Last month, I attended my first Jewish Women’s Getaway at Ramah Darom in Clayton, GA. I hadn’t been away in about 12 years when a friend told me about the getaway and insisted I go with her. I was hesitant—between not traveling for so long and worrying about leaving my dogs behind, I felt anxious. But after my son offered to take care of the house, I decided to go. I made my reservation, chose my accommodations, booked my flights—and promptly had a panic attack! But I went, and I am forever grateful to my friend for encouraging me and to my son for stepping in so I could go. As my friend says, it transformed me.
The campus is beautiful and peaceful, and simply spending four days appreciating nature would have been enough. But there was so much more. I met incredible women from across the U.S. and Canada, took a challah braiding workshop with Sarah Klegman, learned Mah Jongg with Laurie Reiskind, and attended a yoga class with Lisa Rosen. The highlight, though, was my immersive track. I love working out, so I chose the Body & Soul Fitness with Rabbi Jaymee Alpert and her Neshama Body and Soul (NBS) practice, which combines exercise with Jewish prayer. Initially skeptical, I decided it was worth a try—and it was. This combination brought back a spirituality I’d been missing for years.
I hadn’t been to services in over a decade due to a mix of personal incidents—a perfect storm, really. While I briefly felt that spiritual connection at my son’s synagogue, the 90-mile drive each way made it impossible to go regularly, leaving me feeling adrift—even as the Executive Director of my own synagogue. By the end of the getaway, I was moved to tears talking about this experience. Jaymee gave me back something I hadn’t realized how much I missed, and I am eternally grateful. While I’m still not attending services regularly, I carry the lessons I learned from Jaymee with me every day. They bring me peace, especially in tough moments.
This getaway also helped me realize that making time for myself is essential—and that it’s okay to do so. The retreat’s theme was “Connections.” The ones I made—both with the amazing women I met and with myself—are invaluable.
I can’t say enough about how incredible this experience was. I’m already recruiting people for next year and can’t wait to go back.