Earth. Water. Fire. Air: Elemental Judaism Retreat
Wednesday, January 26 – Sunday, January 30, 2022 at Rancho La Puerta
To register call or email Rancho La Puerta and say you’re with the Elemental Judaism group: Tel: 800.443.7565 or 858.764.5500 or reservations@rancholapuerta.com
Blending Jewish wisdom with earth-based arts, Elemental Judaism invites each of us back to “the Land of our Soul.” In our contemporary world, the concept of “a Jewish Land” is tied to one particular geographic region; however, a Jewish land is as pervasive as the lands of indigenous peoples, and the Bible is a paradigm shift in the earth arts as the scribes of the Torah crafted text and language to deepen our apprehension of this earth form.
Our five-day retreat at Rancho La Puerta, itself a holy land of its indigenous people, also shares the same latitude as the Biblical land of Israel. Deepening our earth connection alongside the Ranch’s oak trees, vineyards, and even Sumerian pools, “Elemental Judaism” awakens “Sh’mitah Consciousness,” when we release ourselves from our obligations to time bound, earthly obligations.
“Release” engages us through the Four Elements: Earth, Water, Fire and Air and renews, restores, and resets our direct connection with the ancestral wisdom within. Participants are invited into modalities including infrared sauna, labyrinth, hikes up a sacred mountain, mikvah and more as we cultivate an understanding of the earth wisdom within and re-connect to our soul‘s earth-based compass. We emerge with a deepened and defined sense of our place in our lives, our earth and our Soul Journey.
More on the Ranch
Long before Esalen and the Golden Door, Rancho La Puerta was founded in 1940 by Jewish family Edmond and Deborah Szekely to be the world’s first all-inclusive wellness resort, integrating the mind, body and spirit through transformative experiences. The Ranch, still owned by the founding family, sits on 4,000 private acres of gardens, mountains and meadows in Baja California, Mexico. All facilities and land are for the exclusive use of guests, ensuring the delights of a warm, safe and welcoming shared community. The climate is near-perfect; warm and dry, with some showers and cold nights, in winter, and warm with very low humidity and no rain in summer. Rancho La Puerta is located only about 25 miles “as the crow flies” from the Pacific Ocean (near San Diego, California, U.S.A.) at an elevation of 1,700 feet. (An hour drive South of San Diego)
In addition to being part of the Elemental Judaism Retreat, guests can choose from 40 daily fitness, wellness and creative classes, all included. In addition to Rabbi Lori and our programming, the Ranch features five wellness gurus, artists and musicians who offer complimentary classes and performances during your stay. The other visiting scholars that week are Yogi Dana Rae Pare, Chef Isabel Cruz, Chef Jean Courtney, Astronomer John Scott Marrone, Author/therapist/coach Dr. Randy Kamen plus four renowned classical and jazz musicians.
The cuisine is semi-vegetarian, featuring an abundance of organic fruits and vegetables mostly from the on-site organic farm. The freshest-of-the-fresh seafood from the port of Ensenada, Baja California. All meals offer both vegetarian and modified-vegetarian alternatives. Those on gluten-restricted diets can be accommodated, as can those who keep Kosher informally easily can.
Rabbi Lori Schneide Shapiro, Founding Rabbi/Artistic Director
Idan Mehir is a musician, therapist and a spiritual leader. Idan spent his early years studying the philosophy of yoga and meditation, he also studied the art of Indian music, specializing in playing sitar and singing Hindu Mantras. Later in his life he came back to his own roots, the jewish tradition and started leading Hebrew music ceremonies and Kabbalah lessons.