United Florida Shabbaton Planned

By COLlive reporter

The Florida sun beats down hard on the driveway that winds its way past gurgling fountains to the sweeping entrance of the Bonaventure Resort & Spa.

In a month’s time, it will be filled with minivans and the sounds of hundreds of Lubavitchers arriving for One Shabbos, the unprecedented weekend retreat in honor of Gimmel Tammuz.

One Shabbos will gather in Anash from across the Sunshine State to celebrate a Shabbos of unity and renewed hiskashrus to the Rebbe.

“It’s twenty years since Gimmel Tammuz. Boruch Hashem, we are still ein mishpachah, one family of Chassidim. That’s what this weekend is about. Achdus that comes through shared hiskashrus,” says Rabbi Sholom Lipskar, Rabbi of The Shul in Bal Harbor.

The plush resort, dotted with palm trees and swimming pools, will be transformed into an oasis of Chassidic inspiration when it plays hosts to some of the biggest names in Lubavitch, including Rabbi Abraham Shemtov (Philadelphia, PA), Rabbi Yossi Lew (Peachtree, GA), Rabbi Aron Lazer Ceitlin (Israel), and Rebbetzin Mashie Lipskar (South Africa).

The extraordinary program kicks off on Friday, 22 Sivan and continues until Sunday, 24 Sivan. The collection of lectures, workshops and farbrengens have been “carefully built to deepen our hiskashrus to the Rebbe, to reinforce what it means to be Chassidim in dor hashvi’i,” according to Rabbi Yisroel Spalter, shliach in Weston. “The in-depth maamer shiurim, the lectures about the Rebbe’s life, the farbrengens; these are things that we will carry well into the future.”

Rabbi Yosef Biston, director of Chabad of North Broward and Palm Beach County, describes how One Shabbos is a family-oriented experience.

“We’re having a kids’ camp, and a babysitting group, and activities throughout the day, so that parents can enjoy everything being offered,” he said in between calls to the caterer and the resort management.

“We’re creating a beautiful, memorable atmosphere that lets people take full advantage of a Shabbos together with family, friends and the shluchim and mashpi’im who will be there. We have fully catered meals, great accommodations, all the amenities. Everything is taken care of.”

The large committee of men and women working around the clock to produce One Shabbos has announced that heavily subsidized places are available. Spalter explains, “We didn’t want anyone to miss out. Everyone will be able to share in this special Shabbos.”

Registration is now open at www.FloridaShabbaton.com.