Coming Up: Russian Hakhel

Excitement is mounting, with only 1 week left till the 7th Annual National Russian Shabbaton of Shnas Hakhel 5776. Registration is filling up quickly for the largest event of its kind for Russian Jewry in North America. The retreat will take place President’s Day Weekend, February 12th thru 14th, 2016, Shnas Hakhel, 3rd through 5th of Adar I, 5776.

Over 1,000 participants from seven countries and forty communities across the United States and Canada gather at the newly renovated Crowne Plaza Hotel in Stamford, CT to be inspired, educated, entertained, and rejuvenated.

The event unites Jews from all stages of observance. For many, the Shabbaton is the first time experiencing an authentic Shabbos and learning about their rich heritage. “This is an event that is changing lives,” said Shabbaton Director Rabbi Benzion Laskin. “We are constantly hearing about participants who were inspired to join their local minyan, keep Shabbos, visit Israel or send their children to Jewish schools—all because of the strong connection to Yiddishkeit that was made at the Shabbaton.”

The National Russian Shabbaton is a joint project of Chamah International, under the leadership of Rabbis Hillel Zaltzman, Moshiach Chudaitov and Binyomin Malachovski in conjunction with Rabbi Kasriel Kastel of Lubavitch Youth Organization, with the participation of many dozens of shluchim.

The Shabbaton has proven to be a valuable tool for shluchim. Chabad house from 40 communities in the US is represented. Shluchim from as far as Canada, Russia and the Ukraine have brought their mekuravim back year after year.

As per the Rebbe’s directive, efforts are being redoubled this year of Hakhel to reach out to as many Yidden as possible. It is indeed an opportunity to encourage all Russian speaking Jews—in fact, all Jews—to be part of a most intense learning experience, while spending three days being superbly wined and dined in luxury accommodations, and bonding with fellow Yidden in warm, congenial atmosphere. Great attention is paid to details to ensure success in all aspects of the Shabbaton.

Registration takes place online at russianshabbaton.com.

The Shabbaton features over 70 inspiring and educational sessions—as many as six running simultaneously—and 40 stimulating workshops in both English and Russian. Special programs for singles afford them the opportunity to meet their bashert—in fact, two couples who had met at last year’s Shabbaton got married this year. Over thirty couselors run separate fun-filled and educational programs to engage the teens, and keep the 300 children happily occupied to free their parents to partake of the lectures worry-free, and get the most out of the Shabbaton. Babysitters entertain and care for the little ones. The children’s program is very ably run by Chanie Zaltzman.

This year’s lineup of renowned lecturers includes Rabbi Levi Y. Garelik, Rabbi of the European Synagogue Ohel Eliezer in Brussels and lecturer of sichosonline.org, Rabbi Yishaya Gisser, scholar-in-residence of the Steinzaltz Center, Ronn Torossian, leading public relations executive, Dov Hikind, New York Assemblyman, Chana Weisberg, popular author, inspirational speaker and editor of thejewishwoman.org, Dr. Alexander Poltorak, theoretical physicist, and Mrs. Lea (Valeria) Poltorak, biophysicist.

The guests will be royally entertainment by Yishai Lapidot, Israeli singing sensation and his band, Marc Weiner, popular American comedian and clown, Uriel Schtern, famous chef and author, and Zlata Radzonlina, award-winning Israeli composer and singer.