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Full Circle Tu B'Av Seminar with Magical Desert Moon Hike

Tu B'Av is the zenith of the circular mode of reality attributed to women. As the moon glows in its fullest, we herald the rise of the Shechina (Feminine Divine Presence) through a moonlit desert hike, textual study, tefillah, music, meditation, and a bonfire.

We began Thursday, August 18th (the 13th of Av), at the Tachana Merkazit (Central Bus Station) in Jerusalem with seventeen women boarding bus 961 headed north for Tzomet Almog. After a forty-five minute drive through the desert hills, we arrived at our location, meeting up with six other women, our tour guide, Rabbi Yehoshua Rubin, and our medic/guard.

As the moon rose over the desert, the twenty-five of us began a short hike filled with the sounds of women getting to know each other. Suddenly, we stopped near a giant black tent, a replica of the Mishkan (Tabernacle), as Rabbi Rubin explained. We then began the second part of the hike, this time in complete silence and under a full moon. The only sounds were of the Mishkan's guard-dog and the crunching of the dry desert ground under our shoes.

To our right, a mountain, reminding us of Har Sinai, glowed in the light of the moon, and to our left, the Dead Sea, surrounded by street lights, reflected the moon's light.

We then came to a cliff, to the edge of our journey, taking time to receive the beauty around us. Sitting in a circle with eyes closed, Rabbi Rubin led us in a meditation on the word shalom (peace). When we opened our eyes, we each walked out into the desert to find our own space to pray, meditate, relax under the starts and absorb our environment.

Joining together once again, we shared our personal thoughts on our experience, and then headed off toward the mountain. Hiking along the goat trails, we came to a rocky slope overlooking Kibbutz Almog, Jericho and the Dead Sea. Rabbi Rubin read the passages from the Torah about Moshe shepherding the sheep far into the wilderness and coming to the burning bush, which was not consumed. We then wrote down our thoughts and shared with each other poems that expressed our feelings about the moment.

After another twenty minute hike, we met our vans at the gas station and were carried back into civilization, and then into the hills of Bat Ayin. Some of us settled into our rooms, while others stayed in the Beit Midrash well into the night sharing their experiences.

Friday morning began with a delicious Israeli-style breakfast followed by gentle and relaxing exercises and meditation. Rebbetzin Chana Bracha then transitioned us into small groups for chevruta to learn about significance of Tu B'Av and the unity that the day represents.

A delicious lunch followed our learning session, and announcements were made about upcoming programs at Midreshet B'erot, including a Torah and Creativity Seminar (August 28-September 3rd), an Intensive Elul Seminar (September 4th-October 10th), and a special Grape Festival (September 4th).

Next on the schedule: Creative Tu B'Av Cooking! One of the highlights of the program, the participants each took responsibility for cooking a different dish. Going with the theme of unity, we made quiches and cakes in circular pans, round challot, cucumber salad (with round cucumber slices), and several other scrumptious dishes.

After a break to rest, shower and get dressed in our Shabbat clothing, we joined together for a shiur and meditation with Avraham Shira, helping us to prepare emotionally, mentally and spiritually for Shabbat.

We then collectively went to the Beit Knesset in Bat Ayin for Kabbalat Shabbat and Maariv, and returned to B'erot for a Shabbat dinner that consisted of the food we made earlier in the day. After a women's led zimmun and Birkat HaMazon, we sang powerful songs and niggunim that came from the depths of our souls.

Shabbat itself was quiet, yet awesome. We went to the Beit Knesset once again for Tefillat Shacharit, and then dispersed to the kind families in Bat Ayin who opened their homes to us for lunch. In the afternoon, some of us chose to rest, while others hiked into the Bat Ayin forest or down to the wellsprings, and still others stayed in the Beit Midrash to learn.

In the late afternoon, we all regrouped at Rebbetzin Chana Bracha's home to learn more about Tu B'Av, to pray together to find or to grow closer to our soulmates, and to eat Seuda Shlishit.

And finally, after a moving havdalah, we danced, sang, and played our drums, tambourines and guitars all together around the burning bonfire.

The Full Circle Magical Desert Moon Hike and the Tu B'Av Shabbaton was truly a unifying experience for all involved.

Rabbi Yehoshua Rubin introduces the Magical Desert Moon Hike

Esther Batya, Alexis and Rachel learning during chevruta

Here we go!

Rebbetzin Chana Bracha and Rachel discuss Tu B'Av