December 19-21
This year we are triple-fortunate: we host the first night of Chanukah, the Winter Solstice, and the Sabbath all at once, as we gather together to celebrate the re-turn of Light in the darkest time of the year. During this retreat, we'll redeem Chanukah from two misfortunes: its inappropriate competition with Christmas, with its attendant and non-traditional materialism, and its being treated as though it were a children's holiday (not that there's anything wrong with children). In the midst of celebration, we'll contemplate the true inner meanings of Chanukah for us today: purpose and function of a Sanctuary, cleansing the Temple, re-dedication and re-calibration of intent, recognition of the presence of miracles, and the dreidl: learning from chance and the unexpected.
Within the deep rest of the Sabbath, a rest we all need, we'll honor the Solstice as a time of increased sensitivity to the year to come. We enjoy this Chanukah with song, food, schmoozing, stories, dreams, play, davennen, meditation, and imaginal exercises. Bring your dreidls, journals, favorite poetry, sketchpads, musical instruments, favorite latke and/or soufganiyah recipes to trade - whatever strikes a spark for you. Our chefs look forward to making traditional food. We'll begin at sunset, about 5, on Friday and end with lunch at 1 on Sunday, ready to rejoin the world outside Rowe with our spirits revived and nourished.
Eve Ilsen is a therapist, storyteller, singer, and graduate-level teacher with a wacky sense of humor. Among her teachers and mentors are the late physiotherapist Harold J. Reilly, the late mythologist Joseph Campbell, Jean Houston, and the master of the waking dream and imagery, Mme. Colette Aboulker-Muscat of Jerusalem. Her curiosity and intuition have schlepped her around the world to work and study, and she's also taught with her husband, Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi, in the United States, Europe, and Brazil.