Virginia: JLI Retreat Concludes

Sunday concluded JLI’s six-day National Jewish Retreat at the Hyatt Regency in Reston, Virginia. The retreat was attended by over 600 participants and featured 152 inspirational classes by 36 guest speakers.

On Wednesday evening, participants were wowed by a spectacular musical concert with the renowned glass harpist Jamey Turner followed by Eli Rosenbaum who related some of his fascinating encounters as the American government’s chief Nazi hunter.

Thursday night featured a gala banquet with George Allen, former senator and governor of Virginia that was covered by national newspapers and major TV networks.

Ally Vicarro, a teen from Bel Air California received an award for saving a life, putting into practice what she had just learned at the JLI Teens’ course, MySpace YourSpace. The banquet was followed by a delectable Viennese table and art-viewing and then a lively concert with Avraham Fried.

Joined by 30 Shluchim, participants experienced a vibrant Shabbos atmosphere and enjoyed keynote addresses by Rabbi Yitzchok Schochet, Rabbi Moshe Bryski, and Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky.

At Shalosh Seudos, Rabbi Danny and Batsheva Cohen inspired the crowd relating experiences of their shlichus in Chevron. On Motzei Shabbos, Comedian Marc Weinerhad the crowd rolling with laughter at his Jewish themed stand-up comedy routine. Participants left transformed and charged with inspiration for the coming year.

Overall, the retreat was the largest and most well attended to date. Next year, the 6th Annual National Jewish Retreat will IYH be held on August 16-21, 2011.

Photos by Bentzi Sasson