The 2025 National Jewish Retreat, held August 13–17 at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, D.C., brought together 1,200 participants from across the United States, Canada, Europe, and Israel. Organized by the Rohr Jewish Learning Institute (JLI), the five-day gathering featured more than 160 sessions led by over 70 esteemed speakers, covering subjects such as Jewish history, philosophy, medical ethics, and contemporary issues in Halacha.
Among the participants were 150 students from the Sinai Scholars Society program, who took part in specialized programming designed to deepen their understanding of Jewish texts and philosophy while fostering leadership and community-building.
Highlights included thought-provoking lectures from Rabbis Manis Friedman, Simon Jacobson, Yitzchak Schochet, who explored themes ranging from the purpose of creation to Torah perspectives on daily life. Rabbi Levi Shemtov, Executive Vice President of American Friends of Lubavitch (Chabad) and host Shliach, as well as Mrs. Nechama Shemtov led sessions and addressed the banquet Thursday night. Rabbi Yechiel Krisch and Rabbi Dr. Edward Reichman addressed pressing medical dilemmas, while many other scholars and educators offered insights on topics that bridged timeless Jewish wisdom with today’s reality.
Interactive experiences produced by the JLI, now a staple of the Retreat, were among the most popular events. In the “Quote Me on That” game show, prominent figures were quizzed with rapid-fire questions, tested in a buzzer round, and challenged to deliver off-the-cuff sermons, with the audience serving as judges. “In the Dungeons of the Inquisition” transported participants into pivotal moments in Jewish history, where they engaged with on-stage actors to grapple with the dilemmas of the time and discover how halachic rulings shaped the outcomes.
The Retreat’s most moving moments came from personal stories of resilience. Ten-year-old Ben Carasso, a young boy from Israel, spoke about the power of each individual voice to make a difference. Miriam Peretz, who tragically lost two sons and her husband, delivered a message of courage and strength in the face of adversity. The atmosphere reached a powerful peak when Or Levy, who had been held hostage by Hamas for 491 days, led the crowd in singing Acheinu Kol Beis Yisroel alongside Jewish music star Shulem Lemmer. The true feeling of Am Yisrael Chai echoed throughout the hall, filling the Retreat with an unmistakable spirit of unity and hope. IDF soldier Noam Buskilla welcomed Shabbos with soul-stirring melodies and concluded it with an outdoor Havdalah that created a shared moment of connection.
Participants also enjoyed evenings of music and laughter, including a soulful concert by Shulem Lemmer, as he took the audience on a journey of Jewish History through song, and a comedy night with Elon Gold, which added humor and laughter to the Retreat experience.
At its core, the Retreat sought to bring Torah and Chassidus to life, demonstrating its timeless relevance and offering uplifting guidance for personal growth. The sessions highlighted the breadth of the Rebbe’s Torah, showing its practical application in every area of life, from spiritual development to navigating modern challenges.
Throughout the event, participants engaged in thoughtful discussions, communal Tefillos, and spirited singing, which fostered a profound sense of unity. As the Retreat concluded, attendees left with renewed purpose and a deeper connection to their Jewish heritage, inspired to bring these lessons back to their communities and into their daily lives, with excitement already building for the 2026 National Jewish Retreat, which will be held August 5-9 at the National Doral Hotel in Miami, Florida.
