Rosh Hashanah is time of reflection of the year past and a look toward the future. Come welcome in 5784 in serene foothills of the Berkshires just as the trees are just starting to turn colors for autumn.
Come open the gates of the new year at Isabella Freedman. Reconnect with wonder this Rosh Hashanah, surrounded by the natural beauty of fall in the Berkshires. Hear the shofar sound across the lake and gather in prayer under the trees. Welcome in warm community as we start the year together.
There will be an Orthodox minyanim and an egalitarian minyan employing the full traditional liturgy, with lots of participatory singing and thoughtful words of Torah.
Our various educators lead a series of classes throughout the holiday, as well as yoga, tours of our organic farm, and guided hikes on our trails. While many of our activities are family friendly, there will also be some dedicated programs for kids.
Kids programming will be outdoors as much as possible, including in the rain; a raincoat, rain boots, hiking boots or sneakers, and a labeled water bottle are required.
Rabbi Josh Alpert a.k.a. “Mr. Shabbos” is a NY based Rabbi, educator, and performer. Using a blend of world music styles, humor, and his love of Torah, R’ Josh has been inspiring audiences world wide. Being passionate about both Judaism and music from a young age, R’ Josh sought to blend the two as a way to bring himself and others closer to Hashem. He received Semicha in 2009 from Yeshiva Zichron Akiva and teaches Torah and Jewish music in many of the Long Island/ NYC Yeshiva Day Schools. You can check out his music and Torah thoughts on all digital music services by searching “Mr. Shabbos”. R’ Josh lives in Bayswater, NY with his wife Pircha and their new baby boy Kaiyam. They all wish you a Kativ V’Chatima Tova and “Health, Happiness, and a Rockin’ good time!”
Shira Botzum is entering her fourth and final year of rabbinical school in Hadar’s Semikha Program. She holds a BA from Columbia University in Political Science and a BA/MA from JTS in Talmud. Shira lives in Manhattan with her spouse, Jonathan, and their dog, Noodles. Her interests include learning and teaching feminist Torah, cooking, and hiking. She is excited to be returning to Isabella Freedman for Rosh Hashanah this year.
Vincent Calabrese grew up in Austin, Texas. A scholar of modern Jewish thought, he holds a PhD from the University of Toronto and is a rabbinical student in the Advanced Kollel of the Hadar Institute. His writing on Jewish thought and politics has appeared in a number of outlets, including Tikkun, Haaretz, 929 English, and Religious Socialism. An experienced ba’al tefilah, he has led services for the High Holidays at a variety of congregations in the United States and Canada.
Miriam Lichtenberg is in her fourth year of semikha studies at Hadar’s Advanced Kollel. Alongside her rigorous Torah studies, Miriam is passionate about youth education, and currently develops curriculum for and teaches a weekly Torah class to high schoolers in Brooklyn. She is a JOIN for Justice Fellow where she learns the tools needed to enact change in her current and future communities. She is active in her Crown Heights Community, serving on the gabbai and ritual team of her local minyan, and served as the Rabbi-in-training for the conservative minyan at Brown Hillel’s high holiday services. Miriam earned a BA in History from Barnard College and is currently a Nachshon Graduate Fellow.
Aravah Berman-Mirkin is an artist and gleaner living in the Hudson Valley for over a decade with immediate family roots in the former Soviet Union. Their art focuses primarily on creating Judaica as a spiritual practice. Aravah works in a wide range of mediums including ceramics, sewing, weaving, embroidery, and building construction amongst others. You can view their body of work and learn more about their journey of connecting to traditional Jewish arts at www.zhydovka.me
Lev Siegel (they/them) is currently a farmer/farm educator at Adamah. They are a graduate of Brandeis University, and are coming to Adamah after many years of community and union organizing, farming and most recently learning at Yeshivat Hadar. Lev is passionate about growing vegetables, learning Talmud and swimming in Lake Miriam.
