Aliya Joins for Inspiring Shabbat

Once again Aliya hit the road for another uplifting and transformational Shabbaton to Tanerssville, NY. Aliya’s biannual Shabbatons are by far one of the highlights of the Aliya calendar. A bunch of young and highly energized young men packed into a van and 3 cars and set off from Aliya to Tannersville this past Friday morning for a shabbos they will never forget.

When they arrived at the beautiful vacation home with majestic views overlooking Hunter Mountain and plenty of ambiance, they were immediately transformed into a very uplifting space. Payment for the trip included handing in cell phones for Shabbos and being present at all minyanim. Kabbolas Shabbos was sung in the most beautiful way followed by a delicious shabbos meal. Thank you to Mrs. Malka, Moishe Rubashkin, Sholom Ber Minkowitz and Gumbos for enhancing the meals in such a loving way. Thank you Dovid Inglis (Aliya’s in-house chef) for all the food preparation. The meal rolled into a lively farbrengen with Rabbi Feiglin and Rabbi Shemtov til the wee hours of the morning. The house had a small makeshift mikvah which was just several degrees warmer than ice. That didn’t stop any of the young men that wrap Teffilin on Kingston avenue in sub-freezing temperatures from taking on the “Ice Mikva” Challenge.

Between Shachris and Mincha almost everyone got called up to the Torah amidst another meaningful davening. Following Mincha was a shabbos meal that lasted until Motzoi shabbos. Bowling followed Maariv and Havdalah which was followed by a barbecue/Melave Malka. By then everyone wanted a relatively early night before a big day of Skiing. Everyone ate breakfast, davened, packed and loaded their bags by 9am on a Sunday morning! It was a beautiful sunny day on Hunter Mountain that everyone enjoyed.

After skiing was Mincha and a long drive back to Brooklyn for the final banquet at the beautiful Pescada restaurant on Ocean Avenue. What a way to end an inspirational weekend. Everyone shared their highlights of the weekend and shared positive resolutions for the take-home.

One would have thought that skiing would have been the highlight. What was actually discovered was the phone free shabbos with close friends by far exceeded the skiing!