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Elat
Chayyim, Catskills
A Jewish spiritual retreat.
From the March 24, 2003 Issue of New York
For fifties-era Jews, the Catskills meant two things:
borscht-belt comics and family vacations. Today, the
Catskills offer an altogether more enlightening
escape: Jewish spiritual weekends. Elat
Chayyim’s retreats kick off with energetic
Friday-night services. Teachers, trainers, rabbis, and
cantors are imported from as far away as Israel to
lead classes in subjects such as the Cabala, Hebrew,
and musical prayer. Physical activities include
“Torah Yoga,” walking meditation, and a
weeklong program called “Embodied
Judaism,” which includes a Gyrotonic-based
warm-up (like Pilates, but with circular movements) to
stimulate the pressure points mentioned in the Cabala,
followed by days of rock scrambling, hiking, and
caving. Those who like a little good-old-fashioned
pampering with their mystical questing can sign up for
Swedish massages or reflexology. There are no phones
or TVs, and the food is Kosher vegetarian with the
occasional fish option on Shabbat. Shecky Green not
included.
-- Sarah Bernard
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