By COLlive reporter
Excitement is mounting and registration is filling up as the date of the Annual National Russian Shabbaton, the largest event of its kind for Russian Jewry in North America, is fast approaching.
Over 1,000 adults and 200 children will gather at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Stamford, CT on Presidents’ Day Weekend, February 15th–17th, 2019 to be inspired, educated, and entertained—in joyous Adar fashion.
Guests come from seven countries, and forty communities from across the US and Canada. The great attention paid to every detail is evidenced by the overwhelming number of guests who are eager to return year after year.
The National Russian Shabbaton is a joint project of Lubavitch Youth Organization, Rabbi Kasriel Kastel, Program Director, and Rabbi Chaim Meir Lieberman, Member of the Board of Directors, and Chamah International under the leadership of Rabbis Hillel Zaltzman, Moshiach Chudaitov and Binyomin Malachovski.
The Shabbaton Director is Rabbi Benzion Laskin, Chamah Program Director, with participation of many dozens of Shluchim.
The event unites Jews from all stages of observance. For many, the Shabbaton is their first time experiencing an authentic Shabbos and learning about their rich Jewish heritage. The Shabbaton has proven to be a valuable tool for Shluchim. From communities across the US and from as far as Canada, Russia and the Ukraine, they bring their mekuravim year after year.
“This is an event that is changing lives,” Rabbi Laskin,”We are constantly hearing from participants who were inspired to join their local Chabad House, keep Shabbos, or send their children to Jewish schools—all because of the strong connection to Yiddishkeit that was forged at the Shabbaton.
This year’s lineup of prominent lecturers include: Rabbi Yitzchak Kogan, “Tzadik of Leningrad,” a former refusenik and leading figure in the Soviet Jewish underground, Rabbi of the Bolshaya Bronnaya Synagogue, Moscow; Rabbi YY Jacobson, one of America’s most sought-after and most passionate and mesmerizing communicators and Torah scholars; Rabbi Levi Garelik, Internationally prominent lecturer, Spiritual Leader of the European synagogue in Brussels; Rabbi Israel Barenbaum, Dayan in Chief Rabbinical Court of Russia; Sara Crispe, life coach and inspirational speaker; Rabbi Boruch Gorin, Editor-in-chief of Knizhniki Publishers and L’Chaim Magazine, Spokesman for the FJC, Moscow; Rabbi Aryeh Weinstein, Dynamic speaker, Rabbi of The Shul at Newtown, PA, Rebbetzin Esther Ofengenden, Renowned child and family psychologist;
Konstantin Fam, Oscar-nominated Movie Director of Holocaust Trilogy Witnesses, Moscow.
For the full line-up of this year’s full faculty, click here
Expert Shaddchanit Chana Raksin will be available to meet one-on-one with Shabbaton participants. Special programs for singles afford them the opportunity to meet their bashert—in fact, two couples who had met at last year’s Shabbaton were married this year.
As per the Rebbe’s directive, the organizers make every effort to reach out specifically to Yidden who are not yet frum. It is indeed an opportunity to encourage all Russian speaking Jews—in fact, all Jews—to be part of a most intense learning experience, and to bond with fellow Yidden in warm, congenial atmosphere. Lifelong friendships are forged at the Shabbaton.
VIDEO: The Shabbaton promo
Over 70 inspiring and educational sessions in both English and Russian—as many as six running simultaneously—and 40 stimulating workshops inspire and educate.
The guests relax and rejuvenate in luxury accommodations, will be wined and dined with eight gourmet meals, royally entertainment by two world-class concerts, Chaim Mayesz, latest Chassidic singing sensation from Israel, and Zlata Radzdolina, famous award-winning Israeli composer and singer; the sweet voices of highly acclaimed, award-winning Atid Jews Boys Choir; Oz Pearlman, entertainer and one of the most popular mentalists in the US.
Over thirty counselors run fun-filled, educational programs to engage the teens, and the full day camp keeps the two hundred children happily occupied, freeing their parents to participate in the program worry-free, and to get the most out of the Shabbaton. Babysitters entertain and care for the little ones. The amazing children’s program is very ably run by veteran educator Hannah Zaltzman and her talented staff.
The Shabbaton has proven to be a valuable tool for Shluchim. Chabad houses from forty communities in the US are represented. Shluchim from as far as Canada, Russia and the Ukraine bring their mekuravim back year after year. The best testimonial to the success of the Shabbaton is the most-oft remark heard from participants: “When is next year’s Shabbaton?”
There are just a few days left until registration closes. Register at russianshabbaton.com or by calling the Shabbaton hotline: 646-565-3735
Been there twice and it was the most inspiring event in my life