Community Kallah – Retreat
Like Camp for Kids of all Ages, Every Memorial Day Weekend!
May 24 – 26, 2023
The weekend will be filled with learning, ritual, socializing, singing, dancing, games, and lots of food. We celebrate Shabbat with a Friday evening community service, a spiritually enriching adult Saturday morning service, and a community Havdalah ceremony. During the weekend, adults have the opportunity to study with clergy, while the kids are invited to join Kamp Kallah for fun activities. Other highlights include a multigenerational talent show, family Olympics, and campfire sing-along. There is also plenty of free time to connect with friends and forge new relationships.
Registration for JRC’s 2024 Community Kallah is currently paused as we assess our
housing capacity.
If you hope to attend, please email us to be placed on a waiting list. Thank you!
Each spring for more than 30 years, JRC members get out of the city to spend Friday to Sunday of Memorial Day Weekend with family and friends. Once again we return to beautiful Camp Nageela Midwest in Ingleside, Illinois, on lovely Wooster Lake, just south of the Wisconsin border (only about an hour’s drive from JRC). Not only is Camp Nageela a lovely, nearby location, with a Northwoods feel, it is the site of the original Camp JRF (now Havaya)!
Questions? Email communitykallah@jrctogether.org.
Friday Evening
We try to arrive between 4:30 pm and 5:00 pm to get settled into the relaxed spirit of Shabbat and the weekend. At 6:00 pm, we have a short meet-and-greet followed by Shabbat dinner, a community Kabbalat Shabbat service, singing, and dancing. Afterward, adults will delve into our first learning session. Kamp Kallah will be open for school-age kids to enjoy snacks, games, and movies. Babysitters will be available for younger children. We close the evening with an adult late-night happy hour and schmooze.
Saturday
The schedule is full with prayer, learning, partying, free time, and food! After breakfast, Rabbi Weiss and Cantor Friedland lead a Shabbat service, and Kamp Kallah is open for fun and games. After lunch, everyone is invited to hang out during free time. In the late afternoon, another adult learning session will be offered with activities designed to stimulate hearts and minds.
After dinner, we will host the annual talent show. You can share your talent or cheer others on as they entertain us all! We close Shabbat with a Havdalah service and bonfire singalong (complete with s’mores, of course), as well as late-night partying for those with more energy.
Sunday
After breakfast, there are participatory activities (including arts and crafts and the annual Kallah Olympics) for all ages, followed by free time, lunch, and a closing friendship circle before everyone heads home.
Kamp Kallah and Child Care
Kamp Kallah is all about the kids! Programming for kids ages 0 – 11 is available during adult learning, Shabbat morning services, and adult Onegs; individual babysitters give younger children lots of personal attention. We’ve got plenty of activities to keep your kids entertained and happy—nature hikes, sports, art, tie-dye, singing, youth services, movie night, and an ice cream sundae bar. We also try to station a couple of JRC teens in the lounge of the dorm/cabin to offer 1.5 -2 hours of evening babysitting for the little ones after you’ve put them to bed. Kallah guests 12 and up are invited to volunteer to babysit and lead activities for the younger kids under Kamp Kallah staff’s supervision.
Recreation
Camp Nageela is a lovely setting for an enjoyable outdoor weekend, offering a basketball court, softball diamond, volleyball, nature walks, or taking time to relax, read a book, or schmooze with friends, old and new. You can do as much or as little as you wish.
Dining
All food is prepared in a kosher kitchen and served buffet style; vegetarian options are available upon request. We will accommodate allergies to the best of our ability. Attendees are welcome to take their food outside to eat (there will be a tented area for rain protection) and we will conclude with a picnic.
Accommodations
We stay in very basic, rustic rooms with bunk beds (like tent camping, except with a bed, roof, and indoor plumbing!).
- All buildings have air conditioning but some may not have heat (space heaters are provided)
- Linens (sheets, towels, pillow, and blanket) are available for a small extra charge or save some money and BYO!
- Some rooms will have a private bath; most will share a bathroom.
Volunteering: We Can't Do It Without Your Help!
Part of the magic of Kallah is the incredible contribution made by our members. In the past, participants have lead yoga for adults and kids, taught Israeli dancing, organized Ultimate Frisbee and softball games, and coordinated the bonfire. We’ve even got volunteer opportunities for kids. Check out the registration form for more details about volunteering.