DAVETREK ADVENTURES

Simchat Torah & Chol Hamoed Shabbat

Fall Foliage Weekend @ Isabella Freedman

 

 

Friday, October 10 - Wednesday, October 15, 2025

 

Initial Rush Deadline                 Midnight Monday, August 4, 2025

Early Bird Deadline                    Sunday September 8, 2025

Standard RSVP Deadline        Sunday, October 5, 2025

 

“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: (908) 353-3246

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEKEND 

 

Davetrek Adventures is pleased to announce our 8th Simchat Torah and Fall Foliage Weekend,  and our 6th  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!

 

This year Simchat Torah starts on  Monday Night, October 13, which is also Columbus Day and runs through Wednesday Night October 15th.

 

As many of you know, we have had many Simchat Torah and July 4th events at Isabella Freedman, but we haven't had one since before Covid, so now is the time to start  gauging interest to see if we can go back there for this Simchat Torah. This year we are offering many options to come as we finalize the agreement with the retreat center and we are asking for a deposit of $150 per adult and $50 per child 5 to 12 as we finalize the terms. If we decide not to offer the event, the deposit will be refunded.

 

Also, I put up the old website we used the last time we went to Isabella Freedman –I haven't fully updated the website so you may find some old information and details and activities are subject to change - I just wanted to give everyone a sense of what we may potentially offer and once we finalize details this website will be fully updated. 

 

 

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 may also some cultural offerings in the area that weekend, details TBD.

 

Stays from 1 to 5 nights + Shabbat Chol Hamoed

You can come for as little as 1 night or as many as 5 nights, at your option.

 

Simchat Torah starts Monday Night, October 13th and that Monday, erev chag,   is also Columbus Day.

 

There is a special 3 night option, for those who want to come up Sunday, October 12th and stay until Wednesday Night October 15th and leave after the holiday ends. We will have activities both on Sunday and Monday for those taking advantage of the 3 day special , the one night chol hamoed option or the entire time rates...

 

We also have a special reduced rate for those want to sleep over on Wednesday Night and return home on Thursday, with a limited breakfast option.

 

We also hope to have various activities during Chol Hamoed on Sunday and Monday for those staying during that period of time (October 12 & 13th).

 

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 — The world renown Clarke Art Museum in Williamstown, MA, ‘, Norman Rockwell Museum  and other local activities.

 

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

 

Simchat Torah , Yomtov Walks & Davening Services

 

We intend to have full minyanim including with leining for Shabbat October 10th and 11th and also on   Simchat Torah (Monday night, October 13 through to  Wednesday October 15) . 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 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 on Sunday and Monday October 12th and 13th before the chag, 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 and Initial Rush Deposit

 

Rates as low as $149 for Sunday Night,  $299 for Shabbat Chol Hamoed and/or Simchat Torah, $399 for a special 3 day Sunday to Wednesday Night Chol Hamoed to Simchat Torah stay  and $599 for  the 6 day/ 5 night Chol Hamoed and Simchat Torah.

 

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

 

We may never have rates this low again for a 3 day stay at Isabella Freedman!!

 

Initial Rush Deposit - for this period, we are only asking for a $150 deposit for each adult  and $50 for each child 5 to 15. We are still finalizing the agreement with the Retreat Center and seeking to gauge the interest in this event. If we go forward with the event, we will message you and seek to have your balance paid by Septemebr 8, 2025. If we decide not to go forward with the event, we will issue refunds for the deposit within 10 business days of the decision being publicized to our email list and WhatsApp group.

 

Also, we just want your initial sense of what days you want to come up and so we can properly plan this event – you can freely change the dates based on space being available until the deadline for your full payment in September.

 

We look forward to seeing you at this event! 

 

David Brotsky  - Davetrek Adventures

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 - You may come up for as many as 5 nights or as few as 1 night, plus there is a special option for those who want to stay over after the chag ends on Wednesday Night, until Thursday morning.

 

 

 

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  except on Wednesday  night 10/15 when checkout is 9:00 PM- 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 for those with the Wednesday Night 10/15 add-on when you may stay only until 11:00 AM.

 

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

Pricing is  at the bottom

RSVP  ASAP To ensure your spot!

 MAIN  DETAILS

 

 

 

RSVP

 

 

 

Rates & Payment Info

 

 

FAQ

 

 

ROOMS

 

 

ACTIVITIES

 

 

PayPal Payments

 

 

Pictures

 

 

Sample Menu   

 

 

Isabella Freedman Website

 

 

 

Directions, Rides & Trains

RSVPs   

 

Paypal