The Weekend Retreat

The Hazon CA Ride Shabbaton

Weekend at a glance

Friday Afternoon	Arrive at Westminster Woods (after 2 pm), near Occidental, CA
Friday Evening	Orientation, Kabbalat Shabbat, Dinner, Evening Activities
Saturday Morning	Breakfast, Activities and/or Shabbat Services
Saturday Afternoon	Lunch, Swimming, Seminars, Panel Discussions, and Text Study
Saturday Evening	Dinner, Havdallah, Ride Prep
Sunday	Day 1 of Riding, then Rest, Dinner, and Evening Activities
Monday	Day 2 of Riding, then a Closing Ceremony in San Francisco

The Hazon Shabbaton will take place at beautiful Westminster Woods. In this stunning setting participants will celebrate, eat, relax, and learn together in a welcoming, inclusive and open Jewish community.

The Retreat begins on Friday afternoon by settling in to your comfortable cabins nestled in a beautiful redwood forest. We will gather together in small groups for an orientation and to meet new and old friends in the community spirit of the weekend. After candle lighting and blessings we will enjoy a delicious, kosher Shabbat meal made from mostly local and organic foods.

Friday evening we offer a variety of different optional activities. Join one of the many Shabbat services organized and run by participants or opt for the social Poolside Cocktail Hour. Service Options may include: egalitarian, family-focused, meditative, traditional, and more. If group activities are not for you, watching the sunset or strolling among the great trees are amazing experiences you can choose as well.

As moving and as memorable as the Ride itself was, the Shabbaton spanning the Friday night and Saturday preceding the ride was-perhaps even more so. The combination of the joyous, ebullient spirit of the assemblage and my own spiritual (a word that doesn't come at all easily to me) encounter with the nature that surrounded us was something I hadn't experienced since my days at Camp Ramah almost fifty years ago. And it all took place in the context of deep, almost elemental commitment to both Jewish and environmental values. Never did I imagine that the two could be so intimately linked. I hope that what I saw was a vision of the Jewish future.
–Gil Kulick 65, 4-time NY Ride particiapnt

On Saturday, we offer a wide range of options, including yoga, meditation, swimming, nature walks as well as a choice of different prayer services. Throughout the day there will be sessions on Jewish text, sustainable living, the inspiring work of Hazon and its partners and how you can be involved. Shabbat ends with a moving Havdallah ceremony followed by preparations for the next day's Ride.

Partners and families who are not participating in the Ride are welcome to join us as Shabbat Only participants and can register here.

Click here for the 2009 NY Ride Retreat Program. We plan to offer a similar program for the California Ride.

Driving directions to Westminister Woods

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