ALEPH Canada Summer Retreat on Hornby Island: August 2009

Dear Friend of ALEPH,

The Hornby Island summer retreat returns this August for the fourth time after a two year pause. We will study of the Ten Sefirot of Kabbalah viewed from a Hassidic perspective. Special focus will be given to the way in which the sefirot can help us with our spiritual practice in general and with preparation for Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur in particular.

The Dates: Friday, 28 August – Sunday, 30 August.
Cost: $180 which includes four meals, four study sessions, and five opportunities for shared prayer.

Location: The home of Rabbis Daniel and Hanna Tiferet Siegel

The retreat is now a program of ALEPH Canada and the cost of a basic ALEPH membership will be added to the fee for those who are not already members. You can take out a membership now by credit card through CanadaHelps (http://www.canadahelps.org) and receive a tax receipt directly from them.

For those of you who want to get an early start, please go to http://www.hornbyisland.com for a good list of places to stay. Many rentals are by the week, so you could plan on extending your time to include enjoying the beaches, artists studios, great food, and hiking. As time goes on, we will also look for shorter term rental options.

There is a maximum of 20 participants.

How to register: Cecil and Ruth Hershler have kindly agreed to receive registrations and fees. Please contact them directly by email (chershler@gmail.com or rhershler@gmail.com) or phone (604-224 3070).

Please bring one of the following (and let us know what you choose by Monday, 24 August):

Drinks:

Red and white wines
Good Kosher Kiddush Wine
Two bottles of  Sparkling Water

Dessert Options:
Cookies (Chocolate Chip; Oatmeal); Brownies; Strudel

Gluten free dessert

Fresh Fruit, preferably organic

All these items, with the exception of kosher wines, are available on Hornby from our wonderful coop and bakery.

The Retreat Leaders:

Rabbi Daniel Siegel is the Director of Spiritual Resources for ALEPH: Alliance for Jewish Renewal and Rabbinic Director of ALEPH: Alliance for Jewish Renewal Canada. He was the first person to receive semicha from Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi. Reb Daniel served two college campuses – the University of British Columbia and Dartmouth College – for a total of more than twenty years. Together with his wife and partner, Hanna Tiferet, he co-founded Or Shalom in Vancouver, BC, a vibrant renewal synagogue which is grounded in traditional Jewish observance. Rabbi Siegel is a certified mediator and co-founded a successful mediation program at Dartmouth College. Reb Daniel is the editor of ALEPH’s Siddur Kol Koreh project and numerous teachings of Reb Zalman Schachter-Shalomi, including the recently released books, “Credo of a Modern Kabbalist” and “Integral Halachah.”

Rabbi Hanna Tiferet Siegel is a singer/composer, liturgical artist, and certified yoga teacher. Through her music and creative approach to prayer and practice, she has planted the seeds of Jewish Renewal in the US and Canada for almost four decades. In 1982, she was the first woman to receive the title of “Eshet Hazon – Woman of Vision.” By giving voice to women, children, Mother Earth, and the Shekhina, she has contributed to rebalancing the wisdom transmissions of Judaism. With her life partner, Reb Daniel, she served as co-spiritual leader of B’nai Or, Boston for six years. Hanna has recorded seven albums of original Jewish “soul” music and assembled a songbook entitled, “I Am My Prayer.”