Behold foods. Our ocean bounty is sourced using guidelines and recommendations set forth by the Blue Ocean Institute.

Campus Amenities

All guests are welcome to explore our 400 acres campus. There are various benches and picnic tables near the lake and guest lodges. 

Our lake is available for seasonal boating and swimming (no lifeguard provided). 

Over 4 miles of marked trails meander through our dense forest, including a ½ mile uphill trail to an overlook of the surrounding Berkshire Hills. 

Visitors are welcome to tour our 20-acre organic farm, including green houses, row crops, berry bushes, bee hives, our composting center with hens, and goat barns. Official tours can be arranged ahead of time with our farming fellows.

Packing List

We provide:

  • Linens, towels, and soap in all guest rooms with extra blankets and towels available upon request
  • Various siddurim and chumashim of all denominations – bring your own if you prefer
  • Yoga mats, blankets, and blocks

Consider packing:

  • Clothing
    • Comfortable clothing to wear throughout the retreat – in general, our retreats are not formal!
    • Lots of layers for variable temperatures
    • Closed toed shoes for walking around our farms and campus trails
    • Rain gear
  • Personal supplies
    • Over the counter and/or prescription medications
    • Toiletries
    • Sunblock, bug spray, sunglasses, and a hat
  • Retreat & travel items
    • Flashlights or headlamps for exploring campus at night
    • Chargers for electric devices
    • Water bottle (ideally labeled – especially for kids)
    • Your own ritual wear (talit, tefillin) and/or prayer book
    • Your personal yoga mat and/or props

FAQs

What is a typical retreat schedule?
What is the weather like?
Pet Policy
Internet and Cell Reception
What are the current COVID Guidelines?
Cancelation and Refund Policy

Upcoming Isabella Freedman Retreats

860.824.5991 | freedman@adamah.org
116 Johnson Rd, Falls Village, CT 06031