Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel z”l writes, “Our goal should be to live life in radical amazement: [to] get up in the morning and look at the world in a way that takes nothing for granted. Everything is phenomenal; everything is incredible; never treat life casually. To be spiritual is to be amazed.” For many of us, this can feel far from our current experience at this point in history. How can we strive for such a lofty goal? This Shavuot, we’ll journey together to find out.
Join our ALEPH minyan and our Open Orthodox minyan for moments of revelation, awe, and wonder. Our all-night Tikkun Leil Shavuot concludes with a sunrise hike the top of a mountain, and our Bikkurim Parade features the first fruits from our Adamah Farm.
Shavuot is the time when the community gathers around the mountain, and makes pilgrimage to a holy place, for the ultimate transformative experience.
Reb Zalman Schachter-Shalomi זצ׳ל
Scholarships: We believe retreats are important experiences to be shared. Inclusiveness is one of our core values. We strive to ensure that our retreats are as financially accessible as possible. The Tamar Fund makes that aspiration possible – please apply for a scholarship before registering. The Tamar Fund is in loving memory of Tamar Bittelman z’’l. Scholarships are available for the full stay only.
We will have two davening options: an Open Orthodox Minyan and an ALEPH: Jewish Renewal Minyan.
Spiritual, meaningful and song-filled services will follow a traditional Orthodox liturgy. Prayer will be supplemented with Kavanot (intentions) and words of Torah from both sides of the mechitzah. All are welcome and may sit in the section that most aligns with one’s gender identity.
Renewal services invite you into a realm of prayer as transformation. Together we will channel ancient and modern spiritual technologies including (but not limited to) sacred chant, meditation, dyads, intention setting, and movement, while keeping aligned with traditional Hebrew prayer rhythms. The service structure follows Jewish holiday and calendar cycles, and will include musical instruments and amplification. Our Shavuot minyan is inclusive, egalitarian and participatory. We come to Jewish practice as seekers of the divine in all of her glory.
Planning for the 2024 retreat is underway. See our previous 2023 retreat schedule here.
Our all-night learning will include Torah and text classes on radical amazement, tefillah, and wonder. Check back for more specifics coming soon.
The Mishna tells us that Shavuot is a time to gather our bikkurim, the first fruits of our harvest, and bring them as gifts to the Temple in Jerusalem. Join us as we reenact this ancient pilgrimage to celebrate our local first fruits of rye, mustard greens, spring garlic, and more. The ceremony will include costumes, goats, and drums.
Join our Adamah Farm staff on night walks, guided hikes, farm tours, a walk through Chestnutlandia, and more.
Enjoy twice-a-day yoga, gather in song circles, and join a guided reflection on the Omer,
Isabella Freedman’s youth programming is an outdoor-focused, collaborative, and exciting experience for all who choose to join. Grounded in the natural world, our program provides the opportunity for children ages 2-12 to find a place to learn, grow, and enjoy the beautiful outdoors at Camp Adamah.
Camp Teva provides many hands-on and nature-based experiential activities. Some examples include hikes, outdoor games, drama/improv, and farm-related adventures on the Adamah farm. We provide morning and afternoon programming except on arrival and departure days, with times based on the davening schedule. The afternoon session is divided into separate divisions by age.
Parents and guardians can choose to drop off their children or stay with them. Gan Adamah provides a safe and engaging space to play, explore, sing, and move. Children younger than two may attend, but parents/guardians must stay. Programming is provided in the morning except on arrival and departure days, and times are based on the davening schedule.
Coming soon
We are still finalizing our 2024 line up of teachers.
