Simchat Torah - Current

DAVETREK ADVENTURES

Simchat Torah & Chol Hamoed Shabbat

Fall Foliage Weekend @ Isabella Freedman

Sunday, September 22 - Sunday, September 29, 2013

Early Bird Deadline Midnight Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2013

Final RSVP Deadline Midnight Sunday, Sept. 22, 2013

“wow! best vacation I can ever remember because of how peaceful and lovely it was for us in a really hectic world and time”

Gail M. - July 4th at Isabella Freedman

Isabella Freedman Jewish Retreat Center

116 Johnson Road Falls Village, CT 06031 Google map

“I had a great time and relaxed like never before enjoying all the activites and lectures… Please email me of all your other trips, which I will be going on to get away from the stress of the city!”

Betty L., July 4th at Isabella Freedman

Davetrek Contact Info

(email is the best method)

davetrekadventures@gmail.com Phone: (805) DAVETREK (328-3873)

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEKEND

Davetrek Adventures is pleased to announce our 6th Simchat Torah and Fall Foliage Weekend, and our 4th annual Simchat Torah at the beautiful Isabella Freedman Jewish Retreat Center, situated near the beautiful Berkshires in Connecticut near the MA border, which is located 2 hours from New York City and 2.5 hrs from Boston. The event occurs during the beginning of the peak of Fall Foliage in northern CT!

RETREAT CENTER DETAILS & ACTIVITIES

Isabella Freedman is a high quality kosher catered retreat center set on 450 acres, with wonderful grounds, and its secluded, with a private lake, sporting (basketball, volleyball, tennis) and workout facilities, a swimming pool and hundreds of acres for onsite hikes and walks, as well as offsite hikes on the nearby Appalachian Trail. This is truly a gem of a place, with privacy, nature, good people and kosher food. What more could you ask for?

There are also museums, such as Norman Rockwell, The Clark and Hancock Shaker Village in the Berkshires and the Timexpo Timex Watch Museum in CT. There is also some cultural offerings in the area that weekend, such as Made in the Berkshires, a festival that features cutting-edge theatrical works, live music, film, short stories and dance.

Stays from 1 to 6 nights + Shabbat Chol Hamoed & Succahfest

You can come for as little as 1 night or as many as 6 nights, at your option. Note that people coming for Simchat Torah have a full Sunday included, with activities until the afternoon and two full meals, both breakfast and lunch.

We also hope to have various activities during Chol Hamoed (Sept 23—25). You may also combine your Chol Hamoed/Simchat Torah Stay with Succahfest, Isabella Freedman’s Succot Festival for the 1st days of the holiday. You need to RSVP for Succahfest directly with Isabella Freedman and let us know that you want this option when you fill out the RSVP form so we can house you in the same room for your entire stay.

We also intend to offer the following onsite and offsite activities, based on interest:

Fall Foliage hiking, biking and driving tours:

Farm Tours, Pickling/Cheese & Harvesting at Isabella Freedman’s Adamah Organic farm

Biking option - Fall Foliage River Ride

Boating - a canoe and kayaking option nearby on the Housatonic River.

Fall Foliage Driving Tours in the area, including arranging rides for those without transport.

Cultural Events & Museums — Clybourne Park in Pittsfield ( 9/29—Sun at 3pm), Arlo Guthrie at the Mahaiwe (Sat. 9/28 at 8), Hancock Shaker Village Country Fair ( 9/29—10 to 5pm)

Singles, Families and Couples are welcome and encouraged to come.

Simchat Torah , Yomtov Walks & Davening Services

We intend to have full minyanim from Simchat Torah (Wednesday night, September 25) until the end, Sunday Sept 29. This will include all laining and aliyot for all men on Simchat Torah and lots of dancing with the torah for men and women. We also intend to have social games, lectures during the ‘3 day yomtov’ and nature walks each day, including tours of the local farms that Isabella Freedman uses to grow some of the vegetables they use for the meals. Stay tuned for more details! We will attempt minyanim during chol hamoed, depending on how many people attend those days...

DETAILS, FAQ, ROOMING, ETC

Since this is a large event with many details, we have links below to all of the key items, to make it easier to find the information you need. I have some of the highlights below, as well as pricing at the bottom of this page. Also, there are 3 levels of rooms, with private vs shared bathrooms, so keep that in mind when RSVP’ing. Please RSVP quickly, as we need to gauge interest given the timing.

Rates as low as $399 for the 5 day/4 night Simchat Torah if you RSVP by the Early Bird Deadline

If you ever wanted to visit Isabella Freedman, this is the weekend to do so!

We will never have rates this low again for a 4 day stay at Isabella Freedman!!

We look forward to seeing you at this event!

David Brotsky - Davetrek Adventures

Text Box: ACTIVITY & EVENTS HIGHLIGHTS The Retreat is located on a secluded 450 acre property, with a lake and a pond, and has the following amenities: Field and playground with sporting equipment Basketball court—1/2 court only Volleyball 2 public computers with Internet available for use in the main building, and WiFi (Wireless Internet) available in the MAIN BUILDING. Game room in main building - Pool & Ping Pong Tables and Board Games Miles of hiking trails with paths that range from gentle to strenuous, and very close to the Appalachian Trail, where there will be hikes on Sunday Tennis court Theatre Space A private lake for using free boats, fishing, and swimming—Canoes, pedal boats and paddle boats Events on the Weekend Onsite—included in the weekend price, weather permitting Kumzitz—With Jewish Music (Thursday Night October 4 & Motzei Shabbat - October 6) Hiking (on the Appalachian Trail) (Friday and Sunday)* Boating (Thu, Fri, Sun & Wed)* Volleyball (Throughout)* Jewish Lectures (Throughout Simchat Torah & Shabbat)* Yoga in the Yurt (Throughout the event)* Adamah Organic Farm Tour, Harvesting work & Pickling/ Cheesemaking Class (Sunday)* * depending on interest and weather Off Site & Onsite- additional cost, weather permitting, depending on interest Fall Foliage - Biking, Hiking, Boating & Driving Tours Boating on the Housatonic River - Canoeing and Kayaking Museums, such as Norman Rockwell, Hancock Shaker Village, The Timexpo Timex Watch Museum (Wednesday only) Modern Art (Mass MOCA) and Impressionist Art (The Clark) Cultural Events such as Clybourne Park, Arlo Guthrie at the Mahaiwe (Sat. 9/28 at 8), Hancock Shaker Village Country Fair ( 9/29)pm) All Off site events ( except hiking) & Onsite arts and craft events depend on interest and are in addition to the fees for the weekend. Click Here to visit a site with all the local Berkshires possible attractions that we have created. As we get closer, we will organize groups for some of these events, based on interest.

Rates & Policies: room & board and onsite activities; off site activities (except local hiking) & any onsite craft farm tours and onsite adamah classes will have additional fees.

Times listed are for room access - as specified on the website for this event, you will access to continue to use the facilities at Isabella Freedman on the day you leave until 3PM. Rates are subject to change until you pay the deposit.

Rates & Succahfest - You may come up for as many as 6 nights or as few as 1 night.

If you come for Simchat Torah starting Wednesday 9/26 you can stay over until Sunday Sept 29 and the rate includes breakfast, lunch and use of the facilities until 2:30 PM.

Also, you may combine these rates with Succahfest , please let me know on the RSVP form and via email. You will need to RSVP separately for Succahfest with Isabella Freedman and we will endeavor to keep you in the same rooms throughout your stay.

Check– IN & Check Out

You may come to Isabella Freedman as early as 1pm on the day of your arrival and check-in to your rooms by 4 PM. Check out the day that you leave is 9:00 AM - we will need to charge $50 per room for anyone who needs to check out later than 9:00 AM, so plan accordingly. You may stay onsite until 4 PM on the day that you leave, except on Sunday Sept 29, when you may stay until 2:30 PM.

To see all other details of pricing, go to Rates, Deposits & Payments

Pricing is at the bottom

RSVP ASAP To ensure your spot!

ROOMS

Pictures

Isabella Freedman Website

Directions, Rides & Trains

Standard Rates Valid for RSVPs from 9/18 - 9/22/13	Rates, Per Person/Child or Couple
Standard Rates Valid for RSVPs from 9/18 - 9/22/13	Chol Hamoed Rates Sunday, Monday & Tuesday Night 9/22 - 24		Simchat Torah Rates (4 night/ 5 Day Minimum 9-25 - 9/29)
Room Type	1 Night Rate per person for an individual, double/triple occupancy	2 Night Rate per person for an individual, double/triple occupancy	4 Night Rate (9/25 - 9/29) per person for an individual, double/triple occupancy	5 Night Rate (9/24 - 9/29) per person for an individual, double/triple occupancy	6 Night Rate (9/23 - 9/29) per person for an individual, double/triple occupancy
Camping you must bring your own tent, bedding and supplies, other than food	95	180	325	395	485
Basic Room (dormitory style, shared bathrooms) per person 2 to 3 per room (Single Occupancy, add $125 to the individual rate)	150	275	425	525	615
Standard Room (cottages, semi-private bathroom) per person, generally 2 per room , family suites available (Single Occupancy, add $125 to the individual rate) Couples rate - $25 total off, per couple	175	320	525	599	690
Deluxe Room (Private Bathroom) per person, 2 to 3 adults per room (Single Occupancy, add $125 to the individual rate) Couples rate - $25 total off, per couple	195	350	550	625	715
Children - 5 to 15, per child (children under 5 are free; children 16 and older will be charged at the adult rate)	85	145	265	325	385

Early Bird Rates Valid for RSVPs from 9/5 - 9/17/13	Rates, Per Person/Child
Early Bird Rates Valid for RSVPs from 9/5 - 9/17/13	Chol Hamoed Rates Sunday, Monday & Tuesday Night 9/22-24		Simchat Torah Rates (4 night/ 5 Day Minimum 9-25 - 9/29)
Room Type	1 Night Rate per person for an individual, double/triple occupancy	2 Night Rate per person for an individual, double/triple occupancy	4 Night Rate (9/25 - 9/29) per person for an individual, double/triple occupancy	5 Night Rate (9/24 - 9/29) per person for an individual, double/triple occupancy	6 Night Rate (9/23 - 9/29) per person for an individual, double/triple occupancy
Camping you must bring your own tent, bedding and supplies, other than food	85	165	315	385	465
Basic Room (dormitory style, shared bathrooms) per person 2 to 3 per room (Single Occupancy, add $125 to the individual rate)	135	250	399	515	599
Standard Room (cottages, semi-private bathroom) per person, generally 2 per room , family suites available (Single Occupancy, add $125 to the individual rate) Couples rate - $25 total off, per couple	155	295	495	590	675
Deluxe Room (Private Bathroom) per person, 2 to 3 adults per room (Single Occupancy, add $125 to the individual rate) Couples rate - $25 total off, per couple	175	325	525	615	699
Children - 5 to 15, per child (children under 5 are free; children 16 and older will be charged at the adult rate)	80	135	255	315	375