Southern Schmooze Shabbaton

Our Southern Schmooze Shabbaton will provide opportunities for you to sing, eat, learn and play with members from your home congregation while also giving you the chance to connect with small Jewish congregations from around the Southeast. Come together to share in the joys and challenges of being a part of a growing and vibrant Southern Jewish Community!  

The weekend will be complete with spirited prayer services, kids programming, delicious kosher food and evening childcare for our youngest participants.  

*Transportation around campus will be available during the program for those needing mobility assistance. 

All-inclusive rates are per person and include comfortable accommodations, delicious kosher meals, snacks and beverages, and all activities.

When the registration application is submitted, a $50 non-refundable deposit for each adult will be processed. Payment is due in full one month before the program start date.

Payment can be made via credit card, e-check or mailed check. If paying via credit card, a 2.5% fee will be added to cover the processing fees charged to Ramah Darom by the credit card companies. There is no fee to pay via e-check or mailed check. Please ensure mailed checks reach our Atlanta office by the payment due date indicated.

Payment Schedule

• Due at Registration: $50 non-refundable deposit per adult
• January 10, 2025: Full payment due. Our system automatically charges the balance to your stored payment method (credit card or e-check). Credit card payments incur a 2.5% fee. To change your stored payment method, contact finance@ramahdarom.org.
• January 10, 2025: No refunds offered after this date

Cancellation Policy

No refunds will be given after January 10, 2025. We highly recommend purchasing Trip Protection Insurance as we are not able to refund you in the event of a last-minute cancellation.

Housing Descriptions

Cabins

Ramah Darom’s cabins are modern and spacious with hardwood floors, a screened-in porch, and indoor bathroom(s). Each cabin has an open area with dorm-style bunk beds and 1 or 2 private rooms with twin beds, and a shared bathroom with toilet stalls, showers, and sinks. Linens are provided, but beds are not made up. 

Some cabins are single-family with a private bunk room and bathroom for your family, others are shared cabins where two families share a bathroom area and bunk beds, but parent rooms are still private. Requests for single vs. shared cabin styles are first come, first served, but not guaranteed. Cabin reservations are available for parties with 3 or more paid participants.

Hotel Rooms

There are 4 hotel buildings on our 185-acre campus. All hotel rooms have a private bathroom, heating, and air conditioning, a dresser, a table with two chairs, a Keurig-style coffee maker, a mini-fridge, complimentary toiletries, and bed and bath linens. Most rooms have 2 queen beds, and a few have 1 king bed or 2 full beds. A limited number of connecting rooms are available, and some hotel rooms are ADA-accessible. Additional rooms are available for larger families at a discounted rate.

No roll-away beds are available, but we do offer Pack N’ Plays.

We will do our best to accommodate housing requests on a first-come, first-served basis, but we cannot guarantee. 

Greenville, SC

Congregation Beth Israel

Chattanooga, TN

B’nai Zion Congregation

Montgomery, AL

Agudath Israel Etz Ahayem

Knoxville, TN

Heska Amuna Synagogue

If you are interested in bringing your small Jewish community to Southern Schmooze, please reach out to retreats@ramahdarom.org.

Check-in: Friday, January 31, 2025
L’hitraot: Sunday, February 2, 2025

Ramah Darom is two hours from Atlanta, in Clayton, GA. Please download and print these Driving Directions and bring them with you when you travel. GPS shortcuts can lead you to dangerous mountain roads!

Ramah Darom does not offer transportation from the Atlanta airport to campus for this retreat as there is not typically a large interest or need. If you have difficulty coordinating travel to Ramah Darom’s campus, please contact retreats@ramahdarom.org and we will assist you. Ultimately, we do not want this to hinder your participation in this program.

Please use this Packing List as a guide and bring any specific items that you feel are necessary for your health, safety and enjoyment.

Please note that NO pets of any kind may join you for your stay onsite, for any length of time.

Vaccination Policies

Ramah Darom brings people of all ages together for exceptional experiences in Jewish living and learning on its 185-acre North Georgia mountain campus. Ramah Darom programs – including summer camp, family camps and year-round experiential retreats – inspire a lifelong love of Jewish values, tradition and community.