Song, conversation, feasts, stories, strolls, laughter יפה…Shabbat at HOWL!

Celebrate a delightful Shabbat at wonderfully haimish HOWL, Friday, April 6 through Saturday, April 7.  Drop in for just a part, or bring your tent (limited indoor space in the HOWL house is also available) and stay through Saturday.  Friday night, April 6: 6:30 Shabbat songs & blessings followed by Potluck, Storytelling, Arts, and Stargazing.  Saturday, April 7: 10:00 Jewish chant followed by dvar torah, woods walk, and discussion on women & peace in the Middle East.  www.howlvt.org for info, or call Anya Schwartz, (802) 453-7622. ALL interested women–Jewish/Jew-ish/Jew-wish or not–are invited to enjoy this Shabbat gathering!

2018 HOWL Shabbaton Agenda

 

Friday night, April 6

 

6:30: Sing in Shabbat with Joanna May.  Sing along, or just enjoy the music.

7:00-ish Potluck : Yum!  Though not exactly a kosher yum, please no pork, shellfish, bacon-double-cheeseburgers & the like for this Shabbat event.  (Also, per HOWL’s visitor guidelines, please no alcohol in the house.) Oh, and it is indeed still Passover, so if you’re inclined, avoid bread and wheat noodles.

Jewish Story Telling (while we nosh):  We’ll put on a kettle for tea.  Share a story, or enjoy others’ stories of Jewish identity, connection, and questioning.

8:00-ish Jewish Art for All:   Who doesn’t love a refrigerator magnet or a bit of Jewish-themed coloring?  No talent or skill required.  We’ll have you smiling, creating, and kvelling with lots of oohs, ahhhs, and only the occasional oy.

Into the night…Stargazing, spring peepers stroll, perhaps a good ol’ fashioned campfire weather (and enthusiasm) permitting, schmoozing.

Saturday, April 7

 

For overnighters: Early bird meditation, birdsong appreciation stroll, sun salutation. Check in Friday night for times.  Simple breakfast-help yourself.

10:00 Jewish chant:  Join us for an hour of Jewish chant somewhat in the tradition of Rabbi Shefa Gold.  No advanced knowledge of chant or Hebrew required.  All chants will be taught.

11:00 Dvar Torah & Make-your-own-service: Dress for the (chilly, likely) outdoors for a bit of torah teaching from the fabulous Melanie Kessler.  (We’ll be indoors if the weather is frightful.) Feeling bold?  We’ll have a chance for a dip in HOWL’s Tadpole Mikvah.

12:00 Lunch

 12:45 Peace in the middle east presentation & discussion—on a loving & supportive note: led by HOWL collective member Lani Ravin, based on her years in Israel and work with women working for peace in the middle east.

1:45 An Earth Day Walk in the Woods & Fields of HOWL:  Come explore HOWL’s 50 acres of beautiful meadows and woods, including a guided introduction to HOWL’s access trail leading to the Catamount Ski Trail and the thousands-acre Camel’s Hump State Park lands.  (Note: it may be too early for mosquitoes, but it’s not too early for ticks.  Bug stuff is recommended.)  Fully waterproof boots (muckboots or the like) recommended.

3:30-6:00 On your own

6:00 Stone Soup Leftovers dinner and Havdallah ritual for anyone still on the land!

While far from the glory of October’s fall colors, November is still a beautiful time to walk in the woods & fields of HOWL.  Dig out that flourescent jacket or bright orange hat and enjoy the trails.  And if you’re feeling bold, take a jump in the pond!

Join us Sunday, June 4 at 10:00 for a walk to kick off Hooky for HOWL!  Pack a lunch or snack and water.  Waterproof boots recommended (bug stuff, too).  We’ll walk the trails and meadows.  Choose a 1/2 mile, 1 mile, or 3 mile route.  New to Hooky for HOWL?  Check out all the details at https://howlvt.org/play-hooky-for-howl-2/.  Questions?  Call Anya at (802) 453-7622 (or call HOWL Sunday morning, 434-3953).  See you Sunday!

Spring is here!  Whether you’re a full-out bird nerd with a life list or just a gal that likes a stroll in the woods with other women, come on out for a spring frolic.  We’ll wind our way along trails to the Catamount Trail, stopping frequently to ooh and ahh over wildflowers, fungi, birds, bugs, and whatever else we encounter.  Pack a lunch or snack.  Waterproof boots recommended (bug stuff, too).  We’ll frolic rain or shine.  Meet at the HOWL house (895 Salvas Road) at 10:00.  Questions?  Call HOWL Sunday morning, 434-3953.

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How awesome is this place, indeed!  A lovely group of women gathered Friday night and Saturday at HOWL for shabbat.  We kibbitzed, we noshed, we chanted, we davened, we layered up to enjoy the beautiful fields and woods of early spring at HOWL.  (A couple of us even took the plunge in the tadpole mikvah–invigorating!)  Thank you Yepeth Perla of Roots and Trails and Melanie Kessler of Living Tree Alliance for leading services and offering a dvar torah.

Shabbaton weekend at HOWL is here, and we are excited to see you!  The HOWL house is warm and cozy, and the land is beautiful!  Pack lots of warm layers (perhaps even a sleeping bag) for outdoor forays, or choose to relax indoors through the weekend.  The shabbaton kicks off at 6:00 Friday evening and runs through Saturday.  Scroll down to the March 22 blog post to read lots of details.  Come for part, all, or play it by ear.  Questions?  email anyaCschwartz@gmail.com (or call HOWL Friday afternoon, 802.434.3953).  See you soon.

HOWL is featured in Seven Days today!  Check out this article by Seven Days staff writer Rachel Elizabeth Jones:

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