Thursday through Sunday just isn’t enough for you?

Or perhaps you’d simply like to arrive early, settle in, and begin the retreat gently.

We invite you to join us beginning Wednesday afternoon for Forshpeis — a spacious and welcoming beginning to Shir Chadash. This early arrival time offers the chance to reconnect with friends, explore the beautiful grounds, and ease into the spirit of the retreat before the full program begins.

Rather than a full schedule of workshops, Forshpeis offers a relaxed environment for:

• informal music-making and creative collaboration
• art-making, creative writing, and story telling
• conversation and connection
• quiet time in the retreat center’s beautiful meditation space
• intimate evening and morning prayer

For those traveling from afar, arriving early can make the experience far more restful — allowing you to begin Shir Chadash grounded, unhurried, and ready for the joy ahead.

Just like at a catered wedding or B’Mitzvah, sometimes the appetizers are the best part of the meal. You may find yourself thinking, “Wait… now there’s more?”

Yes. There’s always more.

And by the time the full retreat begins, you’ll be more than ready for the main course.

(Does that make Shabbat our dessert?)

If this sounds like the way you’d like to begin the retreat, simply select the Forshpeis Early Arrival option when registering for the Full Retreat.

Forshpeis runs Wednesday afternoon through Thursday after lunch and includes lodging and meals for that additional time.