Annual Meditation Retreat 2023
Please note that in order to register for Early Bird in-person attendance, you must be logged into your account and a current Sustaining Member of Bet Alef. If you would like to become a Sustaining Member, please contact our Office Manager at administrator@betalef.org.
Bet Alef’s Annual Meditation Retreat is an opportunity for us all to take a break away from the busy-ness of our outwardly focused lives. In the quiet space of an extended Shabbat, you are invited to come and discover with Rabbi Olivier the inner dimension of the Being that we are. Our retreat is held in the resourcing meditative silence of The Rainbow Lodge Retreat Center, a safe, peaceful environment. The most recent retreat took place March 31st – April 2nd, 2023.
Rabbi Olivier offers everyone the opportunity to join the Retreat live at the Institute via Zoom, for those who prefer participating remotely. The retreat is not live-streamed on our services, but a Zoom link to access the retreat is automatically provided upon registration.
Please do not send, distribute or otherwise give out this Zoom link.
If online participation is your preference, Rabbi Olivier connects with you offering support in setting your home-space to be as conducive as possible to the energies of a weekend meditation retreat.
Please note that due to housing and capacity restrictions, attendance is limited. If you prefer to book a Shared room, Bet Alef will be able to pair you with another registrant.
Early Bird Registration
*Discounted Prices for Members Only*
In-Person Cost (includes all meals and lodging):
EARLY BIRD Shared Room: $415
EARLY BIRD Single Room: $455
Open Registration:
Open Registration Shared Room: $459
Open Registration Single Room: $499
Online Only Cost – via Zoom: $180
No one is turned away due to lack of funds. Please contact our Office Manager confidentially to coordinate scholarships or financial assistance for this retreat.
* If you would like to learn more about becoming a sustaining member and receiving access to Early Bird Pricing and Registration, please email our Office Manager at administrator@betalef.org for more information.
What are your Covid Protocols and Policy for this Event?
We are aware that some of you may have concerns regarding attending an in-person residential event. The Rainbow Lodge is requiring that all participants provide either proof of complete vaccination (boosters included) or a negative Covid test taken upon arrival (test kit not provided). It is at each participant’s discretion whether to wear a mask during the retreat. With these protocols in place, we are confident that we are able to relax in a safe, nurturing and peaceful space.
Past Retreats
Shavuot Meditation Retreat & Celebration
led by Rabbi Olivier BenHaim
One of the three ancient Pilgrimage Festivals—besides Passover and Sukkot—is the holiday of Shavuot. Shavuot means “weeks,” and is the celebration at the end of the 7 weeks of our counting the Omer of the Feast of the [spring] Harvest. In Temple times, Jews would walk to Jerusalem to celebrate this festival of the first fruits. With the Temple burned to the ground by Rome, the rabbis shifted the center of Judaism onto the Torah and recast Shavuot as the celebration of Z’man Matan Torateinu – The Time of the Giving of our Torah; the celebration of Revelation at Sinai to which, it is taught, all the souls of Israel—past, present and future (including all converts)—were present. Rabbi Olivier invites you to enter into the energies of such unfathomable Encounter with Source steeped in meditation.
One of the three ancient Pilgrimage Festivals—besides Passover and Sukkot—is the holiday of Shavuot. Shavuot means “weeks,” and is the celebration at the end of the 7 weeks of our counting the Omer of the Feast of the [spring] Harvest. In Temple times, Jews would walk to Jerusalem to celebrate this festival of the first fruits. With the Temple burned to the ground by Rome, the rabbis shifted the center of Judaism onto the Torah and recast Shavuot as the celebration of Z’man Matan Torateinu – The Time of the Giving of our Torah; the celebration of Revelation at Sinai to which, it is taught, all the souls of Israel—past, present and future (including all converts)—were present. Rabbi Olivier invites you to enter into the energies of such unfathomable Encounter with Source steeped in meditation.
One of the three ancient Pilgrimage Festivals—besides Passover and Sukkot—is the holiday of Shavuot. Shavuot means “weeks,” and is the celebration at the end of the 7 weeks of our counting the Omer of the Feast of the [spring] Harvest. In Temple times, Jews would walk to Jerusalem to celebrate this festival of the first fruits. With the Temple burned to the ground by Rome, the rabbis shifted the center of Judaism onto the Torah and recast Shavuot as the celebration of Z’man Matan Torateinu – The Time of the Giving of our Torah; the celebration of Revelation at Sinai to which, it is taught, all the souls of Israel—past, present and future (including all converts)—were present. Rabbi Olivier invites you to enter into the energies of such unfathomable Encounter with Source steeped in meditation.
Our afternoon will alternate between 50-minute-long meditation sessions, short teachings from our rabbi as well as the opportunity to ask questions about your meditation practice. We will break for dinner—a traditionally dairy meal—and come back together in the evening lighting our holiday candles and immersing ourselves in Torah and the deeper meaning of Revelation.
Rabbi Olivier made this retreat available to all—Jewish or not, Bet Alef member or not, near or far—at no cost. We hope, if your heart so moves you, that you will make a donation to support this sacred work.