Stages and Stories - Solace and Strength: A Post-Oct 7 Retreat for Jewish Women
With the profound shifts we've all experienced, the need for community, reflection, and healing has never been more vital.
We understand the unique weight that Jewish women are carrying – the grief for what was lost, the anxieties for what lies ahead, and the deep yearning for hope and connection in a world that often feels fractured. You are not alone in navigating these complex emotions. We invite you to join us for a sacred and supportive retreat designed exclusively for Jewish women, where you can find a safe and nurturing space to process, reflect, and begin to heal.
This retreat is a dedicated sanctuary for you to:
- Share your story, your fears, and your hopes in a truly empathetic and understanding environment.
- Connect with other Jewish women who share similar experiences, building bonds of sisterhood and resilience.
- Engage in mindful practices that nurture your spirit and provide tools for coping with grief and anxiety.
- Explore pathways to healing, finding strength within yourself and among your community.
- Reclaim moments of peace and joy, even amidst ongoing challenges.
- Tap into the enduring wellspring of Jewish wisdom and resilience as a source of comfort and strength.
This is more than just a retreat; it's an opportunity for Finding Solace and Strength, rediscover your inner strength, and rekindle hope in the company of women who understand. Let us come together to hold space for one another, to mourn, to heal, and to emerge with renewed spirit. Space is limited to ensure an intimate and supportive setting. We encourage you to register soon to secure your place in this vital gathering.
• The retreat will take place from November 7 through November 9, in the beautiful and serene Hudson Valley near Woodstock, NY. Location will be shared once registration and payment are complete.
• Activities will include Friday night candle lighting and kiddush, Motzei Shabbat Havdala, sharing and closing circles, guided meditation, sound healing, breathwork, workshops to promote continued hope and healing.
• Special pricing is available for this Inaugural retreat. Registration price is $500/person. Price includes all the programs listed above, plus six gourmet vegetarian meals.
Limited accommodations within the retreat house are available for an extra fee.
A list of local hotels will be provided.
For registration, email emily@stagesandstories.com
Meet your retreat Leaders
Emily Bitton, MSW, LCSW is a psychotherapist with 30 years of experience. She was inspired to create this retreat after hearing from many people about the fear and anxiety they have felt since October 7, along with the subsequent rise in anti-Israel and antisemitic sentiment.
Many shared a deep sense of loss—grieving for who they were on October 6, 2023—and the profound shift in identity they’ve experienced since. As the daughter of a Holocaust survivor, Emily grew up with the ultimate role model for resilience: a mother who lived a full life of love and joy despite deep grief and pain. Emily is eager to share the life lessons she learned from her mother about hope, strength, and healing.
With a passionate love for her people and the State of Israel, Emily believes in building strength through sisterhood and community, in knowing that grief does not negate joy, and in the possibility of healing and growth at every stage of life.
Her goal is for participants to leave feeling heard, renewed, and equipped with practical tools to move forward with optimism.
📧 Contact: emily@stagesandstories.com
Laura Faiwiszewski, PsyD: is a clinical psychologist, personal trainer, and proud Jewish woman who loves Israel with all her heart. As the granddaughter of a Holocaust survivor, she carries with her the enduring lessons of resilience, hope, and the capacity to grow even after profound hardship—values she hopes to nurture in others. Laura believes in caring for the whole self—mind, body, spirit, and community—and brings that holistic approach into her work, blending mindfulness, hypnosis, somatic therapy, and behavioral practices with warmth, humor, and deep empathy. For this retreat, her intention is to help create a sacred space for Jewish women to connect, reflect, and heal together, weaving moments of honest conversation, inner strength, and shared joy into the fabric of our community.