Campus Shabbat Inspires Students

Photos: Bentzi Sasson

For the first time, Chabad on Campus International Foundation coordinated a pilot Taste of Yeshiva Shabbaton in conjunction with three yeshivas geared to college students.

The Shabbaton was hosted by Rabbinical College of America in Morristown, New Jersey and was attended by 15 students from around the United States. The students enjoyed fascinating classes given by an array of yeshiva educators from the participating mosdos, including Rabbi Boruch Kaplan of Mayanot Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem, Rabbi Yisroel Geisinsky of Yeshiva Torah Ohr in Miami, and Rabbi Zalman Dubinsky and Rabbi Yaakov Wagner of Yeshiva Tiferes Bochurim in Morristown.

In addition to the many classes, the Shabbaton, which was directed by Rabbi Levi Rabin of Chabad on Campus International Foundation, included chavrusah learning with Tomchei Tmimim bochurim, a game of basketball, a moving seder nigunim with Yeshiva Tomchei Tmimim of Morristown and an inspiring Motzai Shabbos kumzitz with Shevach Tamir and Moshe Katzen of the Yellow Red Sky band.

The Shabbaton concluded with a luncheon at which Rabbi Moshe Herson, Dean of Rabbinical College of America, spoke about the unique opportunity that a yeshiva offers. Rabbi Aaron Lazer Goodman, an attorney who attended both Mayanot and Morristown, shared his story of how it is possible for a normal student to make his life much more meaningful without sacrificing his or her career. Each student shared how the Shabbaton experience impacted them and almost all said they would be seriously considering applying to a yeshiva program over the coming months.

According to Rabbi Yossy Gordon, Executive Vice President of Chabad on Campus, “Shabbatons like this make the concept of attending Yeshiva much more approachable for students who may otherwise not consider taking time to study Torah and explore their Jewish heritage on a deeper level.”

Special thanks to Rabbi Levi Haskelevich, Shliach to University of Pennsylvania and Rabbi Boruch Hecht for all of their help making the Shabbaton a tremendous success.