Beth El women at “Refresh, ReJEWvenate, Renew”

Thirty women of Beth El Temple in West Hartford participated in “Refresh, ReJEWvenate, Renew” – a spiritual weekend retreat organized by Beth El’s Rabbi Ilana C. Garber and a committee that included Karyn Schwartzer, Melissa Mentzer, Nancy Rosen and Gale Shapiro, and held at the Isabella Freedman Jewish Retreat Center in Falls Village. Because the retreat was just a few weeks before Chanukah – which celebrates the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem – the women spent a relaxing, engaging, and energizing Shabbat together exploring the theme of rededicating themselves in a healthy, holy, and wholesome way.

“We engaged in discussions about gratitude, miracles, and personal dedications, and that sense of community was enhanced as we learned more about each other and ourselves,” reported Rabbi Garber. “We also created blankets to be donated to children in need and we made s’mores and sang around a bonfire.”

Nancy Rosen, retreat participant and planning committee member, added, “For me, the highlight of the retreat was ending Shabbat with Havdalah. We each stepped forward to light our own braided candle from the central Havdalah candle when we felt ready to dedicate the light inside of us. Standing there in the growing circle of candles, singing the beautiful music of the prayer and seeing the emotional expressions on the faces of the participants was an incredibly powerful moment.”