Our Communities

The Isabella Freedman Jewish Retreat Center is home to a unique constellation of Jewish residential communities. Each seeks to embody its own vision of a spiritually vibrant, relevant, and meaningful Jewish life. Interns in spiritual community, environmental educators, and organic farming fellows work hard, learn, eat, and have fun together. We welcome you to join us!

• Neshamah Summer Internship
• Residential Community
• Teva Learning Center
• ADAMAH: The Jewish Environmental Fellowship
• Work Exchange Opportunities

Neshamah Summer Internship
June – August 2007

This three-month program incorporates in-depth spiritual practice, service to the retreat center, and a loving and inclusive community in which participants can experience a deeper depth of spiritual connection to Jewish tradition. In exchange for working for the center, participants take courses during Elat Chayyim’s summer programming, learn to build community, and study with leading Jewish spiritual teachers.

Interns generally range in age from 20s to 60s. They come from all over the world and from diverse backgrounds with different levels of Jewish education and practice. It is important that interested applicants are familiar and comfortable with Elat Chayyim's practices of inclusivity and feminism, willing and able to work hard and to see work itself as a spiritual practice, and have a desire to create a respectful and caring community among interns and other staff.

Applications for the 2007 internship program are now available. To express interest or to get more information, please contact Elat Chayyim program director Kvod Wieder at kvod [at] isabellafreedman.org.

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Residential Community

Neshamah Community 2005-6

Neshamah Community 2004-5

Based on a pilot two-year program at Elat Chayyim’s former campus in Accord, NY, plans are underway to create a nine-month Neshamah Community in 2008. Past members of the Neshamah community are now in rabbinical school, pursuing filmmaking, attending law school, living in ecumenical spiritual community, training in Nonviolent Communication and mediation, pursuing certification in Body Mind Centering, doing graphic arts, and still remain connected. Please continue to check back to our website for further information as plans progress.

Neshamah’s mission is to support the spiritual development and inner transformation of its members, to strengthen them in embodying their values on a daily basis, and to co-create a spiritually meaningful, egalitarian, pluralistic Jewish life. Participants play a key role in supporting Elat Chayyim’s programming during retreats and contribute to the daily operations of the Isabella Freedman center. Contact Elat Chayyim program director Kvod Wieder at kvod [at] isabellafreedman [dot] org for more information.

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The Teva Learning Center

The Teva Learning Center, North America's foremost Jewish Environmental Education Institute, is a non-denominational educational service for participants from throughout the Jewish community. Working with Jewish Day Schools, Congregational Schools, synagogues, camps and youth groups, Teva's programs touch the lives of 2,000 participants annually.

Teva staff is made up of musicians, artists, fire eaters, stilt walkers, jugglers, dancers, performers, athletes, scientists, scholars and lovers of life. Some staff members have pursued advanced degrees in education, environmental studies, and social work, while others have gone on to Rabbinical school and leadership positions within the Jewish community. For more information about Teva, click here.

Teva staff live at the Isabella Freedman Center from September through December.

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ADAMAH: The Jewish Environmental Fellowship
May 27 – Nov 30, 2007

ADAMAH is a three-month leadership training program for Jewish young adults — ages 20–29 — that integrates organic farming, sustainable living, Jewish learning, teaching, and contemplative spiritual practice. Fellows spend much of their time learning and practicing sustainable agriculture and animal husbandry on the four-acre ADAMAH farm and in small gardens throughout the retreat center. Fellows also participate in leadership training, community living, ecological and Jewish seminars with visiting faculty, and more. Click here for more information.

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Work Exchange Opportunities available year-round

For those seeking to live in a Jewish community on a short term, temporary basis, some work exchange opportunities are available throughout the year. In exchange for work in areas needed by the retreat center, volunteers receive room and board and can participate in some community events. For work exchange opportunities, please contact us at info [at] elatchayyim [dot] org.

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