By Leora Goldfarb
Photo by Alex Rosenfeld and Lena Di
Can you imagine the thunderous sound of 1,200 people answering “Amen” to the brachos of havdallah? That’s what the guests experienced last weekend at the 9th National Annual Russian Shabbaton at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Stamford, Connecticut.
Russian speaking Jews from over 40 communities and several countries united to celebrate, learn, and connect. Chamah, in conjunction with Lubavitch Youth Organization, worked with the devoted members of the program committee under the able leadership of Shabbaton Director and Chamah Program Director, Rabbi Benzion Laskin, to ensure the success of every detail.
Rabbis Hillel Zaltzman, Moshiach Chudaitov, and Binyomin Malachovski, President, Vice President, and Executive Director of Chamah, along with Rabbis Kasriel Kastel, Chaim Meir Lieberman, and Moshe Goldman of Lubavitch Youth Organization, spared no effort nor expense in providing the ultimate in comfort, luxury, and entertainment.
The Weiss brothers of five-star Nesher Catering provided an overabundance of fantastic food.
Speakers were flown in from Israel, Australia, Russia, and Canada. A book fair featured books on a large variety of Jewish topics in Hebrew, English, and Russian. The learning touched people’s minds and hearts. Over 70 lectures were offered in English and Russian a vast array of topics including halacha, kabbalah, text-based Torah study sessions, Torah and science, optimizing good health, interpersonal relationships, family, chassidus, and hands-on workshops, such as challah baking, food decorating, and more.
The Shabbaton provided fantastic entertainment for all ages. At the Melave Malka, Gad Elbaz thrilled the audience and had everyone jumping and dancing as he performed in concert with the Rambam Orchestra. “Jazz for the Jewish Soul” by Israeli composer and performer Zlata Razdolina and her all-women band performed original compositions and famous Nigunim in Russian, Yiddish, Hebrew, and English in a separate concert for women.
A show by the Israeli comedy duo Ronen and Chai Davidov kept the audience roaring with laughter. Amir Lustig, the renowned mentalist from Israel, amazed everyone with his “powers.”
One of the unique lectures was given by David Weiss, award-winning Hollywood screenwriter, who told the story of his journey from church youth leader to living life as an Orthodox Jew. David encouraged everyone to take one small step forward in their Judaism.
Indeed, new steps were taken by many attendees, including a naming ceremony at krias hatorah on Shabbos where several people chose a Jewish name, a pidyon haben for adults, women lighting Shabbos candles for the first time, couples inspired to begin keeping taharas hamishpacha, a gentleman who decided to close his business on Shabbos, and many donning tefilin for the first time. A sofer sold several pairs of tefillin and taleisim to guests who decided to begin laying tefillin.
The participants shared their history of surviving Soviet Communism, and their unique Russian mentality still affecting them culturally here in America. At the Shabbaton with their usual defenses down, surrounded by others like themselves they felt comfortable to begin opening up, exploring, asking, and even doing. Following the Shabbaton, several families motivated by the fantastic programs for teens and children decided to give their children a Jewish education.
The Shabbaton guests were treated to a special surprise: A couple who met at last year’s Shabbaton jumped up on stage, and the young man took the microphone and announced: “I met this young lady at last year’s Shabbaton, and I haven’t let her out of my sight since. This year we returned to the Shabbaton together, and we were inspired to build a Jewish home. I proposed to her last night, and we are getting married!”
The Shabbaton actively seeks to help Jewish singles find their basherts. A professional shadchan was available to meet one on one with singles, lectures on dating were given, and programs for singles to meet were held for both younger and older singles. More than one couple who had met on this Shabbaton and returned with their children. Last year’s shababton brought four new couples together, one of which already has a newborn baby. Another couple celebrated their Shabbat Chatan at this year’s Shabbaton.
Altogether the 9th annual Shabbaton was magnificently successful in every area.
VIDEO: Recap of 9th National Russian Shabbaton
The Shabbaton is the perfect medium for Shluchim to bring their mekuravim to the next level. It is their hard work year after year that makes the Shabbaton such an amazing event (full list here).
Chamah International and Lubavitch Youth Organization would like to thank:
The program committee Rabbi Baruch Lepkivker, Rabbi Moshe Chaim Levin, Rabbi Eli Kogan, Rabbi Velvel Bilinsky, and Mrs. Esther Tauber.
The children’s program directors Mrs. Hannah Zaltzman and Mrs. Chaya Mushka Druckman and Mendel Levin. Mrs. Sima Vernick and Mrs. Ruchama Baum who ran the babysitting program. Rabbi and Mrs. Langsom for the fantastic teen program.
The Chamah office staff that worked tirelessly on the success of Shabbaton, Levi Levin and Tzipora Fischer, Rabbi Menachem Chuzin head of the bookfair, Dvora Brand and Malky Skolnik who tackled the huge job of registering the over 1,000 guests.
Rabbi Yitzchok Wolovik, Rabbi Baruch Babayev, Rabbi Zalman Zvulunov thank you for your very hard work on behalf of the Shabbaton.
very inspiring and beautiful
Rabbi and Mrs levin and the entire Levin household! !!
Moussia, Fruma, and Esther Liba
:)) miss u guys