A CHANUKAH WEEKEND RETREAT AT ASCENT
26 - 29 KISLEV 5772 / DEC 22 - 25, 2011
Tentative Schedule
THURSDAY, DEC 22
1-4pm Registration & Orientation
5:00pm Light Your Chanukah Menorah. Lounge
5:30pm Old City Candlelight Tour* – see Menorahs around town
7:00pm Communal Candle Lighting & Meditation. Lounge
7:30pm Dinner. Dining Area
8:30pm Concert. TBA.
10:00pm Bring Light to the Night – Late Night Learning. Lecture Hall
FRIDAY, DEC 23
8:00am Morning Meditations with Rabbi Izzy Greenberg. Library
8:30am Breakfast (served until 10am). Dining Area
9:30am Soul Hike into the Valley (Weather permitting) with Mrs. C.B. Leiter. Meet in Lobby.
10:30am Meditation Workshop with Rabbi Izzy Greenberg. Library
1:30pm Men: Walk to the Arizal Mikvah. Meet in the Lobby.
Women: Visit the Ariza l’s holy resting place. Meet in the Lobby.
3:30pm Afternoon Prayer Service
3:50pm Light Your Chanukah Menorah. Lounge
4:00pm Women: Shabbat Candle Lighting & Shmooze in the Lounge
Men: Soul Strings Niggunim Session with Moshe Witkes. Roof
5:00pm Orientation & Meal Placement Info. Ascent Roof
5:00pm Kabbalat Shabbat – evening services with joy on the Ascent Roof
6:00pm Walk to Host Families for Meals – meet outside the front entrance
10:30pm Farbrengen (Group Dynamics): “Let There Be Light” with Eli Naiditch. Dining Area
“A soul is called a flame. The nature of a flame is to soar upward;
it strives to unite with its source — the original element of fire. .”
— Rambam (Maimonides)
SATURDAY, DEC 24
8:30am Coffee, Tea and Light Snacks in the Dining Area
Join services at synagogues in the Old City.
Map and schedules available at the Reception Desk.
9:00am Beginner’s Service. Ascent Shul
11:45am Kiddush & Light Refreshments in the Dining Area
12:00pm Lecture: The Kabbalah of Light with Rabbi Izzy Greenberg. Library
1:00pm Shabbat Meal at Ascent (English & Hebrew). Dining Area Hosts: Eli & Sarah Naiditch
3:00pm Lounge Time: Peruse a book from the Ascent Library, relax, shmooze
3:45pm Light Refreshments available in the Dining Area
4:00pm Three Options:
– Tour of the Old City*. Meet in the Lobby
– Women’s Circle: Open Discussion with Ayallah Greenberg. Lounge
– Men’s Square: Discussion/Study with Rabbi Mo. Library
5:15pm Evening Service. Lecture Hall
5:30pm Musical Havdallah. Celebrate & dance with our IDF guests. Roof
8:30pm King David’s Feast with Rabbi Yerachmiel & Mrs. Shulamit Tilles
Melaveh Malka post-Shabbat Dinner and Gathering. Dining Area + Followed by Live Music Jam Session
Please register in advance at the Reception if you plan to attend.
SUNDAY, DEC 25
9:30am Toward a Meaningful Life: Practical Tools for Spiritual Living with Eli Naiditch. Library
11am – 2pm: A half-day learning experience is available for all Ascent guests
on Sunday at Machon Alta (for women) and Temimei Darech (for men).
Sign up at the Reception Desk or speak to a staff member for details.
Who’s Who – This Weekend’s Presenters at Ascent:
Ayallah Greenberg, MSW, is a psychotherapist, activist and educator who specializes in contemporary women’s issues and the psychology of spiritual fulfillment. You can schedule a one-on-one counseling session with Ayallah or through the Ascent Reception.
Chana Reich is a student at Machon Alte Seminary and Tzfat who amazes Ascent guests with her dedication, sincerity and friendship.
Chaya Bracha Leiter is an expert tour guide who weaves mystical teachings with historical tours and nature hikes into a truly complete soul-mind-heart-body experience.
Devora Levin is an artist and writer who utilizes her communication skills to develop Ascent’s programs and her creativity and innovative insights to enhance your experience at Ascent.
Eli Naiditch, a young rabbi and scholar with extensive wisdom well beyond his years on a variety of subjects, is your guide at Ascent in both the physical and metaphysical realms.
Gili Shushan, a (former) star of Israeli TV and cinema, is a critically acclaimed actor and performer with an engaging and unassuming personality. His music contains metaphoric references to Kabbalistic teachings and his contemplative talks stir the soul.
Izzy Greenberg, Ascent’s Educational Director, is a writer and scholar of philosophy and Jewish mysticism who studied at NYU and the Rabbinical College of America and has worked in film, journalism and marketing.
Mordechai “Big Mo” Siev captivates audiences and warms hearts at Ascent with his humble wit, and inspires with a unique, down-to-earth teaching style.
Moshe Witkes is the director of a new Tzfat outreach initiative, and an educator who specializes in distilling mystical concepts and communicating them in novel fashion and contemporary terms.
Nadav Cohen is the Program Director at Ascent, a charismatic and gifted teacher and author of several publications, including a new concise modern Hebrew book on Tanya. (English edition coming soon.)
Shulamit Tilles, a respected teacher and mentor, is an expert on women in the Bible and women’s issues.
Yerachmiel Tilles, the co-founder of Ascent and the editor of KabbalaOnline.org, is a gifted author and master storyteller who transports audiences to other-worldly realms.
Program Directors: Nadav Cohen, Mordechai (Big Mo) Siev, Izzy & Ayallah Greenberg
Retreat Leaders: Chana Reich, Devora Levin