Shabbaton

November 30 – December 1

Description

Join us in the North Bay for our second overnight Shabbaton this year. Camp, hike, relax, and celebrate the full day of Shabbat in nature, surrounded by community! The Shabbaton begins Friday afternoon with everyone settling into the land at a private forest retreat and home in Occidental, CA — the Golden Nest.

We will gather together to welcome in Shabbat with candle lighting, prayers, delicious food, and good company. All Wilderness Torah food is organic and kosher.

On Saturday, along with a heart opening Shacharit (morning prayer) and Torah service, we will offer programs ranging from nature hikes, board games, and learnings. Or feel free to just chill out in the beautiful forest surroundings.

Families will have designated time together and we will provide childcare as well as kid activities for children accompanied by parents. We welcome your whole family for Shabbat. Learn more about families here.

At sundown on Saturday we will mark the transition from Shabbat with a Havdallah (separation) ceremony followed by a closing farewell circle.
We hope to see you there!

Date: November 30 – December 1
Location: Golden Nest in Occidental, CA (directions will be sent in a welcome email prior to the event)
Food: All meals will be provided for the Shabbaton

Registration

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Registration Fees

  • $96 for adults (with 25% and 50% discounts available)
  • $48 for teens age 11–17
  • $24 for youth ages 4–10
  • $10 for children ages 0–3

Payment

We aim to make our events financially accessible. Please purchase at the highest level you can afford (registration fees are nonrefundable). Your registration is not complete until you have paid, ensuring you a spot at the retreat. Unpaid registrations will be canceled after 48 hours.

Discounts

For those in need, we offer a 25% discount for families enrolled in B’hootz or B’naiture, ages 60+, or people who need subsidies to attend. For significant financial need, we offer Avodah (work exchange) or in extenuating circumstances, a 50% discount. Please submit this form to request these options.

Cancellation

Registration is non-refundable. Please see our cancellation policy for more information.

Avodah

Please read below for information about our Avodah program and to apply.

We are now accepting Avodah applications on a rolling basis until Wednesday, November 21, 2018, or until all positions are filled. Avodah fills quickly. Read the position descriptions below and apply early for greatest choice.

Avodah is intended for those who want to serve and have financial need. Our Shabbaton is reasonably priced, with additional discounts available, and these fees do not cover the full cost to produce the event. With this in mind, we ask that you consider your ability to pay before applying for Avodah.

CANCELLATION: If you register for your Avodah position and then cancel after November 22, you will be required to pay the lowest adult registration fee and will not be allowed to participate in Avodah at future events. Exceptions will be made on a case-by-case basis for emergency situations.

Avodah is an opportunity for folks to help create the village, and is a great way to save money, meet new friends, and play an important role of service at the festival.

Each Avodah role is integral to the health of the whole system. Please read through our Avodah Terms & Conditions before applying for Avodah.

Avodah for 4 Hours of work (Avodah ticket price $18)

Loading + Unloading the truck: Thursday, November 2, 10:00 am – 12 noon + Sunday, December 2, 10:00 am – 12 noon
Everything that is part of our village is transported in a big truck, loaded at our storage in North Oakland, and unloaded there after. This position allows you freedom to enjoy the festival without working during the event!

Setup: Friday, November 30, 11:00 am – 3:00 pm
We will be getting ready for shabbat, including unloading the truck and prepping food in the Hearth. This position also allows you to enjoy the Shabbaton without working during the event. We provide lunch during setup.

Welcoming: Friday, November 30, 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Be part of our rockin’ welcoming team! Check people in, help with orientation and assist people with gear setup if needed.

Hearth Helper: Friday, November 30 + Saturday, December 1
Help the Hearth our kitchen nourish the village by lending your chopping, prepping, serving, and cleaning skills. Arrival times vary depending on the length of the shift.

Breakdown: Saturday, December 1, 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Help break down and clean up the village after the event. Good organizers encouraged!

Apply for Avodah

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Schedule

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30

2:00 pm — Optional Early Arrival (beat traffic and grab your camping spot)
4:30 pm — Kabbalat Shabbat + Ma’ariv
6:30 pm — Dinner

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 1

9:30 am — Shacharit & Torah Service
11:45 pm — Kiddush Lunch
1:15 pm — Afternoon Offerings for All Ages
5:40 pm — Closing Circle & Havdallah

Kabbalat Shabbat (the receiving of Shabbat) will be musical and prayerful. We will be in circle together collaboratively joining our voices and hearts together in song and prayer to welcome Shabbat.

After breakfast, we will begin Saturday morning with a prayerful heartfelt Shacharit (morning prayers) with song, personal nature connection time, and then Torah service.

After prayer and Torah service, we will gather for lunch. You are invited to eat lunch with friends or join an optional sharing circle. Some of the many circles include one for families interested in our youth programs, one for multi-faith families, and one for participants new to Wilderness Torah. These circles are informal discussion groups around a specific topic and are a great way to meet people with similar interests.

Hiking, games, and learning offerings will be happening in the afternoon for all ages. Bring your guidebooks and favorite board games!

We will end Shabbat with a closing circle and celebrate Havdallah around a fire.

Prepare

We will be holding the Shabbaton on private land in Occidental, California. This beautiful space is surrounded by a coastal redwood forest mixed conifers, oaks, chaparral, and riparian habitat. We will spend most of our time outside in the woods and on the land. Be prepared to dress in layers so that you can adjust easily to changing temperatures. All participants will camp on the land. You will need to bring your own camping gear and anything that you need to be comfortable. Please review the packing list carefully.

We will provide portable toilets and hand washing stations for everyone to use.

We provide a communal dishwashing area where you can clean and leave to dry your personal dishes after each meal. The Hearth (kitchen) maintains a separate kosher dishwashing area used only for the Wilderness Torah kitchen supplies. Those needing kosher dishwashing may use this area with special permission from the Hearth.

This is an outdoor venue and is not ADA approved. Most of the ground is sloped and uneven with mulched paths.

This is a fully catered event and we will feed you well! The Hearth (kitchen), will prepare delicious, organic, seasonal, kosher meals each day, and maintain snack and beverage stations that will be open from morning until evening.

We will always have vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options available. If you have questions about our kashrut (kosher practices), please see below.

The Golden Nest is located near Occidental, CA about 1.5 hours north of San Francisco and the East Bay by car. You will receive an address and driving directions once you have registered for the event. If you want to beat traffic driving North, you are welcome to arrive as early at 2 PM.

Parking is very limited so we ask that everyone drives with at least one other passenger in their car. Please visit the carpool page as soon as possible to register as a driver or passenger and request a ride.

More questions? Check out our FAQs or email the K’Far Community Programs Director.

Testimonials

It was a great spiritual recharge and created a chance to deepen connections with Jewish community!
Summer Shabbaton Participant