Provisional Schedule & Conference Activities

Tuesday, June 20
10 am-2 pm Participants arrive at set windows throughout the day and are guided to their campus housing. (shuttles provided)
4 pm Hors d’oeuvres
4:30-6 pm Welcome ceremony
6-8 pm Shared dinner with welcoming remarks from Alicia Ostriker
Optional check-in after dinner for late-arrivals
   
Wednesday, June 21
Early Morning Activity (w/Rodger, others?) (optional)
8-10 am Breakfast
*Fellows meet with Scholar mentees during breakfast or lunch
10 am-12 pm Morning generative workshops
12-1:15 pm Lunch (shared)
1:30-2:45 pm Craft/subject talk(s), discussion panels (TBD)
3-4:15 pm Alicia Interview
Dinner (off-campus)
Doors open 7:30, reading at 8-9:30 Evening Readings (open to the public)
Thursday, June 22
Early Morning Activity (w/Rodger, others?) (optional)
8-10 am Breakfast
10 am-12 pm Morning generative workshops
12-1:15 pm Lunch (shared)
1:30-2:45 pm Craft/subject talk(s), discussion panels (TBD)
3-4:15 pm Participant Reading (details TBD)
Dinner (off-campus)
Doors open 7:30, reading at 8-9:30 Evening Readings (open to the public)
Friday, June 23
Early Morning Activity (w/Rodger, others?) (optional)
8-10 am Breakfast (Conversations/workshops about the potential future offerings of Yetzirah)
10 am-12 pm Morning generative workshops
12-1:15 pm Lunch (shared or off/campus)
1:30-2:45 pm Craft/subject talk(s), discussion panels, other–or participant reading, possibly open to public (TBD)
4-5 pm Substantial snacks available before our later dinner
Doors open at 5, start at 5:30-7 pm Evening Readings (open to the public)
7-7:45 pm Kabbalat Shabbat (optional & open to the public)
8 pm Shared Shabbat dinner
Tische (optional)
Saturday, June 24
8-10 am Breakfast (available for all on campus)
Contemplative Shabbat Service and/or…
Lunch (for people staying on campus)
Free day for participants to enjoy Asheville and surrounding areas.
· Some activities will be offered to those interested.
Dinner off-campus or available on-campus for those staying there
Culminating celebration of Havdalah, with bonfire and chance for community to share poems newly drafted at the conference.
Sunday, June 25
Room checkout by 10 am Conference ends and interested participants are given guides for things to enjoy in the Asheville area

Activity Descriptions

 Breakfast

  • Meditation or spiritual practice during breakfast
    • Morning prayers given and explained/expounded upon
    • Writing Prompt: Creating your own prayers for different occasions of the day (waking, eating breakfast, being in company for the first time)

Morning workshops

  • Each writing faculty will offer the same workshop each morning
    • Workshops will be generative, allowing all participants to find something of value
    • Participants will be divided into three groups to rotate through each workshop

Some possible topics for afternoon craft/subject talks and discussion panels

  • Introduction to specific Jewish poet or type of poetry
  • Considerations when trying to publish poetry grounded in religion and spirituality
  • Opportunities for Jewish poets (Followed by extended Q&A)
  • Study of a specific text (biblical and/or literary)
  • What’s Jewish about Jewish poetry?
  • Writing contemporary Midrash
  • Exilic studies
  • Writing the Holocaust
  • Divine gender (i.e. addresses to Adonai vs. Elohim vs. Shekinah, etc.)
  • Writing trauma (personal and generational)
  • Jewish poetry in translation/Translation as a Jewish act
  • The Jewish vernacular(s)
  • Uses of humor

Wednesday & Thursday off-campus dinners

  • Outreach will be done to local Asheville restaurants and vendors to offer discounts to Yetzirah participants

Readings

  • All readings open to public and advertised in both secular and Jewish local channels
  • Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday readings given by conference faculty and selected conference participants
  • Friday reading to feature interested participants
  • Each night:
    • 3 short readings by fellows
    • 2 established poets
    • 1 workshop faculty