2600 at Conejo Chabad Yom Kippur

Once again, every boardroom, conference room, and ballroom was used to facilitate the overwhelming turnout for Chabad of the Conejo’s Yom Kippur Service at the luxurious Hyatt Westlake Plaza Hotel in Southern California.

The huge Grand Ballroom was filled to capacity for Kol Nidre, Yizkor and Neilah with over 1600 adults in attendance over Yom Kippur. The hotel sold out every guest room to the 650 people spending the whole Yom Kippur at the hotel. After Kol Nidre and Maariv, the hotel lobbies and corridors were filled with Jews late into the night. Many commented how the upscale hotel was transformed into a “little Jerusalem”.

This major undertaking was staffed by Rabbi Moshe Bryski, Rabbi Yisroel Levine, Rabbi Eli Broner, Rabbi Eli Laber, Rabbi Shmulik Naparstek, Rabbi Yossi Bryski, Rabbi Leibel Kahanov and Rabbi Yitz Weiss. The services were joined by a very special guest – Rabbi Mordechai Meir HaKohen Bryski. The senior Rabbi Bryski had Psichas Neilah and was visibly overwhelmed and moved by the sea of Yiddin of all ages and backgrounds. Before Tekias Shofar, he turned to the crowd and with tremendous emotion gave them a Brocho for the new year and asked the Ribono Shel Olom to “remove all obstacles that stand before all these holy Jews and their desire to be shomrei Torah and Mitzvos”. The crowd was visibly moved, many with tears, by the sight of the senior Chosid and by his warm words, while being surrounded by his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Rabbi Yisroel Levine was Chazan for Kol Nidre, Maariv, Shachris, Musaf and Neilah. Rabbi Shmulik Naparstek was Chazan for Mincha. David Bergstein purchased Maftir Yona. Rabbi Eli Broner led a beginner’s class on prayer. Rabbi Eli Laber led a Teen Service.

Rabbi Moshe Bryski delivered three emotional and uplifting sermons throughout Yom Kippur.

Over 300 children participated in the Youth Shul program offered by Chabad. Six hotel conference and boardrooms were used to facilitate this major undertaking. It was staffed by Ariela Guilis, Rivky Novack, Chana Levine, Chaya Levine, Chaya Bryski, Chaya Dahan, Devorah Leah Lubin, Mushka Gluck and Malka Collins.

The undertaking of the Hyatt Yom Kippur Retreat was coordinated by Mendel Novack, Yosef Schrage and Abba Bryski.

In addition to the services at the Hyatt, Chabad of the Conejo hosted services at Willow Elementary School in Agoura Hills where an additional 500 people attended and in Chabad of Westlake Village where another 200 people participated. The services at the School were led by Rabbi Shlomo Bistritzky. The Chazzan was Yaakov Shallman. The services in Westlake Village were led by Rabbi Yitzchak Sapochinsky. The Chazzan in Westlake was Eli Sapochkinsky.