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Gather the People
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Get social! This is a unique opportunity to share the work we’re collectively doing, and continue connecting after the conference. We encourage you to post pictures, videos, and content while you're here, to help generate energy for our movement. Be sure to use these two hashtags so people can search for / link to your posts, both from within the conference and throughout wider Jewish Intentional Community networks:
#hakhel #JICC2018 @hazonvision
@hazon @hazon
Table of Contents Welcome Letter.............................................................................. 3 About Hakhel........................................................................................ 4 The Conference...................................................................... 4 Welcome to Pearlstone Center......................................... 5 Pearlstone................................................................................ 6 Hazon......................................................................................... 7 Upcoming Hazon Retreats......................................................... 8 Childcare Information................................................................10 Shabbat ..........................................................................................11
Schedule Thursday, June 14................................................................12 Friday, June 15......................................................................13 Saturday, June 16................................................................16 Sunday, June 17...................................................................20 Map of Communities.................................................................18 Bios Staff..........................................................................................21 Presenters...............................................................................22 Consultants............................................................................24 Hakhel Communities..........................................................26 Notes................................................................................................32 Pearlstone Map..............................................inside back cover
Welcome! To all the participants of the Jewish Intentional Communities Conference 2018 – shalom and welcome! I am excited and grateful that you have made the time to join us at Pearlstone Center for this unique conference. Over the course of the next four days, we will work together to rethink and reshape the future of Jewish communal living. For those of you who have come laden with innovative ideas and new concepts, this is the ideal forum to share them and build upon them together. And for those of you who feel that you are fresh out of ideas – get ready to be swept off your feet! It is a basic need of every human being to be part of a caring and supportive network of people who have shared values and aspirations. Whether you have had the good fortune of finding such a community, the honor of establishing one, or are currently harboring the inspiration for something brand new, we will join forces over the course of this conference to breathe life into your dreams. The power and energy produced by a community is far greater than that of the individuals who comprise it. The Hebrew word “mitzvah” shares the letters “tzadi” and “vav” with the word “tzevet”, meaning team, a group of people who are joined together by a common goal. Built into the concept of Jewish practice is the idea that it should
be carried out in a team, and that is what underpins the concept of Jewish Intentional Communities. When people strive for a shared ideal, they become a cohesive unit: a community, and the name of that community is the “mitzvah”, their shared vision. The Hebrew word for vision is in fact “hazon”. At Hazon, the Jewish lab for sustainability, we work to create a healthier and more sustainable Jewish community, and a healthier and more sustainable world for all. We were founded in 2000 and we have grown every year since. We welcome participants of all religious backgrounds and none, and we work closely with a wide range of communities across the world. This conference has been designed to give you the skills to build your communities, as well as to give you insight into the powerful force for change of which you are a part. At the conference, you will meet consultants who are experts in the fields of community and sociology. They will provide you with the expertise and the know-how to achieve both your short and long term goals, and help you turn a concept into a hub of Jewish life. You will also have the opportunity to network with like-minded individuals who understand what you are looking to create, and are the ideal sounding boards for your deliberations. I wish us all a successful and productive conference, and I look forward to having the opportunity to get to know each other a little better.
All the best,
Aharon Ariel Lavi
Please wear your name badge throughout the retreat! • 3
About Hakhel
Gather the People
Hakhel was founded on the premise that communal life is an irreplaceable component in maintaining Jewish identity, and yet existing community models do not resonate with increasing numbers of people. Derived from the Hebrew word for community, “Hakhel” means “assemble,” a term which alludes to the project’s two-fold aim of encouraging and developing young communities, and using these communities as a method for engaging young adults in Jewish life, learning, and service. The initiative is intended to cultivate the emergence of a range of new experiments in Jewish community. It exists to amplify and strengthen new expressions of Jewish community, not only in North America but also, now, in other parts of the Jewish diaspora. We invest – both directly and indirectly – in a wide range of new initiatives and experiments in Jewish community. We want to encourage and nourish greater health and sustainability. Where possible, we hope to learn from some of the remarkable experiments in sustainable and intentional communities that have grown dramatically in Israel in the last two or three decades. Hakhel has launched its third cohort of more than forty communities across almost five continents. These nascent Jewish Intentional Communities are on the brink of creating co-housing projects, developing farms and eco-villages to promote sustainable living, and tackling social justice issues, among a variety of other experiments. If you are part of a nascent Jewish Intentional community, or you’d like to develop or join one, Hakhel can help lead the way. Applications for the next cohort open in the late summer of 2018. For more information about Hakhel, please contact us at hakhel@hazon.org.
About the Jewish Intentional Communities Conference Family, Jewish engagement, caring for others, entrepreneurship: so many of the values we share boil down at the end of the day to community. Communities that give us the power to start new initiatives, learn new things, and experience Jewish life at its fullest. In previous conferences, we’ve explored: where we’ve been – biblical communities, 20th century kibbutzim and moshavim, the case study of Beit Chavura; where we are – examples of modern Israeli communities, Moishe House, Adamah and other young adult programs; and where we’re going – refining our joint visions for the future, gaining skills to enhance our capacity to build sustainable communities, and facilitated networking to identify common interests and visions. This summer, the Jewish Intentional Communities Conference will be the opportunity for a global community to convene in order to learn, connect, and experiment. Over the course of four days, friends and families will work with entrepreneurs and experts in the field to gain skills and knowledge from each other, learn various models to implement in their own communities, and participate in a meaningful, diverse Shabbat. From understanding the lessons learned by pioneers in the movement to participating in a day dedicated to Design Thinking, this conference will pave the way for us to network and explore new concepts which speak to our values and interests.
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Welcome to Pearlstone Center Important Info & Site Rules Kashrut
Kosher means many things to different people. At Pearlstone, the kashrut guidelines put in place by the Orthodox Union (OU) are followed, and all food served is kosher certified. What this means: no outside food or soft beverage is permitted into the Main Building. Any wine/ alcohol brought to the main building must be Kosher, unopened and approved by site staff upon arrival. For parents of infants, please be in touch with questions about baby formula/food. Guests may bring reusable water bottles and/or travel mugs into the facility, but are not permitted in our dining rooms.
Meals
Meals and meal times have been coordinated by your group and our staff. Meals are typically served buffet style and we ask our guests to help clear their own tables at the end of the meal. Any guest with dietary restrictions or need for special accommodations are encouraged to provide that to their group leader in advance. While on site, any special requirements can be found on the side counter or by speaking with a staff member. The beverage station is open all hours the building is open offering coffee, teas, cold water and other beverages along with recyclable and compostable cups.
Other Attractions (no reservation required)
Butterfly Garden & Meditation Garden • Various sports equipment • Open grass fields • Hiking trail • Outdoor sports fields • 24/7 Lounge spaces • 24/7 Fitness Center
General Rules 1. Pearlstone is a kosher facility and laws of Kashrut prohibit any outside food to be consumed in the main building. Any items purchased outside of the facility may be consumed outdoors, in lodging rooms or in communal lounges. 2. Possession or use of illegal drugs is strictly prohibited. 3. No amplified music in common building areas and public areas and accommodation areas is permitted on Friday sundown through Saturday sundown— weekly. 4. Smoking or using other tobacco products is prohibited in all buildings, meeting rooms, and guest rooms. Smoking is permitted in designated outdoor areas only. 5. Fireworks, scooters, and skates are prohibited. 6. No pets/animals are allowed except for certified and trained service animals with notification.
Wi-Fi
7. Shirts, pants, and shoes are required inside all public areas at all times.
Main Building Hours
8. The lighting of candles for Jewish religious purposes is permitted in designated areas. All other lighting of candles/incense is prohibited unless approval is provided by the event coordinator.
Free Wi-Fi is accessible to all of our guests and no password is required. 7:00 AM-10:30 PM Monday through Thursday & Sunday 7:00 AM-11:00 PM Friday & Saturday
Transportation
Free parking is available during your stay. Transportation options are listed on our website, pearlstonecenter.org. We encourage you to use the directions located on our website and not your GPS.
Accommodations
Check in is at 3:00 PM and check out is at 10:00 AM. Your room key will be your responsibility while at Pearlstone and if lost or not turned in, a fee of $25 will be charged. Linens, pillows and towels are provided for the duration of your stay. In rooms, guests will find basic toiletries such as hand soap and foaming soap/shampoo in the shower. Daily housekeeping is not provided and there are no TVs or telephones in rooms.
9. Guests must respect personal and public property. Repair costs for damages incurred to property will be billed to the individual or group responsible for such damages. 10. A zoning law requires that there be no outdoor “organized” program or activities after 11:00 PM on weekdays or after midnight Friday and Saturday. Guests are asked to refrain from making noise in common areas and sleeping rooms between the hours of 11:00 PM and 7:00 AM. 11. Vending or selling merchandise is prohibited in public areas and to persons outside your own group membership.
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About Pearlstone Center
Pearlstone Center is a retreat and conference center nestled in Baltimore, Maryland's beautiful countryside offering joyous, hands-on experiences. We warmly welcome groups of all kinds, offering the optimal setting for conferences and retreats with facilities designed to meet the needs of any organization and to foster personal connections. Pearlstone Center is also a two-time recipient of the Hazon Seal of Sustainability certificate award, as well as a member of the 2018 Hakhel cohort as The Moshav at Pearlstone community. The Pearlstone Center Story In 1982, Richard Pearlstone founded The Jack Pearlstone Institute for Living Judaism in partnership with The Associated in memory of his father, Jack, who had a deep commitment to the Jewish future characterized by vision, innovation and energy. After nearly 20 years of introducing Jewish people to their heritage and traditions through various programs and events, the physical retreat center known today as the Pearlstone Center was opened in the picturesque suburbs of Baltimore, Maryland in 2001. Several years later, Pearlstone Center launched its Jewish educational farm to provide a hands-on nature experience for its community. In living Jack’s legacy, we create common ground for individuals, groups, and families connecting through retreats, conferences, field trips, volunteering, multicultural programs, fellowships, workshops, and celebrations. We embrace everyone with warmth and sincerity and strive to facilitate the interconnectedness of people no matter their background or affiliation. Sustainability We connect people to the land so they can understand and value the connection between man and earth and easily focus on the fundamental elements of life. We teach through motivating, joyous, and hands-on experiences. The environment that we create, and the programming that we offer, fosters memorable spiritual experiences and ignites vibrant Jewish life. Our Community Sustainability Department embodies the Jewish value of preserving the earth’s resources for future generations, thereby enhancing community vibrancy and our quality of life. Our mission is to foster a culture where sustainability and environmental health are integral to Baltimore’s Jewish community. By reducing our environmental impact and by increasing environmental-behaviors in the operations of Pearlstone, The Associated, its agencies and Jewish Baltimore, we strive forward with the spirit of collaboration and leading by example.
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About Hazon
Hazon means “vision.” We’re the Jewish lab for sustainability. We work to create a more sustainable Jewish community – and a healthier and more sustainable world for all. We do this through immersive multi-day programs like food conferences, retreats, and bike rides; through thought-leadership (writing, teaching, and advocacy); and capacitybuilding – fostering new experiments in Jewish Outdoor, Food, Farming & Environmental Education (JOFEE), across the Jewish world. Our programs are multi-generational and open to people of all religious backgrounds and none.
“The Torah is a commentary on the world and the world is a commentary on the Torah.” Our theme quote reflects our belief that turning Jewish life outwards to address some of the greatest challenges of our time is good not only for the world, but also for the renewal of Jewish life itself.
We are based in New York, Detroit, Denver, Boulder, and at Isabella Freedman Jewish Retreat Center in the Connecticut Berkshires. Our work is local and national and we have an impact in Israel and elsewhere.
Education
Action
Advocacy
We offer Jewish Outdoor, Food, Farming & Environmental Education (JOFEE), providing thought-leadership and immersive experiences for a spectrum of ages and interests. From institutions and individuals using our wide range of curricula and sourcebooks to kids at our Teva programs weighing their leftovers and young adults living in community and farming with Adamah, Hazon supports learning at the intersection of Jewish life and sustainability.
Hazon participants take action. We compost and pickle. We improve the energy profiles of our Jewish institutions, use our food dollars to support local farms, and meet thousands of our neighbors at regional Jewish Food Festivals. We raise environmental awareness while riding our bikes. We share sustainable Shabbat meals, create gardens at our Jewish institutions, plant seeds for future generations, build intentional communities in North America, and visit our partners in Israel’s environmental sector.
And in settings from synagogues to community board meetings to global climate marches, we advocate on local and regional projects like bike lanes and family-owned farms, as well as on national issues like climate change and sustainable agriculture. Hazon provides rabbis with sermon materials on climate issues, and training and support for meetings with government representatives. Hazon participants speak up to help make the world we all share healthier and more sustainable for everyone.
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Upcoming Hazon Retreats and Programs in 2018 All retreats are at Isabella Freedman Jewish Retreat Center in Connecticut unless otherwise indicated.
CAMP ISABELLA FREEDMAN
July 9-15 & July 16-22
An all-inclusive vacation for active adults 55+. Summer camp fun includes arts & crafts, movement and mindfulness classes, lectures and discussion groups, nature programs, and cultural activities.
TORAH YOGA: ACQUIRING GARMENTS OF LIGHT
July 23-29
Through the study of Torah and the practice of yoga, we will seek out light in our body, mind, heart, soul, and ultimately the world.
HAZON FOOD CONFERENCE
August 1-5
Expand your culinary expertise, enjoy local, seasonal organic fruits and veggies, unpack the complexities of our global food system, and connect to our ancient food tradition. The Kids’ Food Conference, specially designed for young foodies, makes it perfect for the whole family!
ROMEMU YESHIVA: CONTEMPLATIVE ELUL PRACTICE
August 13-16
The Romemu Yeshiva aims to teach Torah and support the practices of Tefillah (prayer), Tzedakah and Gemilut Hasadim (acts of justice and kindness) through a contemplative lens.
LET MY PEOPLE SING!
August 23-26
Join us for a weekend of song sharing and learning. Together, we will sing and share a wide array of Jewish song traditions, inclusive of the full range of Jewish ancestry and religious practices. Includes Camp Teva for kids!
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NEW YORK RIDE & RETREAT
August 31-September 3 (Labor Day Weekend)
Join the People of the Bike for our 18th annual ride! Enjoy a relaxing Shabbat retreat followed by two days of cycling around the beautiful Berkshires. This fully-supported ride, fundraiser, and community experience is for people of all cycling levels and ages. Includes a bike ride for kids!
ROSH HASHANAH
September 9-12
Orthodox and Renewal prayer services, deep teachings, immersion in a relaxing wooded venue, tashlich in our stream, community celebrations, and fabulous farm-to-table feasting. Includes Camp Teva for kids!
SUKKAHFEST
September 23-October 3
Perhaps the most joyous, and almost certainly the most diverse celebration of the holiday of Sukkot on planet Earth. Come for all or part of the 10-day festivities. Includes Camp Teva for kids!
JOFEE NETWORK GATHERING
October 11-14 | Tamarack Camps, MI
For anyone interested in bringing Jewish Outdoor, Food, Farming, and Environmental Education (JOFEE) elements to your work and home communities.
HAZON MEDITATION RETREAT
December 23-30
Silent meditation with instruction, musical prayer services, and evening teachings that draw on Jewish, secular, and Buddhist sources.
Join us for the 4th Jewish Intentional Communities Tour in Israel October 7 – 14, 2018 & November 4 – 11, 2018
Experience Israel through the lens of intentional communities and go beyond the rhetoric to hear from Israelis creating change. The Hakhel Israel trip will showcase the incredible work of intentional communities from across the geographic, religious, and ethnic spectrum of Israeli society. We will have in-depth encounters with leading grassroots social activists and social entrepreneurs to hear about their challenges and unique approaches that have led to the implementation of successful social change initiatives. Each encounter will be in the homes and community spaces of community members and there will be an opportunity for hands-on volunteer projects as well. Hakhel community members interested in attending the trip are eligible for highly subsidized prices. Non-Hakhel community members are welcome to join the trip and should reach out to the Hakhel team about pricing. For more info about pricing and logistics, please contact hakhel@hazon.org.
Applications close on August 1st!
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Save the date for JICC 2019 December 5 - 8, 2019 We’ve only just begun our journey to build Jewish Intentional Communities and we have a long way to go together. Join us again at the Jewish Intentional Communities conference at Isabella Freedman Jewish Retreat Center in the foothills of the southern Berkshires. Stay tuned for more information about next year’s conference!
Childcare Information We are excited to welcome the younger members of communities and families joining our conference! We want to share a few things that will ensure a safe and engaging experience for all, including our little ones: • If you notice a child wandering unsupervised, please notify one of our staff members, who will be wearing a Hazon nametag, or walk the child to the main Pearlstone office. • There will not be any intensive children’s programming. A babysitting service will be available during session times from Friday, June 15th through Sunday, June 17th, held primarily in the Months Lounge. Families should plan to be with their children during off-session hours, mealtimes, and Shabbat services. Please note that drop off is primarily for children between the ages of 2 and 5. • Our in-house babysitters, Shaina and Necha (25 and 26), will be available for a meet and greet with families on the evening of Thursday, June 14th. Shaina Shaw has been involved in childcare for over 10 years. Growing up in England with her six siblings, she worked as a mother's helper and camp counselor throughout her high school years. After seminary in Israel, she was a preschool teacher's aid for a year in Milwaukee after which she ran a nursery in Passaic. She currently lives in Brooklyn, New York working as a graphic designer and is on call for helping out with her growing number of nieces and nephews B"H. Necha Weinreb has been involved in childcare and youth leadership programs for many years. Her vacations and Jewish holidays have been spent at numerous summer camps and holiday retreats as a counselor and youth leader for children of all ages. Necha is working towards her RN (Registered Nurse) certification and has completed an Associate of Science in Nursing degree from Penn State Worthington Scranton. Additionally she is certified in First Aid and CPR. Necha currently works in the nursing home support services field, attending to patients in their home and provides them with caring medical attention. Contact info
Schedule
Babysitters Shaina Shaw (973) 330-1749 Necha Weinreb (570) 687-1750
Friday 9:15 AM – 12:00 PM Getting to know you games and free play
Staff Shaked Landor (646) 824-2580 Leah Palmer +972-58-605-0558
1:00 – 4:00 PM Prepare for Shabbat with song and dance
In any emergency, please dial 911. Kosher pareve allergy-free snacks will be provided. Babysitters will each wear a Hazon t-shirt during babysitting hours. Staff will wear Hazon name tags. Explore the fun activities we have planned for your little ones during the conference!
Saturday 11:45 AM – 1:00 PM Let out some energy with our exciting games & coloring fun! 4:30 – 6:00 PM Join us to play our favorite ball games and learn some new ones too! 6:30 – 8:00 PM Cozy down with some stories and songs Sunday 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM Get creative with some XL sensory play, dance, and music!
10 • 2018 Jewish Intentional Communities Conference • hazon.org/hakhel
Shabbat Information
Hazon and Pearlstone strive to create an inclusive community throughout all of our events. As such, Shabbat can be a complicated time, since our participants come from all backgrounds and have a variety of personal customs. For some, this may be their first time experiencing Shabbat; others may follow the letter of law regarding Shabbat each week. In crafting our Shabbat schedule, we have tried to create programming that will be of interest to all, and have a variety of minyanim (prayer services) to choose from. Feel free to participate in programs which you are accustomed to, or use this weekend to try something new – a new service, a new custom, or a new perspective. A DAY OF REST Shabbat is called a day of rest. The fourth of the Ten Commandments states, “For six days you shall labor and do all your work. But the seventh day is a Sabbath… you shall not do any work.” Aside from physical work, people traditionally abstain from many different things including using the telephone, turning on and off lights, cooking, using the computer, listening to or playing music, swimming, and writing. CANDLE LIGHTING All Jewish holidays begin at sunset, thus Shabbat begins at sundown on Friday night. We mark the transition from the work week to Shabbat with the lighting of candles. This is a way to welcome in Shabbat, reflect on the past week and prepare for a day of rest before the week begins again. HAVDALLAH Havdallah, (lit. separation), marks the end of Shabbat and the start of the new week. Havdallah is done as soon as three stars are visible in the sky. The rituals of Havdallah include blessings over drinking wine, smelling spices, seeing a flame of a candle, and a blessing on separation. Havdallah is intended to require a person to use all five senses: tasting wine, smelling spices, seeing fire and feeling its heat, and hearing blessings. PUBLIC SPACES During Shabbat, we strive to create an atmosphere which is inclusive and uplifting for everyone. In order to achieve this, we ask that traditional Shabbat practices, such as not using cell phones, taking photos, or playing music, are observed in any public spaces. Please wear your name badge throughout the retreat! • 11
Thursday, June 14 3:00 – 6:00 PM Check-In & Welcome Snack Main Lobby Check in, get a schedule and snack, and receive your housing assignment. 4:30 – 5:00 PM Optional Mincha (Afternoon Service) Beit Midrash Services will be held depending on those in attendance and their prayer preferences. 6:30 – 7:30 PM Dinner Dining Room 7:00 – 7:30 PM Meet & Greet Mandatory: Childcare Meet & Greet –Families Only Months Lounge Shaked Landor Meet with Shaina and Necha to learn about childcare services for your two to five year olds throughout the conference. Optional: Consultants & Communities Jubilee Hakhel community members can utilize this time to meet and talk with their designated consultants.
7:30 – 9:30 PM Orientation & Welcome Jubilee Aharon Ariel Lavi, Judith Belasco, Jakir Manela, Nigel Savage & Sara Shalva As a whole group, we will meet one another and get oriented to this weekend and to the Pearlstone Center. 9:30 – 10:00 PM Optional Ma’ariv (Evening Service) Beit Midrash 9:30 – 11:00 PM Optional Meeting Blocks During this time, Hakhel community members will have the option to meet with their consultants, and those from MAKOM will be able to meet with one another. Other participants can spend the time networking with each other. Optional: Consultants & Communities Palm MAKOM Meeting Time Willow Optional: Networking Time Myrtle
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Friday, June 15 7:00 – 8:00 AM Optional Yoga On the deck (sunshine) or Citron (rain) Sara Shalva Start your day with a relaxing yoga session to wake your body. This class is open to all levels. 7:30 – 8:15 AM Optional Shacharit (Morning Service) Beit Midrash 8:00 – 9:00 AM Breakfast Dining Room 9:15 – 10:30 AM Lessons Learned We’ll dive into the history of Jewish Intentional Communities and explore community successes, challenges, and learnings from experts in the field. The five sessions below will each be held twice. The first round will be held from 9:15-9:45 AM, and the second round will be held from 10:00-10:30 AM. Choose one session to attend during each round. Historic & Philosophical Roots of Jewish Intentional Communities Citron Aharon Ariel Lavi The term “Jewish Intentional Communities” is new. But the concept is millennia old, and together we will learn some of the key Jewish resources and historical phenomenon that gave birth to what we are trying to do now. JICs in the United States: A Crash Course Vineyard Beth Vander Stoep This lecture will look into the history of Jewish Intentional Communities in the United States and the driving forces as to why Americans are choosing this lifestyle. We will divulge into how the Am Olam and Kibbutz Movements, the waves of Jewish immigration, the Holocaust, suburbanization, concepts of whiteness, American Jewish scholarship, and other forces have impacted the movement we have today.
9:15 – 10:30 AM Kenissa: The New Face(s) of American Jewish Life Orchard Rabbi Sid Schwarz In a pioneering new national project called Kenissa (entrance-way): Communities of Meaning Network, Rabbi Sid is uncovering an array of organizations across North America that are literally re-inventing conceptions of Jewish identity and Jewish life. Many of these organizations are operating under the radar screen of the organized Jewish community yet they are attracting the next generation of American Jews who are, for the most part, bypassing the legacy institutions of the organized Jewish community. This talk will provide some insight into the people and ideas that make these Jewish communities of meaning tick. The Beis Earth Hart Levine Come learn about community organizing and practical data tools, using a case study from one of Hakhel’s pilot projects – The Beis Community in NYC. You’ll learn about neighborhood-based, spiritual-oriented, mission-driven communities, and think about how to apply these tools and lessons to your community. From Seed to Plant Jubilee Shosh Mitzman Hear about the past and the present of the Israeli Intentional Community movement from experts in the field. 10:30 – 10:45 AM Break Main Lobby
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Friday, June 15 10:45 AM – 12:00 PM Skills & Training: Round I Learn fundraising techniques, sustainability skills, and models of decision-making from those in the community engagement realm. Each session is 75 minutes. Fundraising 101 Jubilee Beni Gur In order to thrive, communities need great leaders like yourself, dedicated members and a vision. But they also need resources. Come learn the basic steps for successful fundraising with an Israeli expert with decades of experience (Note: this session is for beginners, not experienced fundraisers.) Decision-Making for Intentional Communities Vineyard Roger Studley Intentional communities face unique challenges around decision-making. We want decisions that satisfy everyone, so majority voting is inadequate, but systems that require higher thresholds (e.g., 60% or two-thirds) or unanimity can be inefficient and frustrating. In this session, we’ll briefly consider a spectrum of decisionmaking models, discuss the attractions and pitfalls of the consensus model, and then spend the bulk of our time exploring Dynamic Governance (also called “Sociocracy”), a system designed for communities and similar groups that need to make decisions together. Hazon Seal of Sustainability Earth Shaked Landor Mandatory for Hakhel community members: attend the session either in round I or round II. Learn about how your Hakhel community can infuse sustainability into its core and join a budding network of sustainably-minded Jewish institutions.
for how to encourage deeper levels of sharing, how to create rituals that inspire community participation. This workshop is participatory, designed to empower leaders with new games, songs, and ideas for community building. 12:00 – 1:00 PM Lunch Dining Room Israel Trip Break Out Meal Orchard Aharon Ariel Lavi Those signed up to attend the Hakhel Israel Trip in Fall 2018, together with those interested in joining the trip, can bring their lunch to the Orchard Room to learn more. 1:00 – 2:30 PM Pop-Up Giving Circle Jubilee Joelle Asaro Berman Wondering how your intentional community can interact more meaningfully with one another – and with your surrounding community? Giving circles are spaces where we discover our values, and act on them by giving to others. This “pop-up giving circle” will give us a taste of the experience, and will empower us to give a real grant together. 2:30 – 2:45 PM Break & Snack Main Lobby
Transformational Tools for Increasing Intimacy in Community Programming Citron Melanie Kessler How do you turn an event into a gathering, a holiday event into a party, and dinner into a heartwarming meal? For the past two decades, Melanie has created congregational programs, family-based schools, ceremonies and festivals designed to transform a group of people into a community. She will share tips and tools
14 • 2018 Jewish Intentional Communities Conference • hazon.org/hakhel
Friday, June 15 2:45 – 4:00 PM Skills & Training: Round II This second round of skills & training will feature how to hold a lively spiritual jam session among other tools to support and develop your community’s vision and structure. Each session is 75 minutes. Fundraising 101 Jubilee Aharon Ariel Lavi In order to thrive, communities need great leaders like yourself, dedicated members and a vision. But they also need resources. Come learn the basic steps for successful fundraising with an Israeli expert with decades of experience (Note: this session is for beginners, not experienced fundraisers.) Giving Circle De-Brief Orchard Joelle Asaro Berman Now that you’ve experienced a “pop-up giving circle,” we’d love to help you explore and imagine what a REAL giving circle could look like for your intentional community. Join us to learn more about giving circles and how they can help your community give back by giving together. How to Create a Spiritual Jam Session Citron Rabbi Ben Newman Join Rabbi Ben Newman and members of Shtiebel for a spiritual jam session where you will learn how to create the perfect atmosphere for community expression. Bring your instrument if you have one. Chords and words will be provided. Feeling the Love: The Art of Home Hospitality Vineyard Deborah Fishman, Lily Stute You know it when you feel it: a warm and welcoming Shabbat meal or a dinner party where everyone feels connected and even transported in time and space. Join us for a 3 course session on how to create that feeling and leave full of creative ideas for how to build community around the dinner table.
Hazon Seal of Sustainability Earth Shaked Landor Mandatory for Hakhel community members: attend the session either in round I or round II. Learn about how your Hakhel community can infuse sustainability into its core and join a budding network of sustainably-minded Jewish institutions. Social Mission as a Tool for Building an Intentional Community Willow Noa Shalit, Liran Tohar, Banni Printz, Michal Kotler In order to thrive, communities need a purpose bigger than themselves, and what better purpose can there be than Tikkun Olam? In this session we will learn from four groundbreaking Israeli activists who built their intentional communities through creating gamechanging social projects. 4:00 – 6:00 PM Break & Prepare for Shabbat 6:00 – 6:15 PM Optional Mincha (Afternoon Services) Beit Midrash 6:15 – 7:30 PM Candle lighting Dining Room Musical Kabbalat Shabbat (Friday Evening prayer) Lobby Orthodox Kabbalat Shabbat and Maariv (Evening Service) Beit Midrash 7:30 – 9:00 PM Dinner Dining Room 9:00 PM Shabbat Tisch Orchard Join us Shabbat evening for singing and rejoicing – snacks included!
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Saturday, June 16 8:00 – 8:45 AM Breakfast Dining Room
10:45 – 11:15 AM Kiddush Main Lobby
8:30 – 11:00 AM Shacharit (Shabbat Morning Service): Parashat Korach
11:15 – 11:45 AM Break
Orthodox/Traditional Beit Midrash Egalitarian Traditional Vineyard 9:00 – 10:00 AM Jewish Renewal Citron Shabbat Learning (Hebrew) Palm Celebrate Shabbat with members of Hakhel communities from all over Europe. This session will be held in Hebrew. 10:00 – 11:00 AM Lishbot: a meditation for Shabbat Citron Mira Niculescu Shabbat is a day where we are invited to “stop” (lishbot). Because only when we stop, actions can be completed, things fall into place, and we can see clearer. In most traditions, meditation is by definition the art of pausing, ceasing any external activity so we can look within and see what unfolds. In this Jewish meditation session for Shabbat, using the technique of Gerushin taught by 16th century sage and kabbalist Rabbi Moshe Cordovero, we will focus on a couple of psukim (verses) from the Shabbat liturgy, so we can get deeper into the meaning of Shabbat, and receive its beauty fully. This class is open to all levels. Shabbat Learning (Mussar) Earth David Borowsky Experience Mussar! Participants will get to experience first-hand what practicing the centuries-old tradition of Jewish character development is like. Read, reflect, discuss, and grow.
11:45 AM – 1:00 PM Hakhel Present Panels We encourage you to attend a panel for one of the communities below that is different from your own community. The four sessions below will each be held twice. The first round will be held from 11:45 AM –12:15 PM, and the second round will be held from 12:30 –1:00 PM. Choose one session to attend during each round. American Communities Citron Lily Stute Co-housing Communities Vineyard Sara Shalva International Communities Earth Lev Berman Israeli Communities Jubilee Shosh Mitzman 1:00 – 2:00 PM Lunch Dining Room 2:00 – 4:30 PM Break / Optional Tour of The Moshav at Pearlstone Jakir Manela
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Saturday, June 16 4:30 – 6:00 PM Regional Network Gatherings If you are a part of one of the communities below, we encourage you to attend that community’s panel. Open Space is designated for non-Hakhel members to share their visions and dreams and be enriched by networking facilitated by the Hakhel team. Noa Asher Berkley Harrisburg Tzibbur YSFK Kermit’s Kehilla Kibbutz Detropia
Myrtle
Hart Levine Seattle Chevra Hevria UWS Jews ACR
Willow
Aharon Ariel Lavi Moed Sadeh Living Tree Alliance Shtiebel Jew Salsa FED Neshama Paris Art Kibbutz Asiyah Melbourne (Israelis)
Jubilee
Lavi Communities (Ilan Roth) Lavi Berlin Lavi Dusseldorf
Orchard
Open Space Vineyard Leah Palmer, Shaked Landor Share your dreams and visions for the future, and take part in facilitated networking from the Hakhel team. 6:00 – 6:30 PM Break & Snack / Optional Mincha (Afternoon Service) Main Lobby / Beit Midrash 6:30 – 8:00 PM Plenary: Israel-Diaspora Relations Jubilee Moderated by Rabbi Sid Schwarz with panelists from around the world The State of Israel was born out Jewish Diaspora and has been continually supported by it since then. However, as we enter the 21st century the traditional relationships between Israel as the Jewish State and the rest of the Jewish people are becoming more and more complicated. In this session we will hear several viewpoints from both Israeli and Diaspora Jews, and discuss together the future of this relationship and our role as intentional communities in it. 8:00 – 9:00 PM Dinner (Seudah Shlishit) Dining Room 9:00 – 9:40 PM Break / Optional Maariv (Evening Service) Beit Midrash & Vineyard
Deck (Lobby if it rains)
Citron
Co-housing (Roger Studley) Brooklyn Moshav Boston Moshav Kfar Bir Urban Kibbutz SD Urban Kibbutz SF JDC (Lev Berman) Menorah Kiev St. Petersburg
Palm
Machon Kehillot (Nir Geva, Nitzan Winograd) Machon communities
Earth
Kol Ami (Mimi Lax) Kol Ami Melbourne Kol Ami Mexico City
MAKOM Israeli Communities (Maytal Roth) MAKOM communities
9:40 – 10:00 PM Havdallah Deck (Main Lobby if it rains) David el Shatran, Mira Niculescu Shabbat officially ends at 9:25pm. 10:00 – 11:00 PM Jam Session Citron Rabbi Ben Newman Rock out during a one-of-a-kind jam session! 10:00 – 11:30 PM Salsa Night Jubilee David el Shatran Learn some dance moves with a salsa expert!
Deck (Lobby if it rains) For Sunday schedule, turn to page 20. Please wear your name badge throughout the retreat! • 17
Sunday, June 17 7:00 – 7:45 AM Optional Shacharit (Morning Service) Beit Midrash Optional Meditation: Starting the Week with Hashkata Citron Mira Niculescu Hashkata is a Chassidic meditation technique taught at the turn of the 20th century by Rav Kalonymus Kalman Shapiro, the rabbi of the former Warsaw ghetto. This “quieting” technique aims at clarifying ourselves by letting the ego dissolve progressively, just by sitting quietly and observing our minds, before asking – praying, in a sense – for a midah, a quality, that we feel we need in the moment. This very powerful and deep meditation technique is particularly appropriate on yom rishon, the first day of the week, when all is possible and we want to start the week full of clarity and intention. This class is open to all levels. 7:45 – 8:30 AM Breakfast Dining Room Be sure to have your belongings packed and return your key to Leah or Shaked during breakfast. Luggage can be stored in Pearlstone’s Coats & Luggage room near the Main Lobby. Any late key-drop off will incur a late fee.
8:30 AM – 1:00 PM Design Thinking Jubilee Zohar & Gilit Ginosar This is the time and space during which participants will acquire the tools to expand horizons, develop a context for their ideas and methodologies, and design the future of their own communities and of the entire intentional communities network. Led by two experts in the field, participants will have the opportunity to experience the power of a global network through an idea-sharing process. 1:00 – 2:00 PM Lunch & Wrap Up Dining Room 2:00 – 2:30 PM Optional Mincha (Afternoon Service) Beit Midrash
L’hitraot!
By 10:00 AM Latest Check Out Coat & Luggage Room You will not be able to return to your rooms after check out time.
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Staff Bios Judith Belasco is the Executive Vice President at Hazon. In this role, she serves as the Chief Program Officer and oversees the growth and development of Jewish Outdoor, Food, Farming, and Environmental Education (JOFEE) through transformative experiences, thought-leadership, and capacity-building. She strengthens program delivery and operations across all of Hazon’s programs, and manages development, marketing and communications. She brings to the role extensive experience with staff development and training, new program expansion, and evaluation-based program improvements. Prior to joining Hazon in 2007, Judith was the Program Coordinator at Linking Food & the Environment (LiFE) at Teacher’s College, Columbia University and a Program Associate at the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System. Judith is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and graduated with a Masters of Science in Nutrition and Public Health from Columbia University and holds a Bachelors degree in Urban Studies from Vassar College. Judith lives in Hastingson-Hudson, NY with her husband and two children. Shaked Landor is the Manager of Sustainability & Community Engagement at Hazon, based in the New York City office. She puts into effect her passion for environmental issues, environmental ethics, and promoting sustainability through engaging institutions and communities in greening learning and projects. Shaked holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Environmental Studies and a Master of Arts degree in Bioethics from New York University. A lifelong New Yorker, she lives in Queens nestled in between the bustling city and calm suburbs, along with her LabPei Falafel. Aharon Ariel Lavi is the founder and director of Hakhel: The Jewish Intentional Communities Incubator in the Diaspora. Aharon is a professional community organizer and serial social entrepreneur who believes that networks are key to shaping our reality. Aharon is a co-founder of Garin Shuva on the Gaza border; the Nettiot Intentional Communities Network, reengaging Haredi Ba’aley Teshuva into society; And MAKOM: the national umbrella organization of intentional communities in Israel. Lavi lives with his wife Liat, their four children, and a dog in the Negev and when he isn’t working or studying Torah, he likes to ride his bikes in the open fields of the Negev, and is desperately trying to learn to play the flute, a guitar or anything that makes music.
Leah Palmer is the administrative director at Hakhel: The Jewish Intentional Communities Incubator in the Diaspora, and is based in the Negev region of Israel. Leah plays an active role in her Intentional Community whose vision is to bring one of Israel’s forgotten southern towns into the 21st century. Her home bustles with the noise of her two boys, constant visits from local Holocaust survivors she has “adopted” as grandparents, and an inevitable flow of international guests. Originally from London, Leah enjoys encountering new cultures, engaging in interfaith dialogue and hiking across Israel. Nigel Savage, originally from Manchester, England, founded Hazon in 2000, with a Cross-USA Jewish Environmental Bike Ride. Since then, Hazon has grown the range and impact of its work in each successive year; today it has more than 60 staff, based in New York City, at Hazon’s Isabella Freedman campus, and in other locations across the country. Hazon plays a unique role in renewing American Jewish life and creating a healthier and more sustainable world for all. Nigel has spoken, taught, or written for a wide and significant range of audiences. (A selection of his essays are at hazon.org/nigel). He has twice been named a member of the Forward 50, the annual list of the 50 most influential Jewish people in the United States, and is a recipient of the Bernard Reisman Award. In 2015 he was awarded an honorary doctorate by the Jewish Theological Seminary. Before founding Hazon, Nigel was a professional fund manager in London, where he worked for NM Rothschild and was co-head of UK Equities at Govett. He has an MA in History from Georgetown, and has learned at Pardes, Yakar, and the Hebrew University. He was a founder of Limmud NY, and serves on the board of Romemu.
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Presenter Bios As the executive director of Amplifier, Joelle Asaro Berman connects people to their passions and communities by helping them build giving circles inspired by Jewish values. Giving circles – groups who pool their resources and decide together how to allocate them – empower people of diverse ages and means to make change through an intentional giving experience. David Borowsky is an MD/Portfolio Manager, Invariant Investment Management. He’s been practicing Mussar for five years, and launched inter-denominational Mussar va'ad in Harrisburg. David is on the Hakhel board for Central PA. David El Shatran is a specialist in both privacy and recommendation systems applied in the scope of social networks. He is currently finishing his Ph.D. in artificial intelligence at university, David was a student representative and a leader in student politics. He was also active in the Jewish community, serving as president of different Jewish associations for young people in Boulogne, his suburb in Paris. David then decided to create an innovative association, JewSalsa, which combines his two passions: innovations based on Latin and klezmer fusion and Jewish social events. Today, David is a musician and salsa and Latin dance teacher, which enables him to share his passion for dance with several dance schools in Paris. JewSalsa has performed for conferences in France, such as Limoud and Taglit, as well as in Europe and Israel. They have also performed for French associations that raise money for tzedakah, such as AUJF and POURIMLAND. David’s first original world music CD, la Descarga Klezmer, was recorded in May 2013. He is the pianist and arranger of a klezmer/salsa fusion orchestra. Deborah Fishman is Founder of FED, a platform for ideas built into an inclusive Jewish community. She is also Director of Communications for The AVI CHAI Foundation and NYC Igniter for ROI Community. Deborah’s mission is to ensure everyone is fed – physically, intellectually, spiritually and on a basic human level. Gilit Ginosar was born in an Israeli Kibbutz and raised in a Moshav. Gilit is well versed in community life. She has a B.ed in Special Education, and gathered vast experience in different positions in the Israeli educational system. She then graduated a 2-year specialized training in the Feuerstein Institute, and since 2010 has been part of the institute’s team in delivering multiple programs in Instrumental Enrichment and LPAD Diagnosis. Within this, Gilit works in various projects for social and educational
development ranging from facilitating new IDF recruits from the Ethiopian community, through working with educators for youth under risk, facilitating children and youth with learning disabilities in developing cognitive skills and more. She also teaches Instrumental Enrichment in the Haifa University. Zohar Ginosar is a senior strategic consultant specializing in designing and facilitating the application of methodologies for national and international strategies and national transformation processes with emphasis on innovation, education, social development, and governance. He is a Co-founder of PenZA Perception Lab – a prominent international Think Tank and entrepreneurial group based in Israel, specializing the designing and applying innovative methodologies and new conceptual models to answer global needs and meeting the future, with focus on innovation and education within a Design Thinking approach. Within this he is a co-founder of PenZA’s Y7 global network for social innovation. He is married to Gilit and a father to Matan and Maor. Beni Gur, Director of Mesimot Consulting Services, has 30 years of experience both in Israel and internationally in the field of funding development and business marketing. Presently the Director of Mesimot Consulting Services, he served as the Executive Director of Development in the Jerusalem College of Technology, a hi-tech institution for higher learning. Mr. Gur is a Certified Personal Coach trained by the Israel Institute for Management and ICA, the Israeli Coaching Association, specializing in the field of personal fundraising, fundraising strategy, corporate support, fundraising events, printed and media related public relations materials. Mr. Gur delivers lectures in academic institutions on fundraising management, and through professional continuing education programs. Melanie Kessler’s work developing chavurah programs for congregations and as program co director at Living Tree Alliance includes creating events, festivals and rites of passage ceremonies that help people see the shared parts of humanity in each other's stories. Melanie’s programs are designed to inspire a sense of place and joy through seasonal and community explorations of land, ancestry and play. Jakir Manela is the Executive Director of the Pearlstone Center. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin in 2004 and has worked as a Jewish environmental educator and nonprofit leader ever since. After founding Kayam Farm at Pearlstone in 2006, Jakir now directs the entire agency, working with over 80 staff to engage
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over 20,000 participants each year in immersive retreats, Jewish outdoor education, organic farming, and community sustainability. Jakir lives just up the road from Pearlstone with his wife and four sons, and together with the Moshav Garin, he is working towards the goal of establishing a Jewish ecovillage at Pearlstone in the near future. Rabbi Ben Newman is the founder and spiritual leader of Shtiebel a new paradigm Jewish community in the Rivertowns of Westchester, NY. He served for 7 years as the rabbi of Congregation Har Shalom in Fort Collins, CO, along with his wife Rabbi Shoshana Leis. Rabbi Ben received a B.A. from Skidmore College in Religion and Culture, an M.A. in Jewish Studies from the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College, and rabbinical ordination from the Academy for Jewish Religion in New York. He previously served as the Associate Rabbi for JRF Congregation M’vakshe Derekh in Scarsdale, New York. Rabbi Ben is the author of a series of children’s books called The Enchanted Sukkah about a time travelling sukkah. In addition to being a writer and a rabbi, Ben is a singer-songwriter who delights in chanting, playing guitar, and using an Indian instrument called a sruti box. He also enjoys reading Jewish literature of all types, as well as science fiction (his favorite author is Philip K Dick), philosophy and beat poetry. Rabbi Ben lives by the shores of the Hudson River in Dobbs Ferry, NY and his greatest joy is being a father to his daughter and his son. Mira Niculescu is the founder and spiritual director of Neshama, a Jewish meditation and spirituality project in France and the first grassroots non-denominational community in Paris. A Jewish Mindfulness Teacher, certified by the Institute of Jewish Spirituality (IJS) and an alumna of the Drisha Institute for Jewish education (Art fellow) and of the Pardes Institute for Jewish studies (Yesod European Leadership Fellow), she has taught Parshanut and Midrash as well and Chassidic and Mussari Jewish Meditation in various Jewish institutions in New York, Paris and Israel. Being also a Vinyasa yoga practitioner and a follower of Rav Kook in the importance of caring for the body, she has also been teaching "yoga for the Jews" in Paris and Jerusalem. One of the presenters of French Jewish learning Website Akadem, she regularly writes about Judaism in French magazine Tenou'a and in her French Blog in the Times of Israel. She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Sociology of Religion at the Ecole de Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales (EHESS) in Paris. Rabbi Sid Schwarz is a social entrepreneur, author and teacher. He is currently a Senior Fellow at Hazon. Rabbi Sid founded and led PANIM: The Institute for Jewish Leadership and Values for 21 years. He is also the founding rabbi of Adat Shalom Reconstructionist Congregation in Bethesda, MD where he continues to teach and lead services.
Dr. Schwarz holds a Ph.D. in Jewish history and is the author of two groundbreaking books – Finding a Spiritual Home: How a New Generation of Jews Can Transform the American Synagogue (Jewish Lights, 2000) and Judaism and Justice: The Jewish Passion to Repair the World (Jewish Lights, 2006). Sid was awarded the prestigious Covenant Award for his pioneering work in the field of Jewish education and was named by Newsweek as one of the 50 most influential rabbis in North America. Sid's most recent book is Jewish Megatrends: Charting the Course of the American Jewish Future (Jewish Lights, 2013). Sara Shadmi-Wortman (PhD) is an international expert in the field of Community Building as a means of creating resilient communities. During over 20 years of academic research and field work, she developed a model for Community Building which is based on creating networks within and between different stakeholders in the community, which strengthen the social capital. In the heart of the model lies the connection between identity, education and leadership, and it places an emphasis on the role of local leadership, and on the Young Adults as a lever for community regeneration. The principles, concepts and tools of this model are universal and she has implemented them in broad processes around the world: Africa, Nepal, and Europe and in the USA, touching the lives of hundreds of thousands of people. She holds a Ph.D. in Education & Community Building from Tel Aviv University. Sara Shalva is the Assistant Director of the Pearlstone Center, where she focuses on strategic retreat and program management and systems. Sara lives in Reisterstown with her two children and her husband Rabbi Benjamin Shalva. A Pacific Northwest native, Beth Vander Stoep is a Lotan alumna permaculturalist currently working in Flagstaff, Arizona. She is the author of Cross Country Kibitzing; narratives of Jewish Intentional Communities in the United States. As a result of this project Beth has completed her Master's of Sustainable Communities. In her spare time she likes to cook her way through the Sephardic Food Project. Lily Stute is a nonprofit management consultant and executive coach juggling her career ambitions, community organizing, and quest for Judaism's middle path. Lily was born in Belarus, raised in Jacksonville, and became a New Yorker in her 20s. She now lives in Seattle where she and her husband Gary are creating community and raising their kids Judah and Tagel.
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Consultant Bios Noa Asher Berkeley lives in Sderot (western Negev) in an urban Kibbutz called Migvan. She’s married to Daniel, and has two cool kids – Geva (5.5) & Rona (3.5) She works as a community facilitator in Eretz-Ir, a non-profit organization that promotes community and economic resilience in cities across Israel's periphery. Eretz-Ir focuses on improving the quality of life in cities in the periphery through community, social entrepreneurship, and employment. She works mainly with the Bedouin sector, where she helps local residents develop a strong and independent civil society through social projects in their cities. She loves doing yoga, camping and spending time with her family and community. Lev Berman is a consultant and expert in community entrepreneurship and community development. He is also the Director of Entrepreneurship Center at the Shevah Mofet High School in Tel Aviv and coordinator of Masa leadership. Keren Friedman is the Director of Machon Kehilot. For the past seven years she has lived with her partner and their three children in Amsterdam. Keren was born and raised on a kibbutz in the north of Israel to a Dutch mother who underwent a conversion and a haredi father who became secular (off the derech). Here began the journey to discover the connections between identity, community and people in general. In the last two decades she has held various managerial positions in the field of education. Among other things, she served as a Jewish Agency emissary (Shlicha) in the Netherlands and worked extensively on issues related to Jewish education in the Diaspora, Israel, culture and identity. Prior to that, she was involved in the management of educationalcommunity projects at the Institute for Democratic Education in Israel, and advised mayors and regional councils how to bring about significant changes in education, community and the connection between the two. Keren is also a graduate of the Tehuda program for Jewish social leadership. Nir Geva is the founder and chairman of Machon Kehilot and lives with his family in the Netherlands since 2008, serving as a senior executive at a multinational company. In addition, Nir is a co-founder and board member of Kehila – a thriving organized community of Israelis living in the Netherlands, carrying out cultural, social and educational activities, including a Hebrew Sunday school. Nir is also a co-founder and board member of Home for Israeli Culture in Amsterdam, and he leads Jewish ceremonies and events in a secular spirit, and hosts meetings and workshops in the fields of Jewish identity and Israeli culture.
Gabi Grabin lives in Jerusalem, is married to Sara and has two children. He has been in the field of Jewish leadership for ten years. He began his career as an instructor in the IBC Youth Program for Australian teens and subsequently coordinated and directed the program. He is one of the founders of Kol Ami, The Jewish peoplehood leadership academy and is also responsible for the IDF's preparatory programs for new immigrants and overseas volunteers (Mahal). He is a lecturer of Bible Leadership in Kol Ami and other Mechinot. He studied for a bachelor's degree in political science and communications at Bar-Ilan University and served in the IDF as an infantry and engineering officer in the Golani Brigade and today as an officer in the reserves. He is a graduate of the religious kibbutz yeshiva in Maale Gilboa. Mimi Lax joined the Jewish Agency family 11 years ago, and currently serves as the Director of the Kol Ami Jewish Peoplehood Leadership Academy. In the past she has directed Masa Israel Journey programs that bring young adult Jews to Israel for immersive experiences in learning and volunteering. She also developed a gap-year program for Australian teens that has since evolved to become the biggest of its kind for Australian Jewish youth. Mimi was directly involved in the conceptualization and launching of the Kol Ami Academy, which brings together young adults from Israel and around the world for an intense English-language based program focusing on Jewish values, leadership training, and Zionism. She manages five programs and staff, curriculum development, fundraising, partnerships, volunteer programs, and participant recruitment around the world. Hart Levine runs the Beis Community, an inclusive Jewish community in Washington Heights (NYC), part of Hazon's Hakhel incubator. Hart has a degree in bioengineering, rabbinical ordination, and community organizing training. He also works for the OU on leadership and outreach initiatives for North American collegiate and young professional populations. Laurie Phillips is the Founder and Rabbi of Beineinu. Profoundly impacted by her participation in the Brandeis Collegiate Institute in 1995, Laurie set out on a path to intentionally cultivate her own spiritual journey. Becoming a rabbi was an ideal way to merge her passion for Judaism and education after earning a BA in education and special education, as well as an MA in Leadership in Teaching, Curriculum and Supervision. During her time in rabbinical school, she participated in the Mandel Senior Educator program. Laurie was ordained by HUC, Los Angeles in 2003, and last year
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she completed the 3 year Rabbinic Leadership training provided by the Shalom Hartman Institute. Laurie lives in Harlem with her husband Howard, step-son Adam, and their dog Daisy. Ilan Roth has an academic background in Jewish studies and 32 years of experience in informal Jewish and Zionist education in Israel and the Diaspora. He was the deputy director of the World Mizrachi and the chairman of its Young leadership division, in addition to holding senior leadership roles in World Bnei Akiva and in the World Zionist Organization. In 2012, he felt himself called to create an International movement for Jewish university students and other young men and women throughout the Jewish world, to engage them more closely with their Judaism and with the State of Israel. He became one of the founders and is, to this day, the director of Lavi Olami. Barak Sella is currently serving as the Central Israeli Emissary for the Habonim Dror North America, Labor-Zionist Youth Movement in New York City, through the Jewish Agency for Israel. Prior to coming on shlichut, Barak Sella worked as the Spokesperson for Hanoar Haoved Vehalomed (The General Federation for Working and Studying Youth), one of the largest youth movements in Israel as well as the official labor union for young workers. Barak holds a BA in Informal Education from the Beit Berl Academic College and a teaching degree in history. He is an educator and member of "Dror Israel", a movement of educators that vision for Israel is a society of democracy, equality, and peace created through education and community in all parts of the Israeli society. Barak currently lives in Brooklyn and is member of a Dror Israel Urban Kibbutz in Rishon LeZion. Barak has come to work with Habonim Dror North America in order to expand in strengthen the youth movements activities and to increase Israeli engagement and Israel based programs by movement members.
Roger Studley is founder of Urban Moshav – a nonprofit development partner for Jewish cohousing – and convener of the Berkeley Moshav effort to create Jewish cohousing in Berkeley, CA. He and these projects were members of the first cohort of the Hakhel incubator for Jewish intentional communities, and he currently serves on the Hakhel advisory committee and as a mentor for five of Hakhel’s Jewish cohousing groups. Roger has been a contributor to previous JIC Conferences, an organizer of independent minyanim (including San Francisco’s pluralist Mission Minyan), and co-chair of a Hazon Food Conference. He also works as a Senior Research Associate for RTI International, a world-wide non-profit research institute. Roger is married to Rabbi Chai Levy, the incoming spiritual leader of Berkeley’s Congregation Netivot Shalom, and looks forward to moving into Berkeley Moshav with Chai and their seven year-old Torah scholar/baseball fanatic in the next few years. Nitzan Winograd is a consultant in Machon Kehilot and lives with her spouse in the UK since 2016. She is a co-founder and committee member of the Israeli community in Oxford – a developing community of Israelis living in Oxford and its suburbs, carrying out holidays celebrations, lectures and different social and cultural events, including establishing Hebrew Sunday school that will start operating soon. In addition, Nitzan is a PhD student at Henley Business School, University of Reading and her field of research is 'Social Enterprises Governance'. Nitzan graduated Mandel Social Leadership MBA at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev and was involved with many NGOs and social enterprises in Israel before moving to the UK.
Ruti Shalev, a mother to three, grew up in Israel and has been living in the Netherlands for 18 years. Ruti is an entrepreneur of social, educational and cultural projects and events. She is a co-founder of Kehila in Amsterdam, and has managed Kehila’s Hebrew Sunday school since its establishment. As an associate and consultant at Machon Kehilot, Ruti guides and advises local leaders and activists across Europe in setting up and developing communal Education frameworks. Developing learning programs for children and youngsters, enhancing leadership and self-directed learning. Ruti is a creative coach and mediator, empowering and encouraging individuals and couples who face various life cycle challenges. An expert in motivating people and reconstructing hope and belief in cross-points and crisis times, within communities and individuals.
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Hakhel Community Bios Alliance Community Reboot (ACRe), a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, seeks to rebuild Jewish farm-based community in South New Jersey, on the site of the Alliance Colony, the first Jewish agricultural society in North America. We are building an active farm with strong Jewish and agricultural education components, rooted in the values of sustainability and food justice. The farmhouse, nearby historic synagogue and surrounding 60 acres of fields and woodland are poised to serve as a Jewish cultural and educational hub for neighboring communities, including nearby Philadelphia, Cherry Hill, Atlantic City and New York. Art Kibbutz is a volunteer-driven artists’ community, residency, and a hub that offers artists of all mediums, ages, backgrounds, nationalities, and affiliations opportunities to explore universal issues through a Jewish artistic lens. Art Kibbutz provides inspiring and peaceful space to work, learn and seriously explore the rich heritage of Jewish experience that informs their creative process. Asiyah Jewish Community's mission is to establish a spiritual home for Jewish seekers and fellow travellers in the Somerville/ Cambridge area of Massachusetts through an engaged, open, and inclusive community of Jewish practice and experimentation, in the lineage of Jewish Renewal, supporting personal growth and transformation while living the change we want to be in the world. Ours is a new model of spiritual connection: a thriving community with a café as its home. In this comfortable and familiar (and still conceptual) space, prayer, study, art/culture, and deep inquiry coexist–creating a diversity of on-ramps for rich spiritual engagement that meet people where they are while also exposing them to new opportunities. Barcelona Israeli Community’s vision is to create a place where Israelis living in Barcelona and its vicinity will be able to meet and form meaningful social connections while nurturing their common Israeli-Jewish identity and culture, in our beloved language - Hebrew. This will enable us to preserve our culture, language, heritage and traditions, and transmit them to our children, through a Hebrew Sunday school and possibly additional educational activities. This will be achieved by forming a community which provides a sense of belonging, alongside mutual support and solidarity among its members, in a “family” environment which substitutes the relatives and friends back home, in Israel. Batlanim is comprised of participants from both Israel and the USA amid the larger Jewish community of Palo Alto, and its activities will reflect the priorities of community building happening in Palo Alto, led by the JCC of Palo Alto. During the Batlanim program, the Batlanim group will devote their time to Jewish learning and community service. The Jewish learning will be pluralistic and noncoercive – a learning style based on BINA’s Secular Yeshiva in Tel Aviv. BINA’s approach to Jewish study is inclusive, egalitarian and engaging, with the goal of instilling the love of learning alongside the ability to question, criticize and interpret ancient sources, so that they remain relevant and inspirational for us today. Additionally, the combination of learning and social justice activities is a natural extension of this style of learning. BINA’s sees social action as an
outgrowth of Jewish learning – a means to engage young Jews in practice of their Jewish values. Boston Moshav Cohousing is a form of intentional community, with private homes and extensive common facilities, in which residents know their neighbors well and engage deeply in community life. The vision of Boston Moshav is based in the Urban Moshav vision of Jewish cohousing as a modern village where neighbors engage each other – and the broader community – through Jewish ritual, study, and culture, creating a milieu in which daily life is infused with Jewish life and where Jewish literacy, tradition, and values can flourish. The Brooklyn Moshav is more than a place to live. By establishing a co-housing community, we intend to create a shared space that enriches not only the lives of its inhabitants but the progressive Brooklyn Jewish community at large. Our community will be comprised of individual family living units, with shared communal spaces and resources. By pooling assets, and by providing each other with mutual support through daily living and major life changes, we will provide each other with benefits we could not access as individuals or individual family units. We will create spaces to support shared Jewish living, meals, prayer, learning, singing, dancing, games, and caring for each other. Some activities consistent with our values include shared Jewish holiday celebrations, childrearing, cooking together, gardening, organizing social justice projects alongside the broader progressive Brooklyn community, and more. Comunidad is a growing community where young Panamanian Jews can connect with their Judaism in a space where Spanish is the primary spoken language and Jewish knowledge is accessible, much as Hillel and Moishe House provided us in the States. We are working to reframe what it means to be a Jew in Panama, renewing our community and entwining it with the larger Panamanian society. ‘Dor’ (stands for ‘Dovrei Rusit’, Hebrew for Russian-speaking) aims to develop international programmes for Russian-speaking Jews. Dor started as a pilot project in London with 50 members and has been growing since. In summer, Dor’s volunteers run a family summer camp in Europe for Russian-speaking Jewish families from all over the world. Dor’s vision is to create a self-sufficient International Jewish collaboration and networking platform for all age groups where Russian-speaking Jewish would feel an integral part of the world Jewry and experience relevant and modern Jewish life. FED is a community where people from diverse backgrounds and professional walks of life come together for open and honest dialogue; delicious, vegetable-forward food; and the creative energy and ideas of others at FED. Each event provides motivational, entertaining content that exposes you to ideas, art, and stories that you may not have previously considered, including through FED talks (akin to TED talks in length and style), musicians, comedians, dancers, or other artistic performers. FED is my vision for an ideal Jewish community, powered by the Jewish values
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of hospitality, openness, and dialogue, and many of the events explore and incorporate Jewish themes, holidays, and experiences. This creativity with the tradition and how it can inspire reflection, help us find and realize a sense of purpose, and be our best selves is to me what Judaism (and FED) is all about. Frum Farm Our vision is to create and live in a rural farm community of Orthodox Jews, that, in spite of our varied backgrounds, fosters harmony with each other, the community at large; and to be good stewards of the land, as we actively live out our Torah values. We want to be a warm, welcoming home not only to our resident families, but also an outreach for the many Jews who live on the farms and ranches around us. We also want to be a safe haven for survivors of domestic violence, and kids who need a change of pace/place to find the right derech for them. In addition to our allinclusive destination kosher B&B, our vision includes a co-op storefront in our small town, for selling the products of our talents, and promoting Israeli products, along with a kosher lunch counter. We wish to preserve the rural agricultural environment and appearance, creating a permaculture that is eco-friendly to the rural natural habitat. Through honesty, understanding, generosity, compassion and integrity, we choose to live cooperatively with one another, while maintaining our personal spaces. We want to create a sense of belonging for all, while tangibly elevating the mundane, and honoring Hashem in all that we do. Harrisburg Tzibur We envision a community which values tradition and allows each person the freedom to find their own place and purpose within it, and that celebrates each other's joys and commemorates each other's sorrows together. Our community seeks to be of service beyond itself, and values internal spiritual development of its own members. It is important to us that or work is sustainable economically and numerically, which actively invites others in, reaching out to those locally who are not engaged and to others, not local, who might be interested; and helping each other find the livelihood (parnassa) that would permit them and us to grow. A core values of our community are valuing learning and doing along with openness for diverse opinions HDNA - Galil NYC New York City is home to the largest urban Jewish community in the world, with diverse groups of Jews from all over the world. Habonim Dror has been a part of this community since the 1930’s and has a deep historic connection to this city. There is a growing community of young college aged Jews in NYC that are looking for a new way to build their relationship with Judaism and Israel – one that challenges the current dicotames that exist within the progressive Jewish community. The changes in the sociological needs of young people, with a growing desire to find communities that can enable true impact, make Habonim Dror as a youth movement more and more relevant to college aged students and not only children and teens. We envision a growing and dynamic community of young adults in NYC that choose to be part of a movement that develops their identity as Jews who want to pursue Social Justice in NA and Israel,
people who are looking for a place to belong, make authentic partnerships and have a real impact on society through education and social activism. We envision the Habonim Dror NYC community as a group that meets frequently to learn together, have cultural events and lead meaningful educational activities for the young generation in NYC. We hope to create a vibrant community that can offer an alternative for progressive Jewish life on campus while creating real change for the wider NYC community. HDNA - Gilboa (Philadelphia) We envision a community that is made up of people who want to be connected to the youth movement Habonim Dror (whether they are members, the family of members, or alumni). This community will have a living connection to Israel, and will be committed to bringing people together around this shared connection. This community will be a home for Jewish youth, a place for them to shape, to have mentors, to be Jewish, and to speak Hebrew. The target members of the community are our chanichim from the Camp Galil community, their families, and bogrim of the movement who still live in the Philadelphia area, as well as other college students in Philadelphia who are interested in what we do. HDNA - Miriam (Vancouver) Our vision is to create a strong community with youth at its center. Our community will have regular gatherings according to the Hebrew calendar and will be a home for our chanichim, their families, and bogrim of the movement who still live in Vancouver. Our community will have a Hebrew culture that is familiar to those who already speak it, and inviting to those who do not. We hope to attract more college students into the community who can find meaning in being madrichim, in practicing Judaism in meaningful ways, in being a part of a values-centered community. The target members of our community are our chanichim from the Camp Miriam community, their families, and bogrim of the movement who still live in Vancouver, other college students in Vancouver. Hevria is a combination of the words “Hevreh” and “Bria”: “Group of friends” and “Creation”. This is because while most people view creativity and community as separate, it is our deeply held philosophy that the two are inseparable. While there is a pervasive myth of creatives as loners, the truth is that such people wilt without communal support. That is why the greatest artists in history were often part of larger communities. Bob Dylan was part of the Greenwich Village scene, Keats was one of many famous Romantic poets, and without the community of Impressionists to support him, we may have never heard of Monet. That’s why everything Hevria does combines creativity and community. For example, our most successful events are called “creative farbrengens.” At creative farbrengens, each person brings a piece of art and shares it with the people around the table. By doing it around a table, instead of on a stage, and at our home instead of at an event space, we remove the separation between artist and audience. At our events, everyone is an artist and everyone is the audience. Ultimately, it is this that distinguishes us. We are not an arts organization. We are not a synagogue. We are a home.
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Hakhel Community Bios JewSalsa We want to help our volunteers teach their artistic knowledge and promote music, dance and humor as powerful sources of both Jewish togetherness and expression of the Jewish identity. We want to engage them to reinvent the way of celebrating Jewish festivals to make JewSalsa members experience their Jewish identity in a compelling way. We want to contribute to enabling our volunteers to better connect to their Jewish identity, to empower them to become the Jewish leaders of tomorrow. As music and art have always been tremendous ways to make people feel connected to each other regardless of their differences, we want to engage our community of leaders to leverage the power of artistic creation and sharing to develop a Judaism that is open and connected to the world. We want to keep building a community where Jews feel accepted and respected regardless of the way they live Judaism. We want to help them develop a can-do attitude and an out-ofthe box thinking to build an inspiring future for Jews. We want to assist young Jewish entrepreneurs with turning their projects into success and inspire young Jews to be creative and transform their creativity into impactful innovations. Kehila - Amsterdam Our vision is to turn our developing organization into a resilient secular and pluralistic Jewish-Israeli community, that focuses on social, educational and cultural activities in the Hebrew language, and to continuously improve and develop the program and quality of our Hebrew Sunday school in Amsterdam – our flagship project. The community will enable us to celebrate together Jewish holidays, as well as to periodically organize gatherings and events for adults, and to encourage mutual support and social connection among our members. We wish to create our own innovative way of secular and pluralistic Jewish community life in the Diaspora, to continue serving as a model for the creation of similar communities in other cities across Europe, and possibly also in other places around the world. Kehila - Oxford aims to build a place where our children will be able to learn and become socialized in Hebrew, and will acquire Israeli values, culture and Jewish-Israeli identity, the way we perceive them. Our children will learn and practice the Hebrew language through games, songs and stories, and they will form bonds among them based on these shared principles and experiences. For the adults, our community will be a place where a sense of belonging, social connection and mutual support can be found, while they will be able to take part in activities related to Israeli culture, Jewish holidays and the Hebrew language. Our community will strive to be a place where Israelis can keep a strong connection to Israel and its culture – a home away from home for all. Kermit’s Kehila envisions creating a community of rich and deep learning, hands-on experiential education, life-long skills, and the development of a living Jewish practice. Through partnering with other eco-kashrut organizations such as Kol Foods, Hazon, Pearlstone Retreat Center, and Ifshin Gardens we will bring Jewish values and teachings to life through activities such as composting, backyard and indoor gardening, and building and sustaining their
own food and mitzvah gardens. It is our belief that the future of Jewish engagement is teaching Jewish values through the building of community. Kfar DC will be a Jewish, urban, co-housing community. The community will be designed to encourage organic interactions. We will facilitate eating and learning together, and building a diverse Jewish community. In Kfar DC, you will know your neighbor and support will never be far away. It will be a community for all stages of life; for children, for adults, and for aging in place. Kfar DC will be an investment in people and communal financial decisions will prioritize community. The community will be built and sustained by its members and communal decision will be made by census. Kibbutz Detropia’s mission is three fold: we aim to create a community based on agriculture in the city of Detroit. We intend to educate, empower, and provide safe space for growth. We do all of this through a Jewish lens that looks back to our ancient roots and brings them into the modern day. Kiev - Post Metsuda Post Metsuda Community is possessing itself like a common platform for creation and development of initiatives and projects of all Jewish organizations; so-called-Jewish ideas' startup. Kol Ami - Melbourne The Melbourne Jewish community, comprising of approximately 80,000 Jews, is a very diverse yet simultaneously cohesive community. With 8 Jewish schools, multiple organisations and charities as well as a plethora of synagogues, the community thrives on its diversity while also supporting one another through its differences. The community also has one of the most Holocaust survivors outside of Israel. The community has a range of Jews who identify with all streams of Judaism – from Reform to Ultra Orthodox. There are still many young adults who do not find a place in any of the classic communities; we, together with the Kol Ami alumni, aim to form one for them. Kol Ami - Mexico City The Mexican Jewish community, about 50,000 Jews is a very cohesive community, the first immigrants arrived in 1920. Jews from Syria, Lebanon, Turkey, and Europe, established all over Mexico. As the years passed by the community started to centralize. Today almost all live in Mexico city. About 10 Jewish schools, multiple organizations, and synagogues in the community thrived on its diversity. Most Jews identify with streams of Orthodox Judaism. The community is very active supporting Israel by fundraising and political involvement. Young adults are not involved in leadership roles and go away from the community. Together with the Kol Ami alumni, we want to offer young adults their place in the community. Lavi Community Berlin We want to build Lavi community. People who feel connected. We want to offer a place where people feel comfortable celebrating all the Jewish highlights of the year. We want our community to offer the place to get education on the values of Judaism.
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Lavi Community Budapest will create a framework that incorporates meaningful Jewish experiences with social activities for students and young Jews ages 18-30. The community seeks to strengthen the pride and sense of belonging to the Jewish people among young Jews, get young them connected and encourage and inspire them to belong to a Jewish Intentional Community as Lavi. Through creating this connection, we hope to save the next generation from the negative effects of assimilation, connect young people with their Judaism, teach Hebrew and Jewish history (with a focus on the rebirth of Israel in its land), and provide a fun and open environment. Lavi Community opens its doors for all young Jews, and hearts to combine social activities with Jewish and Zionist content. Lavi Community Dusseldorf Our vision is to enlarge Lavi House, to make it a big community with weekly activities. We want it to become an address for students and young professionals who seek a connection to a Jewish togetherness. We want it to be a place of learning and renewal, a place of connection between the Jewish life here and Israel. Lavi Community Frankfurt Our vision is to build a large community around the Lavi House with ongoing activities. We want it to become an address for students and young professionals who seek a connection to a Jewish togetherness. We want it to be a place of learning and renewal, a place of connection between the Jewish life here and Israel. Lavi Community Vienna Our vision is to build a community out of the alumni of Vienna's Lavi House, and make it a big and vibrant community with weekly activities. We want it to become an address for young professionals and young adults who seek a connection to a Jewish togetherness. We want it to be a place of learning and renewal, a place of connection between the Jewish life here and Israel. Living Tree Alliance is a multi-generational, ecologically oriented initiative, dedicated to redefining community, regenerating land and revitalizing culture. We are a cohousing community, a regenerative working lands cooperative and offer enrichment programs. Our village is permitted for seven residences, a common house and workshop. The village design is ecologically oriented, balancing the dynamics of community engagement with the needs for personal space. Our residential culture is oriented toward sharing in the rhythms of Jewish life, while maintaining a spiritually inclusive consciousness. The working lands comprise thirteen acres of farmland and sixty-three acres of forestland. We apply principles of regenerative agriculture in our farm design and forest management plan. Lands are leased to members of the collective for growing a diverse range of annual produce, grazing livestock, establishing perennial agricultural systems, maple sugaring, cordwood production and sourcing natural building materials. The enrichment programs we offer create opportunities for learning, healing and inspiration and have impacts across age, gender, racial, and spiritual spectra. Our programs connect people to each other, community, the earth, and ancestral tradition. Participants are nourished in mind, body, and spirit by integrating the rhythms of the season through the homestead arts, while based in Jewish wisdom and values.
Menora In our community we create ways of possible communication of generations and responsibility for each other. The uniqueness of our Center is that all programs - studios, circles, children's development school, library, musical collectives, social, community, educational projects - are firmly and organically interconnected, complement and enrich each other. MoEd is an existing Jewish kids after school program framed as a community in which elementary and middle school kids learn leadership, problem solving Hebrew and Jewish culture. MoEd is proud of its diverse community, involving kids from each and every stream of Judaism, from public, private and day schools. The success of our children’s programing has encouraged us to extend our vision to something we have always hoped to do: An intentional community of active learners who work together to empower and educate themselves and their environment, and have an impact on Jewish education in the greater DC area. We emphasize the fun in everything we do , and work very hard at creating a "bank" of games and activities that are all play-based as a Hebrew and Jewish teaching tool, it's important for us to maintain this concept, in our community of learners as well. Neshama - Russia is a community of Big Brothers and Sisters who mentor young Jewish orphans. They support each other and create a space to share and reflect upon the challenges of being a single caring adult in the life of an orphan. As a community, the connections to each other go beyond the mentoring program, and members form meaningful relationships and celebrate together the highs, and commiserate together the lows. Neshama - Paris is a Jewish spirituality project that focuses on growing a non-denominational intentional grassroots community in France. Our vision is to create an open, thriving and inspiring community for Jews from all walks of life, through which they can reconnect to their Judaism, blossom in their Jewish life and inspire others around them. Our core mission is to promote Jewish spirituality as a tool to transform ourselves in order participate, one person at a time, to the Tikkun Ha Olam. Odessa - Juice uses its unique formula of `Connection, Caring and Community` to develop innovative social events and programs that are all created by, and run by, young adults. These events to help others in the community connect those who otherwise would not be connected. This results in building a stronger community and a stronger sense of Jewish identity and belonging. Additionally through these events and strengthening community, young future Jewish leaders emerge. Sadeh aims to create a space to inspire disconnected Jews to reengage with their Jewish traditions through the rich and diverse tradition of Jewish farming. To create a community where Jewish people can work together with other faiths and communities on the common goal of preserving our environment. To strengthen the European Jewish community’s commitment to environmental justice and to foster future Jewish environmental leaders and changemakers. To inspire positive social action in society through teaching Jewish values in the context of the land.
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Hakhel Community Bios Shtiebel is an innovative new paradigm Jewish renewal community based in the NY Rivertowns. Through music, food, art, movement, and discussion they seek to inspire, connect, and transform their diverse members and the world. St. Petersburg - JEvents is a mobile app which has been developed where Jewish events, programs, news, and jobs are posted by a team of volunteers. The app has over 9,000 users in St. Petersburg, Moscow and Minsk and has undergone changes to covert the user experience from being passive, to one where the users take an active role. Additionally, the team of volunteers who run the app have become connected through this shared channel of social action and are gradually forming a community. The Moshav at Pearlstone We are a diverse, multi-generational, socially and ecologicallyconscious group of founding families nestled in a corner of the Pearlstone Campus, amidst the rolling hills and beautiful country of rural Baltimore County. We will attract passionate, talented, committed Jews and friends from all across North America to build this cohort of community creators. We are devoted to deeply embodying Jewish values, creating vibrant Jewish communal life, and engaging, inspiring, and catalyzing the nearby Baltimore Jewish community. Through our design work, construction, and lived experience we will offer the gift of a safe, beautiful, affordable, earthwise Jewish intentional community to benefit ourselves, our culture, and future generations. As a community, we are here as caretakers and cultivators. Our role is to steward the land and cultivate the culture of this place. Our multi-generational community lives simply, enjoys the blessings of the farm and forest, and lives into our tradition, actively inviting family, friends and our extended networks of people to join us and share in these blessings. We see an interconnected landscape of Jewish intentional communities on Jewish federated land, and a diverse regional network of communities and organizations collaborating to sustain and regenerate ourselves and our bioregion. Pearlstone is a sanctuary space and an immersive learning center where people from Baltimore City, the region, and the country can come to relax, learn farming and wilderness skills, and connect to themselves, creation, community, and spirit through joyful, soulful, songful, embodied, nature-based activities and meals. The Seattle Chevra Our vision is to create a welcoming young professionals community that encourages individuals to create and participate in Jewish life. Seattle is the fastest growing city in the country (with a net influx of 4,000 newcomers every month) and has many Jewish residents who are searching for community and connection. We are developing a diverse group interested in thought provoking, spirited, and meaningful Jewish gatherings that help people feel a part of the broader community while inspiring them to think and participate in new and different ways. By modeling an open, connected, and welcoming Chevra we hope to work with Jewish institutions to help them adapt similar values while experimenting with new models of programming and engagement.
Urban Kibbutz - SD is a 501c3 in the state of California with a vision for a Jewish Intentional Community in San Diego. We envision a community where owners have separate dwelling units on shared land with communal spaces; a main dining hall, and studios for art or yoga. We see a community that will celebrate Shabbat and holidays together. Our hope is that the community will have an outside impact as well, in the form of collectively seeking out opportunities to promote the value of Tikun Olam through volunteer work. We see Urban Kibbutz as new way for multi-generations to come together and form a community that can celebrate our traditions, and each other in a long lasting and impactful way. Urban Kibbutz - SF We aim to build a thriving multi-generational community in a vibrant urban setting by practicing Jewish traditions, reducing our environmental footprint by sharing resources, and creating a community of empathy to provide a blueprint for next generations. We are a living and learning collective with a Jewish vibe. UWS Jews We envision a more meaningful, cohesive, spiritually uplifting, and intellectually compelling community of young Jews on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. We seek to build a space where diverse groups come together with the commonality of seeking something more, where newcomers are immediately welcomed warmly without question, and where existing community members feel equal ownership and responsibility for making the community thrive. We hope to partner with existing Upper West Side institutions and communities to spread our approach beyond our Arba Amot to bolster, invigorate, and inspire those around us. Finally, we intend to constantly challenge ourselves and our community members to think critically and openly about where our community is and where we seek to take it. Yummy Soul Farm and Kitchen believes that the best way to include people in a community is to empower them to be givers and leaders. Yummy Soul envisions a team of adults with special needs who work side by side to enrich their own lives and the lives of those around them. Whether building social skills by baking, playing the role of host, or developing life skills such as gardening and planning/ executing events, teaching day camp cooking classes as Yummy Soul’s staff in our teaching kitchen, or running booths at farmers’ markets, Yummy Soul’s employees members will be provided the ultimate empowerment, guidance, and tools to transition into independence, leadership, and integration into the workforce and community at large.
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Thank You
We extend a todah – thank you – first and foremost to: Pearlstone Center • Executive Director, Jakir Manela • Assistant Director, Sara Shalva • Director of Guest Services, Laura Leventhal • And the entire Pearlstone team who helped made this conference come to life! A warm appreciation and thank you to: • Everyone who led a session and shared their expertise with conference participants • All of the community members, consultants, and participants for contributing their time and experiences to be a part of the growing movement • Spiritual leaders who infused the conference with an inclusive, welcoming Shabbat experience • Members of our advisory board: Ellen Goodman, Yaffa Epstein, Carla Ellern, Eliseo Neuman, Dr. Haia Jamshi, Roger Studley, James Grant-Rozenhead, Professor Jack Wertheimer, Margarita Spicheko, and Sara Shadmi • The Israel Ministry of Diaspora Affairs, including: Margarita Spicheko, Haggay Elitzur, and Dvir Kahana, CEO • The Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation's Grassroots Events program, with whose help made this event possible • The Hazon Staff for the dedication and contribution to bringing together a global Jewish, sustainable intentional community, including: Judith Belasco, Nigel Savage, Jed Snerson, Aharon Ariel Lavi, Shaked Landor, Leah Palmer, Meredith Levick, Jaclyn Schwanemann, Zev Chana, Amy Hannes, Lisa Kaplan, David Rendsburg, and all of our administrative staff who supported the financial, registration, and organizational flow of this conference
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Notes
32 • 2018 Jewish Intentional Communities Conference • hazon.org/hakhel
Please wear your name badge throughout the retreat! • 33
Notes
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CAMPFIRE
PAVILION TWO
BASKETBALL
BIG MAX BARN
PLAYGROUND
SPRAYGROUND
BASEBALL SOCCER
ZIP-LINE
POOLS
PAVILION THREE BASKETBALL
LAKE
CAMPFIRE ANIMAL PASTURE
PARKING
LODGES
CABINS
RETREAT CENTER
VOLLEYBALL
EDUCATIONAL FARM
PAVILION ONE
ROPES COURSE
RETREAT
CAMPUS
CAMPFIRE
ROAD
TRAIL
FARM
AMENITIES
We are grateful to our partners and Jewish Intentional Community supporters:
Gather the People
This event was made possible through the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation's Grassroots Events program.