Deepening the quality of communal prayer to activate the body, touch the heart, engage the mind, and nuture spiritual growth.

The Davennen' Leadership Training Institute (DLTI) offers a unique learning experience to help those who lead worship in a Jewish context to deepen the quality of communal prayer so that it activates the body, touches the heart, engages the mind, and nourishes spiritual growth and insight. Employing the participatory approach of an intensive master class, this program coaches you in the high art of leadership of public ritual and prayer.

In this program consisting of four retreats, you become part of a living and learning fellowship — deeply engaged in the process of communal prayer and ritual. Throughout each retreat you join with core faculty and guest master-teachers in ongoing davvenen', text study, group discussions and coaching.

Leadership Skills for Building Community

Prayer can be electric and alive. Prayer can touch the soul, burst forth a creative celebration of the spirit, and open deep wells of gratitude, longing and praise. Jewish prayer in its essence is soul dialogue and calls us into relationship within and beyond.

We intuitively know when group prayer is working. Through the power of ancient and modern words and melodies, we venture into realms of deep emotion and find longing, sorrow, hope, wholeness, connection and peace. When guided by skilled leaders of prayer and ritual, our complacency is challenged, we can break through outworn assumptions about God and ourselves, and emerge refreshed and inspired to meet the challenges our lives offer. As rabbis, educators and prayer leaders, we aspire to meaningful prayer and ritual. How does one learn to create transformational spiritual experiences that will vitalize our communities?

The Davennen' Leadership Training Institute is a living-learning experience that will enable participants from all Jewish environments to gain:

• Deep understanding, experience and skill with the evolution, practice and meaning of Jewish prayer.
• Grounding in liturgical sources and the inner structure of services, with special emphasis on Shabbat.
• Advanced skills in the inspirational use of personal presence.
• Practice and experience in creating prayerful environments, working with group energetics, and balancing structure with spontaneity.
• Each session is further enriched by special programs and trainings with DLTI special guest faculty.

This program is designed for both the experienced leader and someone emerging into leadership.

Application Process

Apply online for our DLTI's FIFTH cohort:

Week One
August 11-17, 2008

Week Two
February 18-23, 2009

Week Three
August 3-9, 2009

Week Four
February 10-15, 2010

External Website

The training program also has it's own website: http://dlti.homestead.com.

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Registration Information

Training Institute Tuition

The tuition for this institute is $2,000 ($1,180 deposit) and does not include the cost of Room and Board (see table on the right). Listed room and board fees are per week.

Room and board includes housing, meals, Shabbat services, evening activities, hot tub, yoga, meditation, and full use of our facility. All rooms are air-conditioned in the summer and heated in the winter.

Financial assistance for graduate students in rabbinic, cantorial, or Jewish education are eligible for aid through a generous grant provided by The Lasko Family Foundation of Philadelphia. Click here to apply.

Limited financial aid is also available through the Elat Chayyim scholarship fund.

Arrival and Departure

Please arrive between 2pm and 5pm on the day your retreat begins. Retreats end with brunch at 11:30am on the last day of the retreat.

Room and Board Cancellation Policy

• Receive a full refund minus a $75 processing fee for cancellations more than 30 days prior to retreat.
• If you cancel between 30 days and one day in advance, a non-refundable credit (less a $75 processing fee) will be held for one year from the date of issue. This credit is non-transferable.
• No credit or refund is available if you cancel less than 24 hours in advance or on the workshop’s arrival day, if you do not attend a retreat, or if you leave a retreat early for any reason.

The Elat Chayyim Center for Jewish Spirituality reserves the right to cancel any program at any time. In this event, you will be given a complete refund.

For transportation: A full refund of transportation fees is available if you cancel at least three days (72 hours) in advance. No refund is available if less than three days notice is given. For more information on getting here, please visit our Travel & Transportation page.

Tuition Cancellation Policy

In case of withdrawal from the entire Institute, Elat Chayyim retains a $180 enrollment deposit, plus tuition for any weeks attended or partially attended. Any tuition paid in excess of these amounts will be fully refunded with at least 30 days notice. Withdrawal from the Institute with more than one day and less than 30 days notice before the next retreat will result in an Elat Chayyim credit for any tuition paid and credited for the upcoming retreat, and full refund for tuition already paid for retreats further in the future. Any cancellations with less than 24 hours notice, or after the retreat has begun, will result in forfeiture of all tuition for that week, in addition to forfeiture of the non-refundable $180 deposit.

Register now!

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