This weekend will build a community of Orthodox and Traditional Jewish parents and relatives of LGBT children. We will create a comfortable place to share and learn with mutual support for discovering new ways to approach our children. Sessions will address, amongst other issues, being the best parent you can be, understanding what your child may be going through, and integrating your LGBT family member into your Orthodox community.

Is this for me?

This is for Orthodox or Traditional Jewish parents and adult family members of LGBT Jews.

Whether you are fully accepting of your LGBT child or struggling to accept them, this retreat is designed to be helpful to you. No judgments will be made about any retreat participant’s attitudes or levels of acceptance of their LGBT child. We only ask that each attendee agree to respect other participants’ feelings, attitudes, and need for confidentiality. Each participant will be asked to adhere to a confidentiality agreement before participating in the weekend. Please read the confidentiality policy below.

The program for the weekend will be designed primarily for parents and adult relatives such as grandparents, aunts, and uncles or other adults important to the LGBT family member. We recognize that some people will not be able to attend without their young children – thus, we will try to accommodate people with children on a case-by-case basis. Write to Miryam if you need to bring young children in order to attend.

Where will it be?

Capital Retreat Center
12750 Buchanan Trail East
Waynesboro, PA 17268
(717) 794-2177

Capital Retreat Center is a first-class, full-service hospitality campus. It is located approximately 1.5 hours from BWI airport and a 1-2 hour drive from Baltimore, Md. and Washington, DC.

We will have exclusive use of Nesiyah Lodge and will be dining and meeting in our own area. Visit the website at www.capitalretreat.org.

When will it be?

This weekend will begin with registration on Friday, April 26 at 4:00 pm and will run through Sunday, April 28 until 2 pm.

Getting there:

For getting to the retreat site, please visit the retreat website to find out information about train, airplane and car travel to and from the retreat center. Transportation to and from the retreat is at your own expense. Once you register, you will be sent a link to a ride board so that we can assist you in finding transportation to and from the weekend.

Registration and Pricing:

All prices include full room and board.

The retreat will take place in the Nesiyah Lodge which is a new multi-million dollar conference center providing innovative meeting facilities and welcoming accommodations. It is an ideal setting for adult guests to gather, mix and mingle.

Nesiyah Lodge features:

First class hotel style accommodations featuring 42 spacious rooms with private bath

Amenities include individually controlled heat and air-conditioning , hotel quality queen size beds, linen and towel service, desk, phone, wireless internet, and in-room safe

Reception area with informal gathering space and a business center

Large, medium and small meeting spaces

Beautifully landscaped knoll for spending time outdoors

Sign up by March 21^st, 2013 to get a 10% early bird discount!

Registration Closes on April 15^th, 2013

Financial Aid

There is a limited amount of need-based financial aid available. The financial aid deadline is March 21^st, 2013. You may still submit your application which will be considered on a first come first received basis and is subject to our available funds. To be considered for financial aid please fill out the financial aid form.

Be an Eshel Angel!

If you are able to donate funds to enable someone who cannot otherwise attend the retreat, please click here. Your contribution is greatly appreciated and will make this retreat a reality for someone else.

Food/Kashrut:

All Capital Retreat Center food is under strict Star-K Kashrut supervision, using only Glatt Kosher meats and Cholov Yisroel dairy products.

Produce is sourced from local farmers for the freshest ingredients. The facility is nut-free. Capital Retreat Center strives to accommodate almost every dietary need possible.

Shabbat Observance:

The weekend program will be fully Shomer Shabbos (Sabbath Observant). Retreat participants agree to respect others’ religious beliefs and practices. We do ask that everyone keep the laws of Shabbos according to Orthodox practice in public areas.

The entire facility is enclosed in an eruv.

Davening/Prayer:

There will be a traditional prayer service/minyan.

CONFIDENTIALITY POLICY:
Some participants may have important reasons for keeping their attendance at the retreat confidential. By registering for this weekend, you have agreed to keep confidential all details and identifying information about others. You have affirmed that you WILL NOT POST OR DISTRIBUTE PHOTOGRAPHS or audio/video recordings of other attendees publicly unless you have the EXPLICIT permission of every attendee represented therein. This includes distribution or posting online on flickr, Facebook, MySpace, and similar sites, as well as anywhere else in which photographs and other representations are publicly available.

CANCELLATION POLICY:
Participants who cancel their registration more than 2 weeks before an event are eligible for a refund less a $25 processing fee. Participants who cancel within the last two weeks prior to an event receive a 100% credit toward a future retreat less a $25 processing fee. If you cancel less than 72 hours before the start of the retreat or leave the retreat early no refund or credit is available.