Introduction
In this Output Packet (OP), I wanted to give an overview of all the elements involved in creating a two-day retreat. In this case, the retreat I planned was a two-day Re-Wilding Judaism retreat in Estes Park, CO. I used this OP as an opportunity to include all of the different systems we use during our retreats so we will have templates of our work moving forward.
Who did what for whom and for what purpose?
What: Putting on a two-day retreat on Re-Wilding Judaism. Our goals were to create a similar retreat to Judaism and Permaculture retreats we held in the past with a larger emphasis on embodiment. This was also the first retreat of this kind we offered in California. The other Judaism and Permaculture retreats we had organized had been in the Bay Area.
For whom: Our goal was to attract local people in the Front Range of Colorado (Boulder and Denver area) that are interested in connecting to a more Earth-based, embodied approach to Judaism. We do not discriminate based on background (whether you are Jewish or not) and have it open to all interested. Obviously, being a Jewish retreat, we attract mostly Jews. Most of the participants are people I know, but a few have been brought through friends.
Who: My brother and I organized the retreat and we hired Abrah Dresdale, a facilitator from the East Coast to help us facilitate. We had worked with her on a retreat in the Bay area and really enjoyed working with her. She had contacted us about doing a retreat in Colorado since she was hosting another workshop around that same time so it all aligned well. I did most of the logistical set up of the retreat (Budget, Location, Recruitment, Follow-up). All three of us created the schedule, content, and flow of the retreat. Ophir also came a few days early to help me with last minute logistics and food preparation. Ophir and I each took charge of different meals throughout the retreat. I really took on the role of Project manager for this retreat. I had two one hour phone calls with Ophir and Abrah to discuss the content of retreat and divide roles. Each call went really well.
Why: We put on these retreats to create a bridge between the world of permaculture and re-wilding and Judaism. We want to use our Jewish Heritage to create changes within that system that will reverberate outwards. It is a blessing to have this access to Jewish funds and we want to use it to connect Jews and others to earth-based and embodied traditions.
Notes about Context
This is the fifth two-day retreat my brother and I are organizing and facilitating. We have done two other Judaism and Permaculture retreats and two other men's retreats.
We get funding from an organization called the Moishe House, who sponsors Jewish adults in their twenties and thirties to host retreats. They give us 5,000 dollars for every retreat. In each retreat, we are also paired up with a mentor from the organization. For this retreat, I chose Hadar Cohen, a woman in Oakland, CA who is pushing the dialogue on Feminism within the Jewish Young adult American scene. It felt aligned to choose her as my mentor for this retreat so that this retreat is up to date on inclusivity and how that fits within the Jewish context.
System Interventions
These retreat hopes to intervene in current systems by:
- By returning the earth-based roots to Judaism and revert it from the Judeo-Christian church view Judaism has adopted as a mechanism of survival after the crusades and witch trials. I am planning to write a more in-depth article about this.
- Having permaculture be more of a foundation for the way people plan retreats. I also plan to create a guide for using permaculture principles as we plan and design retreats.
- Utilize topics such as re-wilding Judaism and building brotherhood through vulnerability to create spaces for people to start exploring the way they are living and start connecting to our true nature.