2017 SISTERHOOD SOJOURN 

Please join your Sisters for the 2017 Sisterhood Sojourn held during the weekend of May 5-7, 2017, in Monterey, California, and unwind from it all. The weekend offers both space, and structure, to allow each of us to personalize our time spent in community, reflection, relaxation and spiritual renewal.

PROGRAM

This year’s theme is the Three Faces of Sarah.  Sarah, the wife of Abraham, was the first mother of our people.  She is known as someone to emulate, someone to look up to, someone to respect and honor.  But who was this woman, really? What made her tick?  What was she like?  What were her values and beliefs, and where did she come from?  Was she Yiscah, Sarai or Sarah?  Each name represents a phase in her life and a “face” that she presented to the world.

The programming offered throughout the weekend will offer each one of us an opportunity to explore this theme in-depth and discover what can we learn from her, how we are like her, how we relate to her, and how we relate to our lives as Jewish women today:

• Our Friday evening Welcome and Shabbat Candle Lighing Service, led by Judith Markowirtz, will begin our transition away from everday distractions and into the space of personal reflection;

• Early Saturday morning, greet the new day with mindfulness through meditation and yoga led by Jenifer Zetlan;

• On Saturday afternoon, Deborah Wechsler will lead us in an exploration of the Sarah in each of us.  Throughout our lives we have many roles - daughter, student, professional, teacher, mother, care-giver – the list is endless and personal. We gather different personality attributes as we travel through these roles. Sometimes we think of these as phases, sometimes masks, sometimes tools or coping mechanisms. But through all of these incarnations of our selves, there is a core “self” or soul that is our own unique and continuing identity.  We will explore how we transition among our identities while retaining or nurturing our core self (or soul), as we look at how our matriarch Sarah carried her unique and powerful soul through three identities described in the Torah. A part of the discussion time may optionally be spent creating our own “mask”, not to hide or obscure our soul, but to celebrate it.

• Our day ends with a Havdalah Service and communal dinner designed to acknowledge and honor the Sarahs in each of us, and to celebrate our time together.
  

SCHEDULE

The most important thing to remember is that this weekend is for you.  All of the program's scheduled activities are optional; attend any, all, or none, as you wish.  They are offered solely as a way to create the space for connection and renewal.

Friday May 5 

4:00 pm: Room Check-in - After checking-in, please stop by the Hospitality Suite for your weekend welcome packet

6:00 pm:  Welcome Ceremony & Shabbat Candle Lighting led by Judith Markowitz

7:00 pm:  Dinner-At-Large (venue suggestions will be provided)

7:00-10:00 pm:  Weekend Jazz offered in the Fireplace Lounge

7:00–midnight: Hospitality Suite will be open

 Saturday May 6

6:30–11:30 am:  Buffet Breakfast @ TusCA Ristorante

7:30 am:  Shabbat Early Morning Meditation & Yoga to greet the day, led by Jenifer Zeltan

10:30 am: d’var Torah, led by Jamie Hyams

12 pm  Lunch on your own

All Day:  Spa Day and Shopping/sightseeing activities around town

2:00 pm:  A Study of Sarah - Carrying Our Souls, led by Deborah Wechsler

6:00 pm:  Havdalah Service, led by Judith Markowitz

7:00 pm:  Communal Dinner

7:00–10:00 pm:  Weekend Jazz offered in the Fireplace Lounge

8:30-midnight:  Hospitality Suite will be open all day

Sunday, May 7

6:00-11:30 am:  Buffet Breakfast @ TusCA Ristorante

8:30–noon:  Hospitality Suite will be open

Noon:  Checkout and farewells

ACTIVITIES/AMENITIES/OFFERINGS

The Hospitality Suite.  The Hospitality Suite will be open each day.  We will meet there for most gatherings.  The suite is there for you to relax and connect with your fellow sisters.  There will also be cards and games available for your use.

Hyatt Regency at Monterey Hotel & Spa. The Hyatt is located on Del Monte Golf Course. With its warm, contemporary ambiance, elegant furnishings and convenient amenities, the hotel offers travelers a respite of serenity and comfort. Features of the hotel and spa include TusCA Ristorante, Knuckles Sports Bar, Fireplace Lounge, personalized concierge service, a 2,000 square foot fitness facility, tennis courts, two outdoor pools and whirlpools, and 12,000 square foot full- service luxury spa.  Other amenities include:

• Hyatt Grand Bed™ with Luxurious Linens
• Coffee Bar with Barrista
• Pebble Beach Company's Championship Del Monte Golf Course
• Full-service racquet club
• 24 hr Gym
• Biking & Jogging/Walking Trails

Accommodations.  You have a choice of single or double, occupancy for your stay. As of 2/4/17, triple occupancy is no longer an option.   All rooms are standard with two double beds.  Each room offers the following amenities:

• Hairdryer
• Iron/ironing board
• In-room Coffee maker
• In-room dining service
• Cable/satellite TV channels
• Pay per view movie selection
• Refrigerator
• Lavish Baths with Walk-In Rain Showers and Deluxe Products
• iHome stereo with iPod® docking station
• High-speed Internet access
• Multi-functional work desk 
• Individual heat control
• Ceiling fans
• Concierge
• Video checkout
• Electronic in-room safe
• 42" HD flat panel TV with On-Command Video System

Marilyn Monroe Spa.  The spa has been designed as if you were walking into Marilyn’s California home. Its facilities feature walk-in rain showers, saunas, beautifully appointed suites complete with a luxurious tub, couples rooms and, because Marilyn loved to read, a library. All spa services with Hyatt Regency Monterey are offered to our BCC Sisterhood at a 15% discount.  Reserve early.  To reserve your spa service, call (831) 657 6734, or book online at: http://www.marilynmonroespas.com/mms-location/monterey-resort-spa/.

Walking/Jogging Trail.  The hotel is just minutes away from many lovely trails for walking and jogging. Maps will be provided in your welcome packet.

Offerings.  Want to explore Monterey?  Bike rentals are available through the tennis pro shop.  Also, Cannery Row, the Monterey Aquarium, whale watching, Old Monterey ghost walk, and many other sights are close by.  Additional information will be contained in your welcome packet.

Costs.  

• Single Room Occupancy - $240.00 per person/per day
  

• Double Room Occupancy - $130.00 per person/per day

• Communal Dinner - $40.00 per person

The rates and discounts offered by the Hotel based on booking at least 10 rooms.  The retreat room cost per night is based on a pro-rata share of the following:  Room rate, room tax, state tax, breakfast included at a 50% discounted rate, hospitality suite rental, incidentals, overhead, and food/beverage offerings.  Resort fees of $22 per day waived/parking is free.

Payment.  Payments may be made as follows:

• Cash, or:

• Check, payable to “Beth Chaim Sisterhood” and mail to: c/o Beth Chaim Congregation, 1800 Holbrook Drive, Danville, CA  94506;

• Credit card through Neela at the BCC office (925-736-7146 before 1:00 pm M-F); (please use this as last resort); or

• PayPal.  If paying through PayPal, please add $10.00 to your first payment, for a one-time processing fee. 

• UPDATE:  We made our initial 10 room minimum; therefore, you have until December 31st to register; $75 deposit is required by January 15, 2017. If this deadline has passed, you can still sign up, and we will do our best to get you included with our group at the hotel.
  

• The remaining balance is required by April 5, 2017. 

If you have any questions about payment and/or financial concerns about the trip, please feel free to discuss them with me privately; it's possible we may be able to work something out,

Transportation.  Please let us know if you would like to carpool, and we will connect you with your fellow travelers.  We will provide a list of participants later in the process.

For more information, please contact BCC Sisterhood at bccsisterhood@gmail.com or Mary Jo Smith, at 503-522-7130.