Shabbaton

Once a year, over a hundred Bethelians head to the North Carolina coast for an extraordinary winter weekend together. We take over a retreat center on the beach and immerse ourselves in two days of rest and community. We play, pray, study, schmooze, snack, laugh and eat. The Beach Shabbaton is one of my family’s favorite traditions. If it’s not one of yours already, it soon will be.

If are a newbie and want the details, read on. If you want to skip straight to the fun part, click here to complete the registration form. The form is only accessible to Beth El members with an active ShulCloud account, so you will be asked to log in when you click on the link. If you haven’t completed your membership renewal (come on, the deadline was months ago) you will have to do that first. If you have difficulty logging in or have questions about the form, please contact the office at 919-682-1238.

1. Location: The Beth El Beach Shabbaton takes place at the Trinity Center on the Outer Banks (Emerald Isle, NC). You’ll drive there – which takes about four leisurely hours – and park your car for two days, allowing yourself to relax and be immersed in Shabbat and community. There are group meals and activities as well as plenty of unstructured time. If you have not attended before, please talk with someone who has. Feel free to contact me directly.

2. Cost: Your registration fee covers an all-inclusive package that includes room, board and gratuities from Friday to Sunday. There is an add-on option for early arrival on Thursday. Early Bird pricing is available through Friday, November 22, 2019. After that, prices go up. However, we expect registration to be filled before that deadline.

Fees are determined by general age range:

Adult 18+ private room: $250 / shared room: $220

Young Adult (18-22): $170

Teen (15-17): $145

Kid (5-14): $125

Wee One (1-4): $25

3. Financial Aid: We are proud of the diverse group of folks who attend the Beach Shabbaton and welcome our wonderful community members to participate, regardless of their ability to pay. If you need reduced or waived fees, please contact Alan Friedman (919-682-1238). He will provide you a discount code to enter on the payment page of the registration form. Please request financial assistance before completing the form.

According to Sir Isaac Newton’s 18th Law of Physics, if we want to provide funds to those in need, someone has to help make those funds available. Perhaps you are someone. Consider donating to keep the trip accessible to all. There is a place on the registration form to contribute to scholarships.

4. Early Arrival: You can pay a little extra ($90 for adults, $50 for kids/teens) to arrive on Thursday and get an extra 24 hours at the beach. Even if you arrive late that night, waking up at the beach is a great way to relax and settle in before Shabbat. Informal studies suggest that Thursday people have more fun. You could be one of those more fun-having Thursday people, too.

5. Special Accommodations: If you have specific dietary, mobility, rooming or other considerations, be sure to note them on your registration form. We do everything we can to meet all the varying needs of Shabbatoners, though it is not always possible to accommodate every request – especially since we expect to reach full capacity this year. Your flexibility and/or understanding is appreciated.

6. REGISTER NOW!! When? Now! The Beach Shabbaton fills up quickly every year. Once we reach capacity, you will be waitlisted. It is a first-come first-served affair (with the exception of a few spots we reserve for new members and first timers). So get on it. Your spot is not reserved until you complete payment. Remember, Early Bird prices are only in effect until November 22, 2019. In addition to the ol’ check, cash or credit card, you can now bill to your handydandy ShulCloud account and pay in installments.

It’s going to be another great weekend!

Eric Cohen

919-614-3939