jews in the woods

Jews in the Woods (JitW) is a community organized around a shabbat gathering, usually in some rural location. Gatherings occur twice a year, attracting friends committed to consensus decision making, getting things done, vegetarian food, learning Torah, and expressing spirituality through art, study, singing and prayer. The community draws on Jews who yearn for a Judaism and an experience of shabbat space which is integral, environmentally conscious, and respectful of individuals, their opinions, and the diversity of their backgrounds both within and outside the greater Jewish community. Most folks who come, come for their first time, and help to create a warm welcoming space for friends to discover each other. The community puts a great emphasis on preparation and process as the means for enabling a holy shabbat space to manifest — and thus the community relies heavily on individual participation in the JitW listserve prior to the gatherings.
–aharon v

Jews in the Woods is a community. JITW is a laboratory for a vibrant, inclusive Judaism. JITW is a way for Jews of a younger generation to create a Jewish community that draws on the love and wisdom of Jewish tradition as well as the richness of contemporary American and world civilization. JITW is the first Jewish community I’ve found that is not built around the pain and fear of previous generations. With a commitment to respect and working things out, there is a joy present that is hard to find elsewhere. JITW is, for some folks, the only Jewish setting where they feel at home. And for others of us, it’s the Jewish setting where we feel most at home. JITW is a place where it is the norm to be Jewish and: Jewish and feminist; Jewish and queer; Jewish and pagan; Jewish and an anarchist; Orthodox and egalitarian; Jewish and vegetarian; Jewish and dating a non-Jew; Jewish and Buddhist. JITW is a Jewish community where geography is incidental. Moving across the state or even a few states away is irrelevant to membership, participation, and leadership. This is so valuable in an age when synagogue membership (and thus, connection to a particular form of Jewish community) is so geographically linked. – ilana s

JITW is a glorious recognition that Jewish plurality can work, that there are many different ways to be a Jew, and still be a loved member of the community. This is not to say that everything is always perfect, but rather that the community devotes itself to making it happen, and is always moving in that direction. JITW is an explosion of joy and music, of nigguns and joyous dance, of wholesome food and hearty hugs. – sam k

Jews in the Woods is a roving band of pirates! no, just kidding. Jews in the Woods is a roving band of pluralistic Jews that gets together every so often to pray, play, dance and sing unto God a new song. – sasha b

JITW is an alternative jewish community that stays connected via a listserve and meets for shabbatons. It is full of very good people. – daniele k

JITW is the the seemingly impossible, and in deed miraculous, affirmation that Jews of all backgrounds, denominations, and experiences can gather in ecstatic thanks and praise of that infinite source and destination, the holy one of unpronounceable name, to celebrate Shabbat together. – ari j

JITW is a pluralistic group of crunchy jews making the best fit shabbat together … unfolding Judaism to next level of messianic reality – zvi b

Is one of the most amazing things i have ever been part of. It is an open ended community of hipster jews as we come together to learn and pray. Jews in the woods is a once in a lifetime experience that occurs two or three times a year. – greg r

JITW is a fruity, amazing, touchyfeely, spiritual, musical community. It is a place where people are free to be who and what they want and a place full of laughter, love and song. Singing and Dancing with more passion than anywhere else and spirituality for its own sake our two of the things I value most. It is also incredibly communal and non-denominational, to the point where individuals are willing to put aside certain opinions slightly so we can come together to pray and be as a full, whole community. – toni b