Shabbaton

A Taste of the Weekend

Friday, July 24 — Arrival and the welcoming of Shabbat

The weekend opens gently in the afternoon with registration and a chance to settle in, breathe in the mountain air, and meet faces old and new. As the sun begins to lower behind the trees, we will gather for a pre-Shabbat program and Mincha, the traditional afternoon service, easing together into Shabbat time. For those who wish to do so, we’ll take a dip in the mikvah fed by the local natural hot springs, offering a chance to settle in to Shabbat as the fresh water gently washes over our skin.

Then comes the heart of Friday evening: a soulful Kabbalat Shabbat of song, melody, and prayer that welcomes Shabbat in the Renewal spirit, followed by a nourishing Shabbat Dinner and the kind of table conversation and niggunim that tends to stretch long after the plates are cleared, while the stars come out above us.

Saturday, July 25 — A full day of Shabbat Nachamu

The day begins early for those who want it, with outdoor meditation in the quiet of the mountain morning air. A leisurely breakfast on your own leads into Torah study and Shacharit, the morning service, shaped by the themes of Shabbat Nachamu and the consolation prophecies of Isaiah — prophecies that, fittingly, are full of mountains being lifted up, valleys made plain, and wilderness blooming. Shabbat lunch follows, unhurried and communal, and then the afternoon honors the ancient Shabbat art of genuine rest—nap, wander, read, sit under a tree, talk with a new friend, or do absolutely nothing at all.

Later in the afternoon, workshop offerings open up across a range of themes, some indoors and some held in the open air, so you can follow what calls to you. As the day softens into gold, we gather for Seudah Shlishit, the traditional third meal of Shabbat, where the singing tends to grow quiet and deep, followed by Mincha. The evening brings dinner, a plenary program for the full community, and Ma’ariv and Havdalah—the candlelit, spice-scented ceremony of braided flame and starlight that closes Shabbat and sends us back into the week carrying its sweetness.

Sunday, July 26 — Closing the circle

Sunday begins again with optional outdoor meditation in the cool morning air and breakfast on your own, followed by Shacharit. The mid-morning holds a final round of workshops and a closing circle, where we gather what we have learned, sung, and shared into something we can carry home. We’ll share a slow lunch, linger over our goodbyes, and for those who wish to continue, venture into the mountains to a meditation power spot — a secluded Tibetan temple where an interfaith prayer collaboration awaits.

Throughout the weekend, expect davennen that is embodied and felt, Torah that is wrestled with, flavorful meals that become their own form of prayer, and plenty of unstructured time to breathe, wander, and remember what it feels like to be held by a place. The Pacific Northwest in late July is at its most generous—long evenings, evergreen-scented air, and the quality of light that makes everything feel a little more sacred. Whether this is your first Jewish retreat or your fiftieth, whether you can chant every word of the liturgy or are meeting it for the first time, the land and the community will make a way in for you.