Summer and Fall 2026 Activities
High Holiday Planning Support Sessions
These August online sessions are for students leading high holiday services and other programs to find resources, guidance and support as they prepare to guide themselves and their peers through the High Holiday season. To join or schedule a session, please fill out the contact page.
Cross-Campus Student Leadership Retreat-
Sept. 7th 10am-4pm
Planned by the Emek Student Advisory Team, this day-long retreat brings together Jewish student leaders from Massachusetts campuses to build community, learn new skills, and prepare together for the year ahead. We understand “Student leaders” broadly- you are welcome whether you are leading an existing Jewish club or student organization, are just getting started with your friends, or want to start making Jewish life on your campus happen. Retreat Information and Sign Up
Emek High Holiday Offerings
Rabbi Shahar will be offering programming to support and supplement student-led and other campus high holiday offerings. We expect to offer:
Rosh Hashana Day 2 Tashlich (Sept. 13th) -Afternoon Learning and Ritual at Smith College
Yom Kippur Afternoon (Sept. 21st) - Poetry for Reflection and Connection at Westfield State University
Sukkot - Earth-based activities and conversation - Location and Date TBD
For students interested in attending services at local congregations, we are happy to help facilitate connections. Additionally, all students are also invited to join Rabbi Shahar and Congregation Ahavas Achim, which holds services at Westfield State University.
Community Shabbaton
Emek will be hosting a cross-community shabbaton- a 25 hour shabbat experience for students to connect, play, relax, make and share food, and explore their Jewish lives together. Date TBD fall 2026.
Emek Offerings
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Jewish Leadership Training
Emek supports existing and emergent Jewish student organizations. This support varies based on conversation with the student leaders about goals and needs. Support may be structured as individual or group coaching, or as guided programs or retreats. Topics include developing student leadership, semester planning and visioning, community organizing, navigating dynamics on campus and in the broader Jewish community, and developing new Jewish life skills. Altogether, these leadership skills enrich Jewish life on campus as well as all the Jewish communities these students join after graduation.
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Cross Campus Community
Through Emek students engage in Jewish learning, honor the cycles of Jewish time, and practice interfaith and values-based community engagement with students from other campuses.
Some of these programs are online while others are in-person and hosted in partnership with campus student organizations or other local Jewish organizations. Occasionally opportunities are further afield, such as semester shabbatonim (shabbat retreats).
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Pastoral Care
Pastoral or spiritual care is an opportunity for accompaniment, deep listening, and connection with Rabbi Shahar. This looks different for each person. It may include designing life cycle rituals, discerning or preparing for conversion to Judaism, or prayer, text study, and meditation.
You might seek spiritual care to explore big life questions, your own transformation and growth, resources in Jewish tradition, coping with change, loss, grief, or illness, accessing one's own inner wisdom, or support in living your values in the world.Individual meetings are free for undergraduate students and available as capacity allows. If appropriate, these conversations may lead to referrals for social services or mental health providers.