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Isabella Freedman is a home away from home that contributes to a sustainable and just world. The atmosphere makes you want to give back to their beautiful space and their professional and warm staff.
—Ruth Messinger, American Jewish World Service
 
The weekend was magical and transformative. Not only did we have an amazing time, but the retreat had a real and lasting impact on how the students thought about themselves, spirituality, and their relationship to Judaism.
—Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg, Tufts University Hillel
 
 

Whether you are planning a special celebration, organizational retreat, family reunion, lifecycle event or community gathering, Isabella Freedman’s beautiful setting, comfortable accommodations, delicious food, onsite activities, and dynamic staff are sure to nourish the hearts and souls of all who attend.

We have years of experience in planning and implementing programs, and the talented specialists, entertainers, and educators to enhance your stay. Use our low ropes challenge course to build teamwork, our Jewish environmental educators to bring out the spirituality of a woods experience, or consider adding a yoga, Israeli Dance, or art workshop to deepen your group’s experience. Or simply rent our site for your own self-sufficient program or special occasion.

 

Inquiries

For more information and availability of dates, please email outreach@hazon.org.

Celebrating at Isabella Freedman

Try a different kind of celebration – one where family and friends come together for an entire weekend to celebrate your wedding, your son’s or daughter’s bar or bat mitzvah, or your family reunion.

Take advantage of all that Isabella Freedman has to offer: our beautiful glass-walled synagogue, spacious reception area and dance floor, boating, arts and crafts, fishing, volleyball, swimming, outdoor barbecues, tennis, basketball, campfires, and more.

Planning events is our specialty. Why not let us take care of all the arrangements for you—from meals to accommodations, custom-designed activities for your function, even booking the DJ. Our Host Coordinator will work with you to plan a meaningful and memorable event for your entire family.

learn more about weddings at isabella freedman

Organizational Retreats

Since 2005 I have been convening retreats for rabbinical students from across the denominational spectrum at Isabella Freedman. The facilities, food, and commitment of the staff to meet the needs of their guests have made the stays a pleasure. But there is also a spiritual quality to the entire space that goes beyond the physical; one feels it from the moment one enters the grounds. I know that alumni of our retreats – future rabbis – will be coming back to Isabella Freedman time and again.
—Rabbi Sid Schwarz, Senior Fellow, Clal: The National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership
 

Dedicated to ecological awareness, vibrant Jewish spirituality, and social justice, Isabella Freedman is the perfect gathering place for your community, friends, family, and colleagues.

We serve the spiritual, educational, and social needs of individuals, groups and non-profit organizations who seek a place that is conducive to study, personal or group development, or quiet reflection.

Located in Connecticut’s Berkshire Mountains, our 400-acre lakeside campus is easy to get to from New York City, Boston, or Hartford, and far enough away to inspire new ideas and refresh the soul.

Our professional staff is here to help you create a memorable event for up to 150 people. We offer a variety of accommodations, homemade glatt-kosher meals (farm-to-table menu when in season), a glass-walled synagogue, a shomer Shabbat-friendly locale, farm tours, hikes, and other on-site activities.

Isabella Freedman has been the ideal location for our annual Dorot Fellowship Shabbaton. The site is beautiful, the staff is perfectly attentive and the ethos of the entire operation regularly produces just the right atmosphere for an uplifting communal experience.
—Steve Jacobson, Dorot Foundation
 

Amenities

Click here for more information about our facility and amenities.

Program Options

Isabella Freedman offers a wide variety of activities from which to choose. Our talented and dynamic staff can custom tailor any program for your retreat or special event. Sample programs are listed below. (Prices vary depending on the program, number of participants and length of activity.)

 

Isabella Freedman Green Tour. From bamboo flooring to lightbulbs, from low flow toilets to solar panels, Isabella Freedman is a leading example of a green Jewish institution. Find out what we are doing (and what you can do) to lessen your carbon footprint.

Farm Tour. Bring your group down to the Sadeh, our five-acre vegetable field, to see where the vegetables begin! We can arrange a tour of the farm with our young Jewish farmers, who will introduce you to the wild and magical world of growing food in a Jewish context.

Barnyard Tour. We honor the traditions of the biblical shepherds by teaching about the importance of preventing cruelty to animals (tzar ba’alei chayim) in our organic goat dairy!

Guided tour of our unique Jewish garden. Take a walk through our very own gan eden (Garden of Eden) with a naturalist who will explain the meaning and design of our special Jewish seed-saving garden.

Jewish Permaculture Tour. The Kaplan Family Farm is just a short walk from the Isabella Freedman campus. As you tour our organic fruit orchards, berry hedgerows, vegetable fields and compost-yard chickens, you will see how we are bringing the commandments in Genesis to life as we “till and tend” the land in ways that enable it to flourish for generations to come. Includes a special compost demonstration: Psalms teaches that “the stone that the builders overlooked will be the cornerstone of the third Temple.” We are turning waste into valuable fertilizer for our fields — something you can learn to do in your own garden.

Service learning on the farm. Deepen your understanding of our food system and put your ecological values to action as you spend half a day lending a hand on our organic vegetable farm. Jewish tradition teaches us that we must work to repair the world: learn how we do this on our farm by using ecologically-restorative farming methods and cultivating a sense of awe and gratitude towards the natural world. No prior farm experience necessary.

Pickle-making 101. At Isabella Freedman, we make organic kosher lacto-fermented products, including pickles and sauerkraut. Learn about the magic of fermentation as you follow the steps from cucumber to pickle. Participants will harvest and ferment their own jar of kosher dills (seasonal).

Adamah Lectures. Many of the classes that are regularly taught in the Adamah Fellowship can be adapted for visiting groups. 90-minute lectures include topics such as Jewish learning, Ecology, Sustainable Agriculture, Permaculture, Eating Locally, Composting, Global Warming, Seed Saving, Food Preservation, Cheese Making, Cobb Oven, Bee Keeping, Leadership and Group Building, Meeting Facilitation, Active Listening and Non-Violent Communication.

Jewish Programming. Adjunct rabbis and other Jewish educators may be available to lead services, Torah discussions and other Jewish rituals. Please check for availability.

Childcare. Please inquire about options for childcare and shmira (cabin night watch) for groups.

Children’s Activities Programs. We can create a children’s program for any length of time — from an entire weekend to just a few hours.

Custom Designed Nature/Adventure Program. The Berkshires is one of nature’s greatest playgrounds. We can arrange rock climbing, backpacking, caving, kayaking, tubing and ski trips at nearby locations.

Song Sessions. For those who love to sing but can’t remember all of the words or want musical accompaniment, we can lead your group in spirited and fun song sessions and singing at meals. We also offer indoor and outdoor campfire sing-alongs.

Specialized Entertainment and Lectures. We can arrange for professional singers, comedians, storytellers and lecturers to entertain and educate your group.

Swimming. We can provide a lifeguard for your group to use the pool or lake.

Other Programs. Let us know your interests. We may be able to accommodate them.