Tikkun ha'Nefesh: Repairing Your Soul through Process & Practice.
Led by Aly Cohen, Integrative Psychotherapist, Stefanie Frank, founder and director of the N.E.S.T., and Guest Facilitator Shaina Garfield, Death Doula.
A Shabbaton is a Jewish retreat and/or educational gathering that extends over Shabbat.
At our Shabbaton, we will engage in dialogue centered around our connections to Judaism and learn new ways to engage with our spiritual relationship to Judaism through ritual.
Throughout the weekend, participants will engage in Jewish rituals such as Kabbalat Shabbat, Havdalah, song and prayer circles, Grief Rituals, and lessons on Jewish values, practicing Hitbodedut in the forested 26 acres of the N.E.S.T.
Weekend Overview Sample Flow:
Friday Evening:
We gather in circle, arriving at the threshold between the week and sacred time. Through reflection, we explore our Jewish curiosity, joy, and grief, placing intentions on the altar. With candlelight, ritual, and song, we welcome Shabbat—softening into rest—followed by a shared meal. The space is held with care, honoring the full range of what each participant brings.
Saturday– Shabbat Immersion:
The day unfolds in a gentle rhythm of silence, reflection, and connection. Morning may begin in noble silence, with forest meditation, hitbodedut, or a quiet walk in nature.
Workshops invite exploration of your Hebrew name, your soul imprint, and your relationship to prayer and the sacred.
The afternoon offers time for integration—by the stream, in the sauna, or in quiet rest—with the option to participate in a guided grief ritual.
In the evening, we gather for ancestral exploration, tending to lineage, memory, and inherited patterns with care and intention.
This work is supported by an on-site team of trained professionals, available throughout the weekend for additional support as needed.
We close Shabbat with Havdalah, followed by a fire ceremony, music, movement, and shared joy.
Sunday – Integration & Closing:
We return to circle to gather the threads of the weekend—your intentions, your joy, your grief—and listen for what is emerging.
We close grounded in connection, clarity, and a renewed sense of purpose.
Grief Ritual:
Grief has a way of cracking us open, and when we actually let it, grief becomes one of the most powerful catalysts for healing we can experience. Through ritualizing this experience, we tend to grief and its impacts on a soul level.
Our grief ritual will be conducted in the guidance of the Tree of Life.
Meals & Community:
Meals are lovingly prepared and shared communally, with the support and participation of the group—an integral part of the experience and an opportunity to deepen connection through the simple act of gathering around food.
Important Notes:
This retreat is open to all and not limited to Jewish participants; all who feel called are welcome.
Meals will be served kosher-style. Disposable plates and cutlery will be available. Please note that food is prepared in a non-kosher kitchen.
Shomer Shabbat participants are warmly welcome; however, this container is not exclusively Shomer Shabbat.
What You’ll Leave With:
* A deeper connection to your Jewish identity and inner landscape
* Insight into ancestral patterns and pathways for healing
* Tools for prayer, reflection, and integration
* A renewed sense of purpose, belonging, and direction
Main Spaceholders:
Stefanie Frank is a dynamic and multifaceted individual known for her diverse contributions to the field of healing arts and community building. She is the founder and director of ESKFF Nest, a healing arts refuge and retreat center located in the serene surroundings of Woodstock, NY. As a visionary retreat leader, Stefanie is committed to creating transformative experiences that cater to the spiritual and holistic well-being of individuals.
Aly Cohen is an Integrative Psychotherapist in New York City and the Hudson Valley. Guided by her own journey within Spirituality and Judaism, Aly has become a fervent student of all things Jewishly Spiritual. She now offers guidance to others who are seeking to bridge their spiritual practices with their ancestral lineage in Judaism. Aly is one of the Community Leaders for a Hudson Valley Grass-roots Jewish organization called the Village Shtiebl and devotes her time outside of work to building community, creating Jewish learning opportunities and enjoying time in nature spent with family and friends.
Guest Spaceholders:
Emily Bitton, LCSW is a clinical psychotherapist with over 30 years of experience guiding individuals through life’s deepest challenges. Her extensive practice spans everything from anxiety and depression to trauma, body dysmorphia, and eating disorders, working with people across every stage of life. As the daughter of a Holocaust survivor, Emily’s professional path is deeply intertwined with her passionate pride in her Jewish heritage. She is dedicated to helping the next generation feel vibrant connection and comfort within their faith and community, and is honored to help cultivate a warm, judgment-free space where everyone can feel entirely safe, seen, and heard.
Shaina Garfield will join us as a special guest workshop facilitator. Shaina is a Death Doula, Grief Guide, Ceremonialist, and founder of Leaves With You. Devoted to honoring the sacred cycles of life, death, and rebirth, she supports individuals through grief, loss, and profound life transitions.
We are honored to have Leah Brickley overseeing the nourishment for this retreat. Leah is an intuitive cook, writer, educator, and mother whose work is rooted in the belief that food is one of humanity’s greatest connectors. After more than 15 years working alongside chefs at the Food Network, she now focuses on food literacy, education, and regional ingredients through cooking, writing, and teaching. Leah holds a master’s degree in Nutrition and is a certified elementary school teacher. She is also the creator of The Memory Oven: Baking Shaped by the Land, a baking project centered on regionally grown grains and ingredients that celebrates the relationship between food, place, and community.
What´s Included:
The weekend program includes all activities, community meals, shared accommodations in the N.E.S.T. down under or camping outdoors.
Add on and upgrade your accommodations for an additional cost. See options in the registration drop-down menu.
Costs:
We are doing our best to offer programming that is accessible.
The N.E.S.T. utilizes the practice of the Green Bottle philosophy in order to make our programming accessible with a fair exchange:
Take a look at our Green Bottle comparison to help you identify yourself on the scale
3-tier gathering prices:
Community Exchange: $360
Supporters Exchange: $400
Sustainers Exchange: $444