Center for Earth-Based Judaism
Latest Update
We are thrilled to present a draft of the CEBJ Design Concept. You can download the PDF here. Now we transition from the “Phase 3 – Design” stage to “Phase 4 – Implement.” Over the next six years, Wilderness Torah will build the Center, in partnership with URJ Camp Newman.
The Design Concept is the result of an iterative, community-centered design process that occurred during the recent Shmita year (2021-2022). Initial findings are available in the June 2022 Community Design Report.
The Center Timeline (2021 – 2028)
About The Center
Wilderness Torah was founded 14 years ago with a vision to create the Center for Earth-Based Judaism (The Center). Together we will begin to realize that vision this Shmita year!
In collaboration with URJ Camp Newman, Wilderness Torah is creating The Center at Camp Newman’s 500-acre campus in the rolling hills of Sonoma County. The Center will become a Bay Area hub and national training ground for regenerative Jewish culture, climate change resiliency, and inclusive community.
Wilderness Torah and Camp Newman share a steadfast commitment in building a better world.
Pictured to the left: Future site of The Center in the Sonoma County hills at URJ Camp Newman.
“We see in Wilderness Torah a partner for wilderness education, cultural vitality, and much more. Together we are building a long-term collaboration based on Jewish values aimed at climate change resiliency. We are leaning in with Wilderness Torah because we trust their Jewish education innovations, and we believe that we will create a synergistic partnership at Camp Newman that will serve the broader community more powerfully than our organizations can do separately.”
—Ruben Arquilevich, Vice President for URJ Camps, NFTY and Immersives & former Executive Director, Camp Newman
What will The Center be?
The Center will be a home for Jewish and non-Jewish organizations to gather, experience, and collaborate on practices informed by earth-based Judaism, climate resiliency, peace-making, and cultural repair—a place that embodies intersectional connection, growth and change.
Community Design
Wilderness Torah is designing The Center based on the values of community and accessibility.
Community stakeholders from Wilderness Torah, Camp Newman, the greater Bay Area, and around the world are participating in a forward-moving, iterative community design process.
Community design is a process which emphasizes the participation of the public in the physical development of a place. As a community-based organization, this design strategy was the most fitting for Wilderness Torah to embark on with our community.
Over the past Shmita year (2021-2022), multiple free, in-person events (East Bay and Sonoma County, California) and online participation opportunities were offered, supporting an accessible, transparent, and inclusive process. Now we enter a six-year building process, leading to the creation of The Center by the next Shmita year. Thanks to all of the input we collected, you can now download a Draft of The Center Design Concept.
Community has been at the heart of each and every element of the design charrette:
Wilderness Torah is creating a village based on justice, equity, diversity, inclusion, and Indigenous peoples solidarity.
The Center will be a pluralistic, multigenerational village, reconnecting community to the earth-based traditions of Judaism. People of all faiths, backgrounds, sexual orientation, gender identity, and religious affiliation are welcome to join in building this village together.
Each phase of The Center’s creation process—from structure and discovery, to design and implementation—honors the diverse and beautiful spectrum of identities across our local and global community. With multiple engagement opportunities, we hope that all community members who would like to can be a part of the process. The discovery phase of the design process included various identity focus groups, deepening the diversity and equity of public participants guiding The Center creation process.
Affinity Councils
We know that creating a just, equitable, diverse, and inclusive community is an iterative process full of inspirations and learning curves. For this reason, we held virtual Affinity Councils multiple times throughout the process. We genuinely want to create a community where marginalized voices are heard, celebrated, and centered. We know marginalized people benefit from their own space with people of shared identities to process, vision, and collaborate together, and it is our intention that the Affinity Councils would serve that need.
A Big Thank You to Our Affinity Council Leaders
Press
A Jewish camp destroyed in a California wildfire now hosts a massive retreat center
Originally posted in eJewishphilanthropy | June 07, 2022
Wilderness Torah, Camp Newman collaborate to build Center for Earth-Based Judaism
Originally posted in The Jewish News of Northern California | September 17, 2021
Thanks to Our Supporters
Donald and Carole Chaiken Foundation
