JMR34:
Heaven is All Around Us:
Jewish EcoSpirituality
and the Cultivation of Awe!
Friday, October 31, 2025 to
Sunday, November 2, 2024
Isabella Freedman Jewish Retreat Center
Falls Village, Connecticut
In a world made smaller by the troubles of everyday life, JMR34 will offer you an oasis of hope. Join us as we gather to celebrate the sacred, awe-inspiring relationship we share as stewards of the Earth — and as Jewish men.
Heaven is all around us!
Together, we will explore different Jewish pathways to eco-spirituality from a Jewish perspective – moving from an ego-system to our sacred, awe-inspired place in the eco-system we call home.
JMR 34 Co-Chairs
Ralph Benmergui
Co-Chair of JMRs 28 and 34
David Piver
Co-Chair of JMRs 25, 31, and 34
Gabi Silver
Co-Chair of JMRs 34
Registration Details
Early Bird Discount! Register by June 30, 2025 and save $25!
Standard Plus Room: $670 (Double occupancy in the Scheuer, Pine, Weinberg & May buildings. All rooms have private bathrooms, with a mix of queen and twin beds.)
Single Supplement: $175 (only available for Standard Plus Rooms)
Standard Room: $545 (Double occupancy in the Maple & Blue Heron buildings. Rooms have queen and twin beds with bathrooms shared between two rooms.)
Basic Double Room: $470 (Double occupancy in the Elm building. Each room has two twin beds with shared bathrooms and showers in the hallways.)
Basic Triple Room: $445 (Triple occupancy in the Kaufmann building. Each room has a twin bed and twin bunk with shared bathrooms and showers in the hallways.)
Camper: $400 (Bring your own tent, sleeping bag, and towel. Includes all meals, programming, and access to bathrooms and hot showers.)
Commuter: $400 (Includes all meals and programming. Does not include any overnight lodging.)
Please contact JMR@menschwork.org if you have questions about accommodations.
Parsha
(Weekly Torah Portion)
Haftorah: Isaiah 40:27 – 41:16
JMR34:
Heaven is All Around Us:
Jewish EcoSpirituality
and the Cultivation of Awe!
Friday, October 31, 2025 to
Sunday, November 2, 2024
Isabella Freedman Jewish Retreat Center
Falls Village, Connecticut
What is EcoSpirituality?
From eco-kosher to earth-based Judaism, there are lots of facets to the EcoSpiritual diamond.
Essentially, EcoSpirituality is about moving away from the concept that “Man has Dominion” over the earth – a concept that puts us atop the pyramid, with our needs as human-beings paramount.
EcoSpirituality encourages us to move towards an ecosystem where all of creation is sacred. With gratitude and humility, we move to a new relationship with the earth, each other, and ourselves. Every action we take can be wrapped in awe and wonder. We breathe life in to the trees and the trees breathe life into us, as Reb Waskow would say.
Frequently Asked JMR34 Questions
What is the closest airport?
- Bradley International Airport in Hartford is just under fifty miles away.
- Tweed New Haven Airport is about seventy-five miles away
- Albany International Airport is about seventy-five miles away
What is the closest train station?
- Wassaic train station (on MetroNorth’s Harlem line) is about a thirty-minute taxi ride away.
How can I get from the airport or train station to Isabella Freedman (and back)?
- Uber or Lyft
- Taxi
- Car Rental
What time should I be at Isabella Freedman on Friday?
- We are still developing the schedule. Please check back soon.
What time will JMR34 end on Sunday?
- We are still developing the schedule. Please check back soon.
What is a Mishpacha Group?
The central component of each JMR is the Mishpacha Group. During the JMR weekend, we create several small Mishpacha of 5-8 men. Each group meets three times during the weekend to explore how the retreat’s theme applies to each man’s life. It is a chance to explore aloud one’s inner self confidentially without feeling evaluated or criticized. Many participants feel that their Mishpacha group experience draws their deepest response and is the most important part of a very vital Jewish Men’s Retreat. Please watch this video to learn more.
About Isabella Freedman Jewish Retreat Center
Isabella Freedman Jewish Retreat Center is situated on 400 acres in the Connecticut Berkshires. The Center is situated deeply in nature with a beautiful lake, hiking trails, and acres of scenic farmland providing delicious Kosher, farm-to-table food. It has a rich history of supporting Living Judaism and connecting people to Jewish traditions, the earth and each other.
The venue offers comfortable accommodations in different layouts.
Isabella Freedman is operated by Adamah, the largest Jewish environmental organization in North America. Adamah also operates the Pearlstone Jewish Retreat Center, home to JMR31 and JMR33.
Please contact JMR@menschwork.org
for additional information about JMR34.
Questions?
Reach out if you have any concerns to: info@menschwork.org.
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