Ann Arbor Reconstructionist Congregation

Emily Eisbruch

Welcome Emily Ohl, New AARC Program Manager

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Note: A version of this article appeared in the August 2024 Washtenaw Jewish News. See page 20 HERE

The AARC is delighted to welcome Emily Ohl as our new Program Manager. Emily steps up as Gillian Jackson, the AARC Events and Communications Coordinator for the past five years, moves into a new phase of her career journey as a social worker.

Emily brings an outstanding background and enthusiasm. She is already a cherished part of the AARC community, both as a congregant and as a teacher in our AARC Beit Sefer. Emily also teaches at the JCC of Ann Arbor Early Childhood Center, working in the Duck Room.

Emily graduated from the University of Michigan in 2022 with a major in American Culture, and minors in German and Museum Studies. In addition to everything else, she’s a certified lifeguard and a yoga teacher!

Emily led a wonderful early morning yoga session at the Spring 2024 AARC retreat at Camp Tamarack!

Emily comments:

“Hello! I am so grateful and excited to be stepping into this role and to be a part of this community. I look forward to working with those I have met and getting to know those I haven’t yet as we move together through the cycles of our lives and the Jewish calendar.
Thank you! Toda raba!”

As we welcome Emily Ohl as AARC Program Maanger, we are incredibly glad that Gillian and her family (husband Alex and sons Wesley and Wade) continue to be a part of our AARC community. We can’t thank Gillian enough for all her amazing work. We appreciate the care and love that she gave to our community in her role as Events and Communications Coordinator.

Savoring memories from the 2024 AARC Retreat

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What a fantastic 2024 AARC retreat! On the weekend of May 31 to June 2, over 50 congregants and guests participated in the AARC retreat at Camp Tamarack, featuring worship, dance, music, games, hiking, boating, art workshops, yoga, kosher wine tasting, schmoozing, and more.

Thanks to everyone who helped make this retreat a reality. Here are a few photos.

Waterfront


Boating


Games and hanging out


Friday Evening Services and Saturday Evening Havdalah


Rope Swing



Hiking


Trail Maintenance


Music and Dancing


Kosher wine tasting and early morning yoga


Visiting a Dairy Farm and Beit Sefer Plays Soccer


Fun at the Main Camp Tamarack Dining Hall



Amazing kitchen work at our lodge for breakfast and snacks


Cabins at Specialty Village






We look forward to seeing you at next year’s AARC retreat.

See also photos from the May 2025 AARC retreat.

Reconnect with the Community, the Earth and Yourself

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Join for the 2024 AARC Retreat: May 31st to June 2nd

The 2024 AARC retreat will be held at Camp Tamarack in Ortonville, Michigan, Friday, May 31st through Sunday, June 2nd (the weekend after Memorial Day weekend). This promises to be a very special retreat.

The retreat will offer:

  • A chance to celebrate Shabbat as a community
  • Three creative and musical services led by our own Rabbi Gabrielle
  • An art workshop facilitated by professional artist, Idelle Hammond-Sass
  • Hikes exploring around the beautiful lakes on the 1,100 wooded acres of Tamarack/Camp Maas
  • A Saturday night dance party with Dan Peisach’s band “Twas Brillig and the Mazel Toves” and dances led by Drake Meadow
  • A workshop on how to mend clothes with creativity and style (visible mending) with Allison Stupka
  • Discussion groups led by some of our very talented members
  • Campfires with S’mores and singing each night
  • A variety of “sportsball” opportunities at our very own sports area with soccer field, tennis courts and basketball courts
  • Canoeing and/or Kayaking
  • Childcare and Children’s Programming
  • …and other surprises as well!



To register, please click the button just below and this will take you to a registration and payment info.

Click to Register for the 2024 AARC Retreat

Questions?  Call Leora Druckman at 1-734-730-3399

Retreat Preliminary Schedule

*Note:  All Programming time slots will consist of some combination of 3 – 5 of the following options (led by AARC members).

  • Arts/Craft Workshop
  • Discussion/Workshop/Facilitated group
  • Foodie Session
  • Guided Hike or other Nature Activity
  • Some kind of Sportsball (Volleyball, Gaga, Soccer, etc)
  • Canoes, Kayaking and/or Swimming at the Lake
  • Walking Mincha (afternoon service) with Rabbi Gavrielle
  • Kids Programming and/or babysitting
  • Chill out and do nothing and/or take a nap

NOTE: Schedule is Subject to Change

Friday Evening, May 31

TimeActivity
4:00 to 6:00 PMWelcome and Registration
6:00 to 7:15 PMFriday Night Kabbalat Shabbat Service
7:30 – 8:30 PMTraditional Shabbat Community Dinner
9:00 PM – ?Evening Hang Out  (informal music making, games, socializing, noshing, etc.)
9:00 – 11:00 PM Camp fire with s’mores and singing

Saturday, June 1

TimeActivity
7:00 to 7:45 AMEarly morning yoga or meditation
8:00 to 9:00 AM Breakfast
9:30 to 10:45 AM Saturday Morning Shabbat Service
*11:00 AM to 12:30 PM Morning Programming
1:00 to 2:00 PM Lunch
*3:00 to 4:30 PMAfternoon Programming
5:00 PM(Really good) Kosher Wine Tasting Happy Hour
6:30 to 7:30 PMDinner
8:30 PM t0 ?Music by Dan Peisach with “Twas Brillig and the Mazel Toves” and Dances called by Drake Meadow
9:00 to 11:00 PMCampfire with s’mores and singing

Sunday, June 2

TimeActivity
7:00 to 7:45 AMEarly morning yoga or meditation
8:00 to 9:00 AM Breakfast
*10:00 to 11:30 AM Morning Programming
12:30 PM to 1:30 PMLunch with the Beit Sefer
2:00 PMClosing circle
3:00 PMGoodbye until next year!

The 2024 retreat planning team is headed by Leora Druckman and includes Adrianne Neff, Steve Merritt, Emily Eisbruch and Rav Gavrielle.

Many thanks to everyone who has stepped up to lead retreat workshops and activities.

We look forward to a fantastic retreat and hope you can join!

photos from past AARC retreats

A Survivor’s Legacy: The music of Cantor Saul Nadvan, article by Rav Gavrielle in the March 2024 Washtenaw Jewish News

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This article by Rav Gavrielle appeared in the March 2024 Washtenaw Jewish News. See the link here and scroll to page 28. For the youtube of the January 2024 concert honoring Cantor Saul Nadvan click HERE.

Also on the same page of the Washtenaw Jewish News, in the right column, check out the article on the March 10, 2024 AARC book group (discussing the book Jewish New York: The Remarkable Story of a City and a People by AARC member Deborah Dash Moore)

Save the dates for the AARC Retreat!

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May 31 to June 2, 2024 

Lots of excitement is brewing about the rebirth of a tradition fondly remembered from years past: a congregational RETREAT!   

The retreat is a magical chance for members to celebrate Shabbat, relax, unwind, form new friendships, strengthen old ties, enjoy nature through hiking or boating, savor wonderful meals, dance, craft, and more.  

Please save these date for the 2024 AARC retreat

  • Friday May 31 (around 4:00 pm or arrive after that when you can)
  • Saturday, June 1
  • Sunday June 2 (ending around 3:00 pm)
    • (note: this is the weekend following Memorial Day weekend)

The lovely Chenango Lake Retreat Center in Howell has been reserved for the 2024 retreat.  Currently engaged in retreat planning is a terrific team led by Leora Druckman, Steve Merritt, and Adrianne Neff.

While the budget is not yet finalized, we are thinking about (subject to tweaking) a sliding scale of $150 to $250 per adult and $75 to $150 per child (with children under 3 free).   The goal is to have as many people as possible attend and participate without letting finances get in the way.  At the same time, we do need to at least cover our costs of a minimum of $10,000 (a recent increase in the cost of food is impacting this).   

The retreat will offer:

  • A chance to celebrate Shabbat as a community
  • Six wonderful meals
  • Lodging for 2 nights
  • Chenango lake (with canoes and kayaks) trails and beautiful surroundings. 
  • Dancing Saturday night with music from ‘Twas Brillig and the Mazel Toves plus dancing led by Drake Meadow
  • Camp fires with singing and s’mores
  • Art workshop by Idelle Hammond-Sass
  • And many more activities led by our talented members

Steve Merritt stevemerritt2@gmail.com would love to hear from anyone interested in offering a workshop or activity at the retreat or if you’d like to volunteer to help out in other ways. 

Registration for the retreat will likely open in March.   Stay tuned to the AARC emails for further updates and info.

Enjoy these photos from past AARC/Havurah retreats: