Retreats
9th through 12th graders:
RSVP NOW for the Fall Retreat: Dec 9-11, 2011
General Information
Midrasha retreats are a place to make new friends, hang out, dance, sing, talk, debate, pray, stargaze, play ultimate Frisbee and more! All retreat weekends are held at URJ Camp Newman, located near Santa Rosa. At the Midrasha retreats, teens will:
- Be in a safe place to explore, experience and experiment with different ways of being Jewish while discussing the tough questions facing teens today.
- Celebrate Shabbat and feel the warmth of the Havdalah circle.
- Leave the hassles and pressures of daily life behind, enjoying time in nature with other Jewish teens from all over the East Bay.
Important Information for 8th graders:
This year, for the first time, Midrasha is offering an introduction to the retreat program for 8th graders before they attend the February and/or April retreats. On Sunday afternoon, Dec 11, 2011, 8th graders are invited to attend
A Tasty Backwards Adventure: A Sneak-Peek at the Retreats with Burritos, Blindfolds and The Beastie Boys. Eighth graders are strongly encouraged to attend this introductory program, which is designed to excite them about the retreat program and provide an opportunity to meet and bond with 8th graders from the other three Midrasha campuses. The fee for this afternoon program is $40. RSVP NOW for A Tasty Backwards Adventure.
2011-12 Retreat Dates
| 12/9-11/2011 | Fall retreat (9th-12th grades) |
| 2/3-5/2012 | Winter retreat (8th-12th grades) |
| 4/20-22/2012 | Spring retreat (8th-12th grades) |
For 8th graders, attendance at one weekend retreat is required. Choose between a Winter retreat or a Spring retreat. The fee to attend one retreat is $375. If a student chooses to attend both the Winter and Spring retreats, the two-retreat fee is $700.
For 9th through 12th graders, attendance at one retreat is required; attending two or three retreats is encouraged but not mandatory. Retreat program fees range from $375 (single retreat) to $700 (two retreats) to $980 (three retreats). RSVP NOW for the December 9-11 retreat.
Retreats are conducted in partnership with the Center for Jewish Living and Learning (CJLL) of the Jewish Federation of the East Bay. For specific information, such as retreat logistics, contact Loal Isaacs at 510-839-2900 ×267 or loal@jfed.org.
Midrasha Retreat Handbook
The Midrasha Retreat Handbook contains everything you and your teen need to know about the retreats, including:
- transportation to and from camp
- camp emergency contact information
- food at camp
- medical provisions at camp
- Shabbat observance and practice
- what to bring/what not to bring
- sample retreat schedule
- code of conduct
Required in advance of the retreat(s): Please read and understand the Code of Conduct on page 9 of the Handbook. Then both the student and a parent must sign and date the form and return a copy to Loal Isaacs at the Center for Jewish Living and Learning (CJLL), 300 Grand Ave., Oakland, CA 94610. Alternatively, the form can be faxed to Loal at (510) 839-3996.
Midrasha Retreat Policies
The Midrasha Retreat Policies explain the process for switching from one retreat weekend to another after submitting your initial registration and also cover the procedure for requesting a refund, if applicable. Should you have questions that are not addressed in the policies, please contact Day Schildkret, TV/TC Midrasha Director.
Midrasha TV/TC is sponsored by Congregation Beth Emek (Pleasanton), Temple Beth Torah (Fremont), and Congregation Shir Ami (Castro Valley), and is a beneficiary of The Jewish Federation of the East Bay and The Jewish Community Foundation.