Mayyim Chayyim: Living Waters Retreats
Women's Retreat: 06/24 - 06/28
Retreat for All: 07/08 - 07/12
Join us on a fabulous journey with Rabbi Sydney Mintz, Cantor Marsha Attie, Isaac Zones and Yoga Master Sarana Miller for a 5 day/4 night retreat immersed in the Alaskan Wilderness, engaging Jewish learning, soul lifting music, Shabbat unplugged, exceptional yoga, massage, meditation, hiking, frolicking, Chilkat River gazing and swimming, in one of the most spectacular wilderness landscapes in the world.
Lodging at the Chilkat Inlet Retreat Yurts. Enjoy artisan chef created food--organic, locally grown and prepared by Haines chef Sarah Cohen. Optional adventures include kayaking and salmon fishing, gallery visits with local artists, forest bathing in an old growth Spruce forest and mushroom foraging.
Retreat Leaders
Rabbi Sydney Mintz
Rabbi Sydney Mintz has served as Rabbi of Congregation Emanu-El in San Francisco for the past 27 years.
She was ordained at the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in New York City in 1997.
As a Performer/Writer, Mintz’s one-person show “You May Think I’m Funny, But It’s Not” premiered to a packed house at the Marsh Theatre in San Francisco. Mintz runs the non-profit 13thTribe and is currently developing innovative creative projects in the areas of jewish spirituality, performance, ritual, retreats, healing and culture.
Cantor Marsha Attie
Marsha is a cantor, composer and recording artist who works individually and collaborates with others. She writes soulful Jewish liturgical music that is sung around the country and recorded by other artists. Her song, Heart of Mine, has been a Jewish summer camp hit single since 1995. She has served Congregation Emanu-El in San Francisco as an inspirational liturgical leader since 1998. Marsha received her Cantorial ordination from the Academy for Jewish Religion California in 2014. Marsha's recorded music includes her new CD "Heneini" and her first album, "The Length of our Days." Some of her songs can also be heard on Craig Taubman's Celebrate series. "Heart of Mine" can be purchased as a single at CD Baby. Marsha and Sydney have created a beautiful partnership and collaboration bringing Jewish and music and spirit to life.
Isaac Zones
Isaac Zones is a San Francisco Bay Area-based musician and Jewish communal leader known for his work in spiritual, folk, and family music, performing with his band SHAMATi and with Melita on two award-winning albums. He also leads music for prayer services, officiates lifecycle events like weddings and baby namings, and teaches music, having previously been the founding director of Moishe House and a recipient of the Helen Diller Award for his contributions to Jewish education.
Sarana Miller
Sarana Miller is a nationally renowned yoga teacher known for her joyful ability to engage directly with a wide range of students. Her teaching draws on many yoga styles, meditation and breathwork. She trained with masters Rodney Yee, Thomas Fortel, Ana Forrest, Sarah Powers and Jai Uttal. She has been featured in The New York Times, Yoga Journal and other media. She is on the faculty at Esalen, is the creator of the SaranaYoga program at Wilbur Hot Springs and runs yoga retreats around the world..
Mayyim Chayyim: Living Waters Retreat
Women's Retreat: 06/24 - 06/28
Retreat for All: 07/08 - 07/12
Cost is $$3600
Includes everything except transportation and accommodations
We have everything available from rustic waterfront yurts at the retreat center to 2 bedroom AIRBNB’s in Haines.
$500.00 deposit reserves your spot
Draft Itinerary:
Wednesday
Arrive in Haines via flight or ferry from Juneau (or arrive early to get ready for the retreat!) and settle into your accommodations
Unwind and adjust to Alaskan time!
4pm Meet the group at the Chilkat Retreat Lodge
Introductions and Getting to know one another
Dinner at the Chilkat Retreat Lodge followed by Singing by the Fire with Cantor Marsha Attie/Isaac Zones
Thursday
Sun Salutation Meditation and Yoga with Sarana
Breakfast at the Lodge
Jewish immersive learning session with Rabbi Mintz and Cantor Attie
Lunch at the Lodge
Hike to Moose Meadows or learn the secrets of how Alaskans subsist during the winter with Sarah Cohen-canning, jarring, smoking fish, foraging, pickling and more...
Dinner at the Lodge with Haines Treasure Alaska Writer Laureate Heather Lende
Creative/Mindful/Jewish Writing from our Souls
Friday:
Sun Salutation Meditation and Yoga with Sarana
Breakfast at the Lodge
Spirituality and Nature: Aliyah of the Spirit: Hiking to the Heights of Mt. Riley with Lunch on the trail
Afternoon Free Time/Art Tour of Haines, Garden Tours or WoodShop Tours
Kabbalat Shabbat and Shabbat Dinner at the Lodge with the Jewish community of Haines
Saturday
Optional Early morning River Hike
Brunch at the Lodge
Shabbat Experience: Music, Meditation, Torah immersion and More in the Zendo
Come hang out at Rabbi Mintz’s Paradise West for snacks, drinks, saunas, hot tubbing and swimming in Paradise Cove and a Jewish wisdom session
Evening Restorative Yoga Session with Sarana
Sunday
Breakfast at the Lodge & Shalom Chavurot!
Afternoon: optional kayaking on Chilkoot Lake for those who choose to stay until Monday!
About Haines
Outside magazine placed Haines in the Top Ten places to live, and when you arrive in the Chilkat Valley, you’ll understand why. At the upper-most end of the longest, deepest fjord in North America, this coastal gem has it all: glacier-studded peaks along a magnificent river valley open to the warm summer sun and a blue-green ocean vista. The area is home to the largest gathering of Bald Eagles in the world, and opportunities to view wildlife abound.
The Native artistic traditions provide a magical foundation for the town, co-founded in 1879 by John Muir. That tradition lives on today and many consider Haines to be the “artist’s community” of Alaska.
In the words of John Muir, “If a young person asked me about traveling to Alaska, I would advise him not to go! For once there, witnessing the unparalleled beauty of that Great Land, you would never want to return home!”