If you teach or lead music in Camps, congregations, or community centers, Hava Nashira is for you. You'll improve your skills as you learn from the finest Jewish music innovators and composers, including Debbie Friedman, Cantor Jeff Klepper, Peter and Ellen Allard, Merri Lovinger Arian, Cantor Rosalie Boxt, Rabbi Ken Chasen, Cantor Ellen Dreskin, Josh Nelson, Dan Nichols and Craig Taubman. Instrumental proficiency is preferred but not necessary.

Participants may choose two intensives (major sessions), one for Thursday and one for Friday.In addition a wide variety of electives and master classes will be offered. Intensives offered in the past include: Choir Conducting, Composition, High Holy Day Services, Liturgy, Music for Young Children and Families, Religious School Music, Repertoire Renewal, Songleading, and Worship.

The fee for Hava Nashira includes lodging, meals and all programming and materials. Semi-private housing is available in the Bayit, Lodge and Daniel M. Soref Education and Alumni Center (rooms with 2 twin beds and private bath); and in the Nerenberg Family Center (rooms with 2 twin beds and communal washrooms at the end of the hall). Lodging is also available in dormitory cabins (separate for men and women), featuring bunk beds for 24 participants in each cabin, with adjacent washrooms and showers. The fees in 2008 ranged from $450 to $575, depending on housing. No private rooms are available.

Full payment must accompany your application. Registration is limited. This program has filled quickly in recent years. Applications are accepted on a first come, first served basis until the program is full.

Applications for Hava Nashira 2009 will be available in mid-March 2009.

Hava Nashira takes place at Olin-Sang-Ruby Union Institute, the regional camp of the Union for Reform Judaism in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, located between Milwaukee and Madison. Attendees are responsible for their own transportation to camp. The nearest airport is Milwaukee, Wisconsin (Mitchell Field). The best time to arrive at the Milwaukee Airport is between 10:30 am and 2:30 pm. The camp is also a 2-hour drive from O’Hare Airport in Chicago.

Van Service to Camp
We will make arrangements with Airport Connections to offer van service to the camp at a discounted rate from the Milwaukee Airport (Mitchell Field). Airport Connections will group Hava Nashira participants together in vans.

Bus to Camp for URJ Songleaders
A bus will pick up URJ songleaders at the Milwaukee airport at 1:30 pm on Tuesday, May 26, and bring them to camp. URJ songleaders are responsible for their own transportation back to the Milwaukee airport on Sunday. See the information above about Van Service.

For more information or to be added to the Hava Nashira mailing list, please contact Barbara Gordon at 847-239-6984 or bgordon@urj.org.