Westerbeke Ranch, Sonoma, California
July 17-19, 2026
A unique weekend of Jewish healing, reflection, and community in the serene beauty of Sonoma County. Face one of life’s great challenges with the guidance of Jewish ritual, wisdom, and a supportive community walking alongside you.
Come as You Are. Be Held. Leave Renewed.
When
July 17-19, 2026
(Friday - Sunday)
Who
Anyone who has navigated the multi-faceted challenges of divorce or the end of a long-term relationship, and is seeking healing, reflection, and renewal within a warm, accepting Jewish community.
This retreat welcomes adults of all ages who are longing for the peacefulness of a gorgeous retreat setting, meaningful connection, and Jewish wisdom to help guide them forward.
Why?
Judaism offers guidance for many of life’s milestones; birth, marriage, and death through prayers, rituals, and communal support that honor these sacred rites of passage. Yet when it comes to divorce, Jewish tradition has historically offered only the get, the legal document marking the end of a marriage.
This retreat seeks to fill that void.
Our Westerbeke Ranch Divorce & Discovery retreat creates sacred space for a smaller number of people who may feel broken, guilty, ashamed, or in pain to find their way back to wholeness. Guided by Jewish healing rituals, communal support, and professional expertise, participants are invited to process loss, release what no longer serves them, and reconnect with hope, meaning, and self-compassion. You can access this in our unique Jewish-divorce-themed workshops, during yoga or as you soak in the hot tub.
Cost
The retreat is held at an intimate, elevated, and luxury retreat center. We offer three pricing tiers to support accessibility, because everyone deserves the opportunity to participate.
Tier 1 – Solo Housing: $2,500
Tier 2 – Shared Housing (1 roommate): $2,000
Tier 3 – Shared Housing (3–4 people): $1,500
The cost covers all expenses for the 3-day / 2-night retreat, including:
Expert-led programming
Access to a therapist or certified divorce coach or spiritual guide
Lodging
All meals, snacks, wine bar, and coffee service
Jewish rituals, workshops, and wellness offerings
Art making, nature walks, swimming pool, hot tub
Yoga
A 50 minute massage for each participant
What Past Participants are Saying
“It turns out, what I really needed for full closure and to move into my future with hope and optimism was healing in my own language, in my own culture.”
“The Divorce & Discovery weekend at Camp Tawonga exceeded all expectations. The rituals created by the incredible leaders felt so natural, as if Judaism was always meant to support the (unfortunate) life-cycle event of divorce.”
“A friend asked me how the retreat was, and my response was ‘life changing.’”
Retreat Overview
Every aspect of Divorce & Discovery is intentionally designed to guide you on a journey of release, letting go of hurt, anger, guilt, and resentment while being held by a supportive Jewish community.
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Attending an adult retreat can feel intimidating. To help you feel grounded and connected, all participants are placed into a Havurah—a small, facilitated retreat friendship group.
You will meet daily to:
Get to know one another
Process the day’s experiences
Share stories and reflections
Serve as anchors of support for one another throughout the weekend
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Each morning, you’ll be invited to choose your own learning adventure. Our rabbis, Jewish educators, and divorce experts offer a range of workshops that weave together divorce healing with big Jewish ideas and lived experience.
Electives may include:
Creative Arts & Reflection such as: “Write a New Ketubah” - crafting personal agreements and intentions for this next chapter of your life
Jewish Healing Texts - exploring Torah and Jewish wisdom through a divorce and healing lens
Inventing Rituals - co-creating the rituals we wish existed to meet our deepest needs
Dating After Divorce - practical, grounded guidance for re-entering the world of relationships
Whether you’re drawn to text, creativity, ritual, or real-life tools, these electives offer meaningful ways to reflect, heal, and imagine what comes next.
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Through the sacred act of Jewish ritual, we will honor, process and offer you a path to move through whatever stage of the divorce journey you are in:
Opening Up – Morning is a time of great hope and opening. We will offer elective morning yoga in the magnificent yoga studio and morning meditation under the California Live Oaks
Celebration – We will celebrate Shabbat in community, reciting prayers, sharing a meal and singing. Enjoy a musical Kabbalat Shabbat service and feel the joy in Judaism.
Connectedness & Joy – We know that when we sing in community, we feel interconnected and joyful. On Saturday morning, we will gather for a Torah Service in the outdoor sanctuary amidst the trees. We will hear the Torah portion interpreted through a divorce lens and those who want can experiment by standing Kaddish for the ending of their marriage.
Separate & Heal – Havdalah means separation. It is the ritual that distinguishes between the sacred time of Shabbat and the ordinary time of the rest of the week. We will use our Camp Havdalah ceremony to help people separate both Shabbat from the rest of the week, as well as their married selves from their non-married selves.
Ritual Mourning – Sitting Shiva is the Jewish way to mourn the death of a beloved. Those who are interested will have the opportunity to sit in community, in a facilitated circle, to mourn the death of their marriage.
Letting Go – Tashlich is the ritual associated with Rosh Hashanah of throwing bread crumbs in a body of water to symbolically release the things we want to let go. During the retreat, partake in this healing ritual as we throw small stones into a nearby lake and recite individual and communal prayers of letting go.
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Professional experts and religious and spiritual leaders will help you find a path back to wholeness. From rabbis, therapists and healers to divorce coaches, yoga instructors and challenge course facilitators, our team of guides is here to support you:
Rabbis and Jewish Educators – These spiritual leaders will be the backbone of the weekend’s Jewish learning and engagement. They will lead workshops, Jewish rituals and art-focused activities to help facilitate healing.
Therapists – Therapists (along with our faculty) will help facilitate the Havurah Groups and be available in the afternoons to check in with participants who sign up to meet with them.
Certified Divorce Coaches – To provide expert, empathic listening and suggestions for specific approaches and activities for people going through the early phases of divorce.
Massage Therapists – Two massage therapists will be at camp during the retreat offering 50 minute massage sessions which are included in your fee. Body work can be both healing and comforting.
Yoga & Nature Walks – Physical movement helps us to be in sync with our bodies and tap into newfound strength. Our yoga instructor will support participants to still the mind, feel grounded in the body and connected to the breath.
“My hope for this weekend is that all the participants who are traversing this great challenge find a path back to feeling whole – and that they recognize that Jewish wisdom can be a guide for painful moments in life.” – Rabbi Deborah Newbrun
Frequently Asked Questions
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Food will be Kosher-style, no treyf will be served. Here is what Westerbeke Ranch says about the delicious food: “Our food is fresh, local, delicious, nutritious, sustainable and hand-made. Our cooks are of the highest caliber—artists in their own right. And our guests are a little bit spoiled. (Just the way we like it.)”
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Delightful paths lead to five charming redwood cabin retreats, nestled among trees and gardens. Each bedroom has its own bathroom and residence area for privacy and unwinding. For relaxation in the midst of a natural setting, Westerbeke cabins offer the graceful simplicity that most guests (and their spirits) yearn for.
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This retreat will support people who feel broken and in pain following a separation from a close romantic partner. You do not need to have been married to attend, nor do you need to have officially divorced. If you aren’t sure if the program is right for you, reach Rabbi Deborah Newbrun to discuss at deborah@divorceanddiscovery.org.
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While you don’t have to be Jewish to attend, anyone who joins should have an open mind and an interest in Judaism. A major focus of the retreat will be engaging in Jewish rituals and practices as a way to process and heal from divorce. We expect all types of Jews and Jew adjacent folks to attend.
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If you have made the decision to no longer be with your life partner, and want to experience healing through Jewish ritual, then this is the right program for you. If you’re not sure, please contact Rabbi Deborah Newbrun at deborah@tawonga.org. She will be happy to discuss with you.
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Yes. The pain and suffering caused by divorce can stay with us for a very long time. This retreat will still have much value for you, no matter how many years have passed since your divorce.
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Yes! Participants from previous retreats are welcome to join again. The program will feel familiar and at the same time, offer continued healing and growth.
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You don’t have to be an avid camper to appreciate this retreat or Ranch Camp’s beautiful location in the Colorado Black Forest! Those who are interested will be able to partake in hikes and nature exploration throughout our 600-acre property.
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We can’t be sure who will sign up, we anticipate having LGBTQ as well as straight participants and welcome everyone.
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Check out our general FAQs for weekend programs. If you still have questions, feel free to reach out to Rabbi Deborah Newbrun with questions relating specifically to the retreat at deborah@divorceanddiscovery.org.
For registration, housing, or other logistical questions, please reach out to liz@divorceanddiscovery.org she will be happy to support you.
Questions?
feel free to reach out to Deborah Newbrun with questions relating specifically to the retreat at deborah@divorceanddiscovery.org. For registration, housing, or other logistical questions, please reach out to Liz at liz@divorceanddiscovery.org.