JOFEE Network Gathering

Aug 30, 2019 - Sep 2, 2019

Walker Creek Ranch, Petaluma , California

Registration is now closed.

We are thrilled to welcome Yavilah McCoy as Keynote Speaker and Scholar in Residence! See our other speakers below.

Overview:

The JOFEE (Jewish Outdoor, Food, Farming & Environmental Education) Network Gathering is a vibrant annual convening of Jewish professionals and community members that (re)connects us with Jewish earth-based traditions: story, song, ritual, learning, and celebration.

The gathering is more than a professional development conference and it is more than a Shabbaton; it is the place for deep learning, collaboration, spiritual engagement, and discussion.

This year, in addition to exploring earth-based Judaism, we’ll also gather around key themes including climate change, inclusive culture-building, and the ways JOFEE intersects with power, privilege, and identity. In these groups, we’ll explore and shape the ways in which culture, community, and content weave together to define the JOFEE space and our collective future.

Travel and Arrival/Departure Information

Please note: JOFEE Network Gathering begins at 5 pm on Friday, August 30 (registration opens at 2 pm) and runs through 2 pm on Monday, September 2.

Arrival shuttles will depart Urban Adamah on Friday, August 30 at 2:30 pm going to Walker Creek Ranch.

Departure shuttles will depart Walker Creek Ranch at 2:30 pm (sharp) on Monday, September 2. One will travel directly to SFO; the other will travel to Urban Adamah and then the BART station at 1750 Sacramento St. Please plan your travel accordingly. Seats on these shuttles must be reserved during registration.

Looking to coordinate with other travelers? Access the rideshare board here!

Urban Adamah Pre-Conference Experience:

Friday, August 30
10am – 2pm
1151 Sixth Street, Berkeley, CA 94710

Explore the Urban Adamah farm and programming as we prepare for the JOFEE Network Gathering. Lunch is included. To join, select “Urban Adamah Experience” as an add-on to registration.

Shuttles will be provided from Urban Adamah to Walker Creek Ranch. Note that shuttles are a separate add-on during registration.

Affinity Groups:

At the Gathering this year, small focus groups will meet periodically for reflection, integration and activation around particular areas of interest or identity. The goals of these groups are to provide a space of belonging for participants to return to throughout the Gathering as well as provide an opportunity to dig more deeply into ways JOFEE intersects with power, privilege, and identity. Small groups will have opportunities to share back with the entire community their reflections and ideas for furthering work around these designated subjects. Examples MAY include but are not limited to: Interests – Climate Change in Action; Indigeneity, Sovereignty and Land Justice; Gender Equality; etc. and/or Identities – Jews of Color; Queer Jews; Sephardi &/or Mizrachi Jews; etc.

All groups will be led by guided and led by trained facilitators.

It is important that these groups reflect the interests and identities of those present; as such, participants are asked to contribute your ideas during registration. You will receive an invitation to choose an affinity group later this summer. Participants will be assigned to affinity groups based upon their selected preferences and notified prior to arriving at JNG.

Partners

• Urban Adamah, Wilderness Torah, Pearlstone Center: leading the way with Bay Area connections, programming, and insight, we are thrilled to be joining Wilderness Torah and Urban Adamah at home!
• Jim Joseph Foundation: the founding supporter of the JOFEE Fellowship and JOFEE Network Gathering we are pleased to thank the Jim Joseph Foundation again for their support of our programming this year
• Jewish Initiative For Animals – we are proud to partner with JIFA to not only create a formal food policy for JOFEE Network Gathering this year but also put our Jewish response to climate change and moral responsibility to animal welfare on the forefront of our conference planning
• Jews of Color Field Building Initiative: Providing additional support for Jews of Color to attend JOFEE Network Gathering 2019.

Speakers

We will also be joined by Rabbi Zelig Golden and staff from Wilderness Torah who will support the framing for our journey and lead our Shabbat experience (an Orthodox Shabbat experience will also be provided).