This past spring, over fifteen Mishkan Tefila families including children between the ages of nine months and fourteen years gathered at Camp Ramah in Palmer, MA for our first Annual family Shabbaton. During the weekend, we celebrated Shabbat and our lives together. There were gateways for everyone: musical Tefila; storytelling; a Friday evening “Teen Tisch”; spiritual, meditative services; meaningful learning; shared meals; musical havdalah; a campfire (during which we saw the international space station race through the sky); campground hikes, canoeing; basketball and softball; a talent show; and, perhaps most importantly, reflection on the possibility of stillness in our lives, surrounded by nature, family and friends.
Before we departed on Sunday morning, back to the busyness of our lives, we stood in a circle and asked what we were grateful for, and what we might take back with us. We seemed to agree: renewed commitments to the rest and renewal of Shabbat; meaningful time with our families; new friendships within our Mishkan community; and a strong sense of the blessings in our lives.
WE ARE PLANNING A COMMUNITY-WIDE SHABBATON FOR MAY 4-6, 2012!
For more information, or to join us, please contact Rabbi Berman
