What is the Jewish Men's Retreat?Close your eyes for a moment, many times over a weekend, while sitting, dancing, in soulful prayer, or on a private forest hike, and sense the wisdom that can come to you when you are open to life’s mysteries. You can move from being anonymous among nearly 100 men to deep discussions in an ongoing, small group of six to eight men over a Shabbat weekend. You walk among men who have been very close for decades and men who are meeting the first time -- yet the bond feels equally strong among all. What a weekend gift to give yourself, your family, and the World! Who Attends the |
JMR29
Resilence. Balance. Equanimity. November 13-14, 2020 Parsha Chayei Sarah פרשת חיי שרה Co-Chairs: Harold Belkowitz Elliott Myrowitz Roger Zimmerman Questions? Contact JMR@menschwork.org Mishkan AchimMishkan Achim means Holy House of Brothers. Mishkan Achim is a Private Facebook Group for men who have attended the Jewish Men's Retreat, sponsored by Menschwork. |
"The Jewish Men’s Retreat brings together an incredible group of men each year. The generosity of spirit, affirmation of the image of G-d in each other, and cultivation of our best selves at these retreats inspires and uplifts long after the closing circle. The JMR is a great way to reconnect with yourself as a man and to find out how other men are doing. It’s not often safe to be vulnerable with other men, but at JMR this is not only possible but encouraged and supported." |
JMR's Vision The vision of JMR is to call men forth into the fullness of their being as individuals and as active participants in their communities and in the wider world.
JMR's Mission The mission of JMR is to create loving, transformative experiences that encourage men to take the next steps on their journeys as empowered Jewish men.
JMR's History JMR previously existed under the auspices of Eilat Chayim Jewish Renewal Retreat Center and Camp Isabella Freedman, now part of Hazon.
About JMR Shabbat Services Do you like to pray with beautiful music in a beautiful environment? If so, JMR is for you. Services at the JMR provide an opportunity to soar (through spirited singing and dancing), contemplate (through expert facilitation and silence), and learn (through engaging Torah study). "For me, perhaps the highlight of JMR was Mishpacha Groups. They provide men with the opportunity to share their challenges and successes around a theme emerging from the Torah. This is a safe, nonjudgmental space to unburden oneself and cultivate new strengths." -Adam Frost Future Dates JMR30: October 15-17, 2021 |
What's a Mishpacha Group?
What's a
Mishpacha Group?
The central component of each JMR is the Mishpacha Group.
The JPS dictionary defines Mishpacha as: "Literally, 'family'. ...The word conveys a warm feeling of friendship." During the JMR weekend, we create several small Mishpacha of 5-8 men. Each group meets three times during the weekend to explore how the retreat's theme (which is derived from the Shabbat parsha) applies to their lives. It is a chance to explore aloud one's inner self confidentially without feeling evaluated or criticized. Many participants feel that their Mishpacha group experience draws their deepest response and is the most important part of a very vital Jewish Men's Retreat.
Here is a short short video explaining a Mishpacha Group.
Click to View
JMR 1: 1988 Chairs: Yosaif August and Shawn Zevit |
JMR 2: 1993 The Mild One Meets The Wild One Parsha: Toldot(?) Chair: Yosaif August |
JMR 3: October 21-23, 1994 Issac Unbound! Parsha: Vayeira Chairs: Yosaif August and Shawn Zevit |
JMR 4: November 3-5, 1995 Parsha: Lech Lecha |
JMR 5: November 1-3, 1996 Parsha: Vayeira Chair: Yosaif August |
JMR 6: November 7-9, 1997 Vision Quest Parsha: Lech Lecha Chairs: Gary Ginsberg, Benyamin Lichtenstein, Elliot Strick |
JMR 7: November 6-8, 1998 Parsha: Vayeira Chairs: Gary Ginsberg, Benyamin Lichtenstein, and Elliot Strick |
JMR 8: November 12-14, 1999 Parsha: Toldot Chair: Efriam Eisen |
JMR 9: November 3-5, 2000 Being/Becoming a Mensch Parsha: Noach Chairs: Allen Spivack and Efriam Eisen |
JMR 10: November 2-4, 2001 Dancing with our Wild Side Parsha: Vayera Chairs: Steve Ornstein and Jay Lewkowitz |
JMR 11: October 18-20, 2002 Parsha: Lech Lecha Chair: Mark Lewis |
JMR 12: October 31-November 2, 2004 Parsha: Noach Chair: Mark Lewis |
JMR 13: 2004 Reinventing the Bar Mitzvah Chair: Bennett Neiman |
JMR 14: October 28-30, 2005 Creating A New Beginning Parsha: Bereshit Chairs: Les Picker and Allen Spivack |
JMR 15: October 20-22, 2006 Lighting Our Soul/Weaving the Whole. The Masks Men Wear Parsha: Bereshit Chair: Allen Spivack |
JMR 16: October 19-21, 2007 Healing Through the Generations Parsha: Lech Lecha Chairs: Lev Grossman-Spivack and Allen Spivack |
JMR17: October 24-26, 2008 Walking the Path of Wisdom Parsha: Beresheet Chairs: Lawson Shadburn Stuart Garber, Larry Siegel, and Marty Pashelinsky |
JMR18: October 23-25, 2009 Being a Righteous Man in Our Time Chairs: Allen Spivack, David Strauss, and Stuart Garber |
JMR19: October 29-21, 2010 Legacy: The Hand We’re Dealt and How We Play It. Parsha: Chaye Sarah Chairs: David Malchman and David Strauss |
|
JMR21: October 26-28, 2012 Breaking Our Idols...Answering the Call Parsha: Bereshit Chairs: Stuart Garber, Mark Dwortzan, and Michael Landau |
JMR22: October 24-26, 2013 Laugh, Nosh, Love, Work Kvell: Restoring Balance in our Lives Parsha: Chaye Sarah Chairs: Allen Spivack, David Malchman, Michael Landau |
JMR23: October 24-26, 2014 Build Your Heart, Build the Ark, Build our World Parsha: Noach Chairs: Herb Levine and Elliott Myrowitz |
JMR24: October 23-25, 2015 Destination Blessing: Abraham’s Journey Parsha: Lech Lecha Chairs: Mike Metelits and GregOry Frumin |
JMR25: November 11-13, 2016 Our Fathers, Our Brothers, Our Selves: Building Bridges Parsha: Lech Lecha Chairs: Donald Gardner and David Piver |
JMR26: November 10-12, 2017 Claiming Our Strengths Parsha: Chayei Sara Chairs: Simon Olsberg, Bill Magaliff, and Michael Landau |
JMR28: October 25-27, 2019 Beginnings: Creating New Relationships with Yourself, Your Brothers, Earth, and Spirit Parsha: Beresheet Chairs: Ralph Benmergui, Michael Evers, and David Cherenson |
|
JMR29: November 13-14, 2020 Resilience. Balance. Equanimity. Parsha: Chayei Sara Chairs: Harold Belkowitz, Elliott Myrowitz, and Roger Zimmerman |
JMR30: October 15-17, 2021 Parsha: Lech Lecha |
Parsha |
Retreat(s) |
Lech Lecha |
1995, 1997, 2002, 2007, 2015, 2016, 2018 |
Beresheet |
2005, 2006, 2008, 2012, 2019 |
Vayeira |
1994, 1996, 1998, 2001 |
Chayei Sara |
2010, 2013, 2017, 2020 |
Noach |
2000, 2003, 2009, 2014 |
Toldot |
1993, 1999 |
Uncertain |
1988, 2004 |
Ki Tavo |
2011 |
