The document summarizes Jewbilee 2008, a program for young Jews and allies at independent schools, and looks ahead to Jewbilee 2009. It describes the goals and successes of Jewbilee 2008 in strengthening identity, building community, and enhancing independent school culture. For 2009, the program will change its name to "The Retreat formerly known as Jewbilee" and relocate to Harvard University, featuring Shabbat meals and services, multi-tiered Jewish learning tracks, and activities for students to envision future Jewish identity.

1. Jewbilee 2008 & Looking Forward to Jewbilee 2009

2. Vision for Jewbilee 2008 A weekend program for young Jews and allies that strengthens identity, builds community, and enhances the experience of independent school culture.

3. Realities of Jewbilee 2008 We worked with a national student advisory committee to create a dynamic weekend where students: initiated relationships and built community with one another explored diverse concepts of Jewish religion, culture, and practice established connections to Jewish identity that have lasted beyond the Jewbilee experience impacted independent school cultures by establishing new communities on campus and closer connections to TCI staff and programs.

4. Goals reached with the 2008 Jewbilee Program: To reach a broad number of national students from independent school campuses. To provide a warm and enriching environment for students to connect to one another. To provide quality teachers and engaging learning experiences on Jewish Spirituality, Social Justice, and Leadership. To excite independent school students about their prospects for connecting to other Jewish students and forming meaningful relationships.

5. Ongoing Goals for Jewbilee To inspire interest in an integrated approach to life-long Jewish learning. To create both campus-based and inter-school relationships among students. To create a TCI young leadership cadre. To continue to host a space that independent school students are attracted to because it’s FUN!

13. Tools and methods that worked in 2008 Providing multiple learning approaches to exploring Jewish Identity. TCI Staff connecting with students one-on-one throughout Jewbilee activities. Creating an inclusive approach to Jewish learning that incorporated the interests of both Jews and participating Allies. Reaching an adequate balance of “off” vs. “on” time so that students could self-direct their attention and get to know one another outside of workshop settings. Connecting visiting students to the host student community.

14. Areas for consideration in 2009: Requests for options of both advanced and entry-level Jewish learning tracks. “ Jewbilee”- feedback that the name was hard to sell and didn’t convey the experience students actually had with us. Overwhelmingly high ratings for the program on students evaluations that said that they had enjoyed being with us and were eager to continue being involved.

15. Looking Forward… “ The Retreat formerly known as Jewbilee” (Symbol) invites you to join us for a weekend exploration of “ Jewish in 2010- What is it?”

16. Basic Program features for 2009: a change in venue to the Harvard University Campus and hospitality via the Harvard Hillel and a local hotel. the weekend will feature inclusive Shabbat meals and services at Hillel that will feature presentations by both outstanding Jewish leaders and non-Jewish leaders who are allies to the Jewish community. multi-tiered learning tracks on the history of Jewish Identity and community. presentations from Jewish Organizations that are navigating contemporary shifts in Jewish identity and practice through their work facilitated activities and discussions where young people can interactively create a vision for Jewish identity in their lifetimes and in the future. A TCI Leadership Track incorporating both personal development and empowerment of the voice we hope students will have in helping to shape TCI’s work moving forward.

17. For more exciting details on the Jewbilee 2009 millennial odyssey… Stay tuned…