When

Thursday, June 13, 2019 at 1:00 PM EDT
-to-
Sunday, June 16, 2019 at 1:00 PM EDT
Add to Calendar

Where

Camp Ramah in New England
39 Bennett Street
Palmer, MA 01069

Driving Directions

Contact

Peter Matusow, Registrar
NER FJMC
pmatusow@gmail.com

TheRetreat 2019

For TheRetreat 2022

Please CLICK HERE

Registration is now open for our 73^rd annual TheRetreat, America's first and oldest weekend get-away for Jewish men, to be held at Camp Ramah in Palmer MA on June 13-16, 2019.

Click on the "Register Now!" button below to safely and easily sign up for TheRetreat and pay using PayPal, a credit card or a check.

Our annual long weekend at TheRetreat up can be summed up in three words: FUN * SPIRIT * LEARNING. Please join us for a long weekend of learning with outstanding speakers, lay-led worship, sports and camaraderie. Come and make this longstanding tradition your own.

This year the weekend will feature an increased emphasis on music, Gadget Guru and Poker Tov with Scott Tharler, jokes and singing at the Campfire, plenty of food and drink, hanging out, new HMV discussions, bike ride to Quabbin and other sports etc. etc. and the best gift in many years.

We are pleased to announce that our Scholar in Residence for 2019 will be Rabbi Lev Friedman. Under the tutelage of Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi, Rabbi Friedman founded B’nai Or Religious Fellowship of Boston in 1980. During his tenure he helped many Jews find a way back to their traditions in a contemporary and meaningful way. After selling Kolbo Fine Judaica in Brookline (a world-renowned Judaica gallery), he attended the Rabbinical School of Hebrew College.

Rabbi Friedman brings life experience, knowledge and wisdom along with beautiful music and the teachings of his teachers, Rabbia Zalman Schachter-Shalomi, Arthur Green and Ebn Leader to the Jewish community. He is committed to building bridges that enable modern seekers to understand the riches of Judaism.

Lev is also a singer-songwriter and skilled finger-style guitarist. He uses music to help bring people together in prayer and song. Lev's offerings are:

1)Discovering the Secrets of Shabbat: Shabbat Candles, Hidden Light

2)Torah study through a Hasidic Lens

3)Talmudic Stories -- Locating Ourselves in Jewish Narrative Art

In addition:

Representatives of the Israel Advocacy Alliance will discuss:

1) A brief history of the creation of the State of Israel --presented by Steve Gerzof

2) Israel & Media Bias -- presented by Bob Soffer

3) Pro-Israel advocacy overview & training in small groups -- presented by Bob Soffer

A special event this year! Richard Stone is coming to camp for a story telling performance of "The Maggid" Saturday evening as a prelude to Havdalah. Click here for more information.

POSSIBLE POST-RETREAT EVENT! Several guys have expressed interest in visiting the Yiddish Book Center located at Hampshire College in Amherst. Many have heard the story of the rescue of Yiddish books from the dumpsters of New York and the growth of the museum, but have never been there. Since Camp Ramah is located about a half hour away, we are proposing a trip on Sunday after TheRetreat ends at 11 AM.

The plan would be to take your bag lunch if you wish, drive on your own (we can help coordinate rides) to Amherst, picnic at the Museum, and join the 1:00 PM tour that last about 45 minutes. Admission is $8, $6 for seniors. For more information visit here.

As they say, If you get farblondzhet (lost) or if you’d like more information, please call at 413-256-4900. Please let us (Steve Baturin or Steve Broder) know if you are planning to go and we will help coordinate the event.

For more information on TheRetreat go to the NER-FJMC web site. For a short video about TheRetreat and why you'll never know unless you go, click here.

Please click on the "Register Now!" button below to safely and easily sign up for TheRetreat. Also, please consider sponsoring TheRetreat and/or the Kiddush on Shabbat when you register to help us keep the cost as low as possible. Thank you.

To download and print out a paper registration form to fill out and send in by mail, click HERE.

The cost for TheRetreat (including all meals and lodging in a bunk) is $275 for first time attendees and $340 for returning campers. Also, please consider supporting TheRetreat with sponsorships offered on the Registration Page.

To confidentially request financial aid for TheRetreat contact Steve Broder.

Contact one of the Chairs if you have any questions. See you at Camp!

The Steves: Baturin & Broder
Chairmen, TheRetreat 2019

For TheRetreat 2022

Please CLICK HERE