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  • Commuter – $140.00
  • Private Room: Single – $340.00
  • Private Room: Couple – $570.00
  • Junior Suite: Single – $480.00
  • Junior Suite: Couple – $760.00

Date & Time Details: Friday, December 20 (check in 3:00-5:30 PM; program starts 5:30 PM) until Sunday, December 22 (checkout 1 PM)

Location: Dharmakaya Center for Wellbeing

Address: 191 Cragsmoor Road, Cragsmoor, New York 12566, USA

Contact: [email protected]
845.640.4593

Check-in Time: 3 PM – 5:30 PM

Per Person Price: Prices are for room and board only, and include 3 meals per day and use of all campus facilities. You are respectfully requested to offer dana to the teachers during the program.

  • Commuter – $120
  • Private Room (shared bath): Single – $340
  • Private Room (shared bath): Couple – $285
  • Junior Suite (private bath): Single – $480
  • Junior Suite (private bath): Couple – $380

To extend your stay on Personal Retreat: Simply add days before or after the program during step 2 when making your reservation.

Cancellation Policy: Refundable up to two weeks prior to the program (less a $50 processing fee). See our policy to learn more.

Finding Illumination in the Darkness: Judaism, Buddhism, and Nonviolent Communication

With Rabbi Ben Newman and Roberta Wall

December 20 - 22, 2024

RETREAT BY INVITED PRESENTER

Join us for a nourishing retreat integrating mindfulness practices from Judaism, Buddhism, and Nonviolent Communication as a celebration of inner illumination. Through periods of silence, learning, meditation, enriching discussions and Nonviolent Communication practices, you will find a sense of rejuvenation and renewed purpose. You will gain tools for inner growth, compassionate communication, and spiritual illumination, bringing light into your own lives and relationships through community, music, ritual, and teachings that encourage deep reflection and connection. Whether you are well-versed or new to Judaism, Buddhism, Nonviolent Communication, or spiritual practice, this retreat offers a welcoming embrace.

Cover image courtesy of David Friedman.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

  • Integration of Multiple Spiritual Traditions: Explore a unique blend of Jewish, Buddhist, and Nonviolent Communication teachings, offering a holistic approach to personal and spiritual growth.
  • Musical and Meditative Shabbat Services: Experience deeply moving Kabbalat Shabbat and Shabbat morning services led by Rabbi Ben Newman, incorporating music, chanting, and Torah wisdom with Ben and Roberta’s Torah at the Intersection.
  • Hasidic Storytelling: Delve into the rich wisdom of Hasidic tales and their relevance to modern life, enhancing your spiritual journey through storytelling.
  • Jewish and Buddhist-Inspired Meditation Techniques: Learn and practice meditative methods, including those of Kabbalist Abraham Abulafia, focusing on spiritual enlightenment through mystical traditions.
  • Nature Connection: Participate in a mindful meditative walk through the serene surroundings of the Dharmakaya Center, fostering a deeper connection with nature.
  • Nonviolent Communication Workshops: Engage in interactive sessions led by Roberta Wall, where you’ll practice NVC techniques to enhance communication and build more compassionate relationships.
  • Interactive Discussions and Q&A: Participate in engaging discussions and Q&A sessions with both Rabbi Ben Newman and Roberta Wall, providing personalized guidance and support.

You will experience all this in an intimate setting with a small group, allowing for personal interactions with the teachers and a more tailored retreat.

EVENT HIGHLIGHTS

  • Intimate setting with personal access to the teachers, Rabbi Ben Newman and Roberta Wall
  • Interactive sessions with question and answer periods
  • Shamatha and guided meditations
  • Delicious all-vegetarian meals with locally sourced ingredients
  • Option to extend stay on Personal Retreat for further reflection
  • Extensive library of dharma and spiritual books
  • Expansive wooded grounds with beautiful paths, flora and fauna for meditative walks and nature connection

OPEN TO ALL

This retreat is designed to be an inclusive and welcoming space for all, regardless of previous experience with these traditions. It offers a unique opportunity to explore the intersections of Jewish, Buddhist, and Nonviolent Communication teachings in a supportive community. Whether you are seeking personal growth, spiritual insight, or simply a peaceful retreat, this program provides a sanctuary for your journey.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

While no specific pre-reading is required, you might benefit from familiarizing yourself with the basics of Nonviolent Communication, as well as some introductory texts on Jewish and Buddhist mindfulness practices. Suggested readings include:

Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life, by Marshall Rosenberg
The Way of Mindful Education, by Daniel Rechtschaffen
The Experience of Insight, by Joseph Goldstein
The Miracle of Mindfulness, by Thich Nhat Hanh
Ehyeh: A Kabbalah of Tomorrow, by Rabbi Dr. Arthur Green
Jewish With Feeling, by Rabbi Zalman Schachter Shalomi
Jewish Meditation Practices for Everyday Life, by Rabbi Jeff Roth
Torah at the Intersection, by Roberta Wall

Participants are also encouraged to come with an open heart and a willingness to engage deeply in the practices offered.

SCHEDULE

(subject to change)

Friday, December 20

3:00-5:30 PM Arrival and Registration:
Welcome participants, provide materials, and settle into accommodations
5:30-7:00 PM Candle Lighting and Musical Kabbalat Shabbat Service:
Our first gathering will be in the beautiful meditation hall for a creative Jewish Renewal-style  musical and meditative Shabbat service and Torah wisdom.
7:00-8:00 PM Shabbat Dinner: Enjoy a delicious vegetarian meal together
8:00-9:30 PM Evening Program:
Introductions, intention setting and reflections
Small group connection time
Closing bedtime meditation practice drawn from Buddhist Mindfulness and  Nonviolent Communication
10:00 PM Lights Out

Saturday, December 21

7:30-8:00 AM Meditation practice from Thich Nhat Hanh Buddhist Tradition
Begin the day with guided meditation and contemplative practices
8:00-9:00 AM Breakfast
9:00-10:00 AM Shabbat Morning Chanting Service:
Morning Musical Chanting and Contemplative Service from the Jewish Renewal Tradition with Torah,  Buddhadharma and Nonviolent Communication  from the shabbat Torah reading  of the week
10:30 AM-12:00 PM Session 1: The Light of Mystical European Jewish Stories:
Delve into the wisdom of Hasidic tales and their relevance to modern life
12:00-1:00 PM Lunch
1:00-2:00 PM Meditative Walk:
Explore the beautiful surroundings of the Dharmakaya Center in a mindful walk in solitude or group walking meditation
2:30-4:00 PM Session 2: Nonviolent Communication Principles:
Learn principles and practices for finding  your authentic voice and honest, clear,  empowered self expression
4:00-6:00 PM Free time:
Rest, reflect, or explore the center’s amenities
6:00-7:00 PM Dinner
7:00-8:30 PM Evening Program:
Harvesting our insights from the day
Small group connection breakouts
10:00 PM Lights out

Sunday, December 22

7:00-8:00 AM Jewish Kabbalah (mystical) Healing Meditation Practice:
Experience practices for spiritual enlightenment inspired by 13th century Spanish Kabbalist Abraham Abulafia
8:00-9:00 AM Breakfast
9:00-10:30 AM Session 3: Integrating NVC with Buddhist Practices:
Discover how Nonviolent Communication and  Buddhist teachings reflect and deepen one another
10:30-11:30 AM Session 4: Q&A:
Engage in an open discussion, ask questions, and receive personalized guidance
11:30 AM- 12:00 PM Closing Circle and Farewell:
Integration and transition back to daily life
Share final reflections and blessings
12:00-1:00 PM Lunch
1:00-2:00 PM Checkout and Departure

 

 

Teachers

Rabbi Ben Newman
Rabbi Ben Newman embodies mindful Judaism, intertwining over 20 years of study in Jewish and Buddhist wisdom teachings. As a singer-songwriter and storyteller, he enhances contemplative practices with heartfelt chanting and melodies from his guitar, ukulele, and harmonium. An ordained rabbi since 2006, Rabbi Ben founded the Shtiebel in the Rivertowns, promoting inclusive spiritual experiences. His books, such as The Ten Precepts: a Jewish-Buddhist translation of the Ten Commandments, showcase his deep commitment to spiritual exploration. Beloved by learners of all ages, his children’s tales also captivate hearts. Studying worldwide, from Japan to renowned rabbinical colleges, Rabbi Ben’s rich tapestry…
Learn more about Rabbi Ben Newman
Roberta Wall
Many years ago Roberta Wall’s Buddhist teacher Thich Nhat Hanh encouraged her to find the mindfulness in her root Jewish tradition. Now, drawing on two decades of immersion in Jewish learning and practices in the US and Israel, Roberta publishes Torah at the Intersection, a weekly blog integrating the teachings of Buddhism, Judaism and Nonviolent Communication (NVC). For over 20 years she has been offering Jewish Mindfulness retreats and practices and Nonviolent Communication Mindfulness practices in Jewish, Buddhist and other communities, schools, war zones, leadership trainings and organizations globally. She has shared Nonviolent Communication in Palestine and Israel for over ten…
Learn more about Roberta Wall
Dharmakaya Center For Wellbeing
191 Cragsmoor Road

Cragsmoor, New York 12566
845.640.4593

© 2019 Dharmakaya Center for Wellbeing. All rights reserved

Privacy Policy

Dharmakaya Center For Wellbeing
191 Cragsmoor Road Cragsmoor, New York 12566
845.640.4593

Privacy Policy

© 2019 Dharmakaya Center for Wellbeing. All rights reserved