Jewish Men's Retreat - JMR25 to JMR30
JMR25: 2016
Our Fathers, Our Brothers, Our Selves: Building Bridges
JMR26: 2017
Claiming Our Strengths
JMR27: 2018
Man Up, Mensch Up
JMR28: 2019
Beginnings: Creating New Relationships with Yourself, Your Brothers, Earth, and Spirit
JMR29: 2020
Resilience. Balance. Equanimity.
JMR30: 2021
Reimagining the Power of Havdallah!
The 25th Jewish Men's Retreat
November 11-13, 2016
Isabella Freedman Jewish Retreat Center
Parshat Lech Lecha
Co-Chairs:
Donald Gardner and David Piver
The journey begins! It is so exciting that we will be attending the 25th Jewish Men’s Retreat (JMR) with more than 90 brothers saying YES! to spiritual awakening! to celebrating a quarter century of Menschwork and creating the unique authentic journey in Torah!
The retreat is an opportunity to explore [drash] and live into a Torah portion (parsha) in rich and authentic ways as we drash what it is to be a man, a father, a son, a brother. The retreat is a time to reflect on how the parsha informs our JMR 25 theme–Our Fathers, Our Brothers, Our Selves: Building Bridges. What was Avram’s journey? Is it relevant to your life’s journey? What is it like to be in the midst of a moment like Avram’s call from G-d? What can we learn from the Torah of his actions? What does it mean for us and how we learn and grow in our lives as men?
The invitation is to journey into an exploration of our own and each other’s life journey through Torah. What is it to be leaving and building upon our father’s ways, to be building, repairing, celebrating brotherhood and to be in more authentic relationship with oneself, to be creating bridges to Jewish community and beyond. Arrive and feast upon the buffet of Torah in new and ancient ways!
Avram heard his calling, at times questioned aspects of it, but nevertheless responded with actions necessary so that God could create a covenant with Isaac. Crucial to accomplishing this, Avram was required, as are each of us, to bridge and foster relationships with those in his life.
In each relationship, Avram constructs these bridges using the same materials that we use when building our own bridges. With Lot, he starts with his concept of responsibility to family. Love, caring, protection, mentoring, teaching values, working through difficulties, addressing conflicts; all within the umbrella of maintaining bonds that will last a lifetime. With Yah, he accepts and at times questions the wisdom and teachings as a broader awareness is presented to him in measured intervals from an all-knowing, all-seeing presence.
JMR25 offers each man time and space to envision Avram’s journey and consider how it relates to his own.
The 26th Jewish Men’s Retreat
November 10-12, 2017
Isabella Freedman Jewish Retreat Center
Claiming Our Strengths
Parsha: Chayei Sarah
Co-Chairs: Simon Olsberg, Bill Magaliff, and Michael Landau
The JMR26 Planning Team is excited to announce the opening of registration for this year’s retreat – Claiming Our Strengths – to be held once again at Hazon’s Isabella Freedman Jewish Retreat Center in bucolic Falls Village, CT. We are conditioned with limited archetypes of what it means to be “a man” and, furthermore, “a strong man” – archetypes that both provide a foundation and continue to shape — and also hinder — the development of our Selves. Through the lens of the Chayei Sarah narrative, JMR26 will provide a container in which to explore liberation from this conditioning and welcome in a fully authentic range of human strengths, power and character – in a community of loving brothers as we immerse in nature’s beauty, deepen our connections with Jewish tradition and community, davven dynamicially, study, contemplate, converse, eat/laugh/sing/dance/hike/chill, and relish a Shabbos afternoon snooze. |
JMR25 to JMR30 JMR25 to JMR30 JMR25 to JMR30 JMR25 to JMR30 JMR25 to JMR30 JMR25 to JMR30 JMR25 to JMR30
JMR27: Man Up, Mensch Up
October 19-21, 2018
Isabella Freedman Jewish Retreat Center
Parsha: Lech Lecha
Co-Chairs:
Marc Jacobs
Cobi Waxman
Brothers,
During Elul we turn our intentions toward t’shuvah and personal development for the new year.
The upcoming 27th Jewish Men’s Retreat, with its emphasis on cultivating mensch-like qualities, can serve as a valuable support system for this ongoing process.
We hope you will join us October 19-21, 2018 at Isabella Freedman Jewish Retreat Center as we reconnect to our essential selves and draw strength from the richness of the JMR community and the enjoy the fall colors of the Connecticut Berkshires.
As always, we envision a weekend of camaraderie, prayer, study, personal growth and fun. And this year we plan to introduce a brand new program called, “Pathways”.
Our Pathways program will feature break-out groups on Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning aimed at creating experiences based on shared interests related to Jewish culture, tradition and daily living. We plan to provide a format where men of similar interests can meet and connect. Potential topics for discussion and activities include text study, gender identity, aging, physical activity, singing, prayer and politics.
It’s just one more way we are striving to make this year’s JMR one of our best retreats ever. Please join us. Register now at: https://register.menschwork.org/jmr27
We hope to see you in October!
Cobi & Marc – JMR27 Coordinators
The 28th Jewish Men's Retreat
Beginnings: Creating New Relationships with Yourself,
Your Brothers, Earth, and Spirit
October 25-27, 2019
Parsha: Beresheet - בראשית
Co-chairs: Ralph Benmergui, David Cherenson, and Michael Evers
The Parsha Beresheet opens up with the account of Creation by the Divine and all the wonder and awe flowing from that. Yet, as men in 2019 we must take stock of the damage done to our world – physically and interpersonally.
Are we living our lives with a sense of the sacred? Do we connect or disconnect from our fellows? From the Earth? What would it mean to be in relationship for you? What will you create from JMR28?
JMR29
Resilience. Balance. Equanimity.
November 13-14, 2020
Co-Chairs: Harold Belkowitz, Elliott Myrowitz, Roger Zimmerman
JMR29 was held online due to the Coronavirus pandemic
One of the things we treasure most about the JMR experience is the opportunity to connect with each other in a deeply meaningful way. Although safe social distancing prohibits us from gathering in person this year, the JMR29 Leadership Team has developed a plan to keep the online experience intimate and engaging.
JMR29 will build on what we have learned from 28 years of holding in-person gatherings — adapted to an online environment. As such, you can expect to see many familiar faces while exploring what this new format and technology can offer to help advance our evolution as Jewish men on the path to compassion, integrity, and spirit.
Daily we know and live with the challenges, distractions, obstacles, and choices that test our strengths and abilities and help us fulfill Menschwork’s challenge to be men of compassion, integrity,and spirit.
JMR29’s parsha, Chayei Sara, brings us to the latter days of Abraham’s life. The corresponding Haftorah tells us of aging King David. Both ancestors made choices which allowed them to feel whole and holy even as they faced their own challenges, distractions, and obstacles.
As Jewish men living in 2020, we fast-forward many generations to JMR29 – and we are dealing with similar issues. During the retreat we will individually and collectively explore how to recognize and then build on the Resilience. Balance. Equanimity. in our lives.
Please join us and explore for yourself; and at the same time discover what connections you make with Abraham, David, and your JMR brethren.
Shabbat Pathways Programming
Men will have the opportunity to select two Pathways programs from a selection of several offerings.
This year’s options include:
•Finding Balance in Our Soul Traits: A Mussar Perspective, with Dan Goodman
•Eros & Alchemy in the Waters of the Jordan: The Story of Rabbi Yochanan & Resh Lakish, with Joseph Skibell
•Tikkun Olam: Finding love in the tragedy of the moment, with Cobi Waxman, Yosaif August
•Wrestling with the Consequences of Anti-Semitism, with Rabbi Moshe Givental
•Drumming Your Prayers, with Jojo Kottler and Mitch Gordon
•Yoga as a Jewish Practice, with Louis Haber
What is Pathways?
Pathways offers a dual opportunity to learn more about a specific topic of interest. But additionally, we get to meet men of common interests. Interests that we may want to discuss further even after the weekend.
Meaningful Mishpacha Groups
JMR29’s Mischpacha Groups will explore the retreat’s theme and how it applies to each of our lives. Many JMR participants find the Mishpacha Group experience to be the most important part of the retreat.
Click this link to learn more about Mishpacha Groups.
The Hitbodedut
Inspiring Shabbat Services
•Kabbalat Shabbat,
led by Reb Shawn Zevit and friends
•Shabbat morning services
•Ma’ariv and Havdalah
JMR30:
Reimagining the Power of Havdallah!
Moving from isolation and uncertainty
to community and brotherhood.
(Beresheet 12:1 – 17:27)
Haftorah: Isaiah 40:27 – 41:16
Celebrate 30 years of JMR as we renew this ancient ritual for these times. In Havdallah we distinguish between the holiness of Shabbat and the activities of the everyday. Embracing this delineation guides a weekend of exploration into why Jewish tradition marks time in this way — and how we can emerge from such a challenging and unsettling period enriched and inspired.
Join us on this special journey of discovery and reconnection!
JMR30
Digital Connection
Digital Connection is an online option for men who are unable to attend JMR30 in person. It will feature streaming of the Opening and Closing ceremonies, Friday night Kabbalat Shabbat service, and Shabbat morning services.
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Connect With Us
Please reach out if you have any questions or concerns at info@menschwork.org.