Traditionally, a shabbaton is an extended weekend retreat –from Friday through Sunday– of education and celebration, held over Shabbat. Keshet strives for our retreats to be restful, celebratory, exciting, and joyful. We offer multiple options for prayer and celebration of Shabbat in a warm, accessible, and inviting environment. In order to create a welcoming experience for all participants, our group spaces are Shabbat-friendly.
In addition to a great attitude and excitement for the weekend, please bring any personal items you’ll need to feel your best. For Shabbat, wear whatever helps you feel most connected—some might choose suits, dresses, or both, while others prefer a more casual look. All styles are welcome as we come together to celebrate!
We strive for our Shabbaton to be a space where Jews of diverse backgrounds and observances can create a meaningful Shabbat together. Some participants are accustomed to honoring Shabbat every week, in a variety of ways, while others have not marked or celebrated Shabbat before. Our goal is to meet everyone’s observance needs and affirm all flavors of Judaism and Jewishness
On the Shabbaton registration form, you will have an opportunity to share any specific needs, questions, or requests related to access and accommodations. We will try our best to work with you and our venues to make sure that your needs are met at the Shabbaton. For more specific questions regarding access, feel free to contact [email protected].
If you are 18+ and identify as both LGBTQ+ and a Person of Color, we welcome you to a one-of-a-kind Shabbat retreat, a transformative space that honors the rich intersections of who we are, all within the embrace of our LGBTQ+ Jews of Color community.
While the Shabbaton activities are peer led, all Shabbaton weekend gatherings are directed by Keshet Staff. For more information on who will be staffing this Shabbaton, please contact [email protected].
At the Shabbaton, each participant will get their own bed and room.
The 2025 Keshet Neshamot/Rainbow Souls Shabbaton is located in Baltimore, Maryland.
You will receive the exact location upon registration. For security reasons, venues are not listed publicly. Keshet arranges bus travel to and from the Shabbaton venues from nearby major airports. All these travel details and recommended trains and flights from major cities are shared after you register. Please reach out to [email protected] with any questions.
The 2025 Keshet Neshamot/Rainbow Souls Shabbaton will be Feb 7-9, 2025.
You should attend a Keshet Shabbaton because you will have the opportunity to gather with and celebrate Shabbat with other LGBTQ+ Jews of Color in a setting that was created by you for you. If you are nervous about attending a Shabbaton or want to talk with someone beforehand, reach out to [email protected].
Most participants fly or take a train to get to the Shabbaton. Our staff is available to help coordinate travel so that everyone arrives safely at the Shabbaton! For security reasons, we don’t share details about travel publicly to protect the safety of our participants and staff. If you have specific questions about travel, please email us at [email protected].
We are a deeply diverse and intentionally pluralistic community. Participants come to our Shabbaton with a huge variety of connections to Judaism and the Jewish community. Some participants connect through religion, spirituality, or observance; others identify as secular or cultural; while others are exploring, or in the process of, conversion. We strive to create an environment where everyone feels affirmed in their identity and also able to grow and learn from each other and our Jewish experiences and identities. We welcome whatever flavor of Jewishness feels right for you!
Registration is FREE and includes programs, meals, lodging. We also offer need-based travel scholarships for travel costs: we strive to ensure that cost is not a barrier for anyone who wants to participate. Partial and full subsidies will be available on a first come, first served basis. Contact us at [email protected] for more information.
The safety and wellbeing of Shabbaton participants is our number one priority. We work closely with personnel at retreat sites to ensure that security measures are clearly understood and consistently implemented. If you have specific questions about safety and security matters, please contact [email protected].
Do you have more questions?
We have more answers! Email questions to [email protected].
Can’t wait to see you at a Keshet Shabbaton Retreat!
National Office - Boston
1860 Washington St.
Newton, MA 02466
Phone: 617.524.9227
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