Shabbaton for Young Professionals to Take Place in San Diego

“Encounters” by the Chabad Young Professionals team at Merkos 302 is gearing up for its first-ever regional event on the West Coast this weekend. Full Story

December 7, 2022 – 13 Kislev 5783

“Encounters” by the Chabad Young Professionals team at Merkos 302 is gearing up for its first-ever regional event on the West Coast this weekend. Full Story

“Encounters” by CYP is already a proven brand of excellence, adventure, camaraderie, and inspiration. Curated by the Chabad Young Professionals team at Merkos 302, these Encounters include experiences such as an annual Shabbaton for young professionals in Crown Heights and trips to exotic locations such as Panama and Guatemala. After each one, participants return inspired and connected.

Expanding the experience and making it ever more available, Encounters is gearing up for its first-ever regional event on the West Coast. Scheduled for this upcoming weekend in Pacific Beach, San Diego, at the local Chabad Young Professional Center of Rabbi Yossi and Rochie Tiefenbrun, there’s quite a buzz about the prospect of hundreds of local young adults convening on the California Golden Coast.

“Some of our community members have either been to an Encounter themselves or heard about it, and they always return on fire,” said Rabbi Berke Rodal of CYP Mt. Olympus, “I’ve always wished we could bring that experience to more people in our community, and this is a golden opportunity to do so. Everyone here is excited about it.”

As with every such event, participants hail from tens of Chabad Young Professional chapters up and down the coast and everywhere else in between. All in all, close to thirty shluchim are participating, each one sending delegates to revel together for the weekend. To add to the camaraderie of the experience, many of the shluchim will be joining in person as well.

The itinerary is bursting with exciting experiences specifically curated for the young professional audience. Scholars in residence, Rabbi Abba and Chanie Perlmutter, will be on hand throughout the weekend, lecturing and farbrenging about such important topics as meaningful relationships and the importance of Jewish marriage. A crossfire will be held on Shabbos afternoon where anything a modern young adult ever wondered about relationships will be on the table.

Of course, the signature five-star luxury of any CYP experience is in the works for this weekend as well. Set on the stunning beaches of the Southern Californian coast and with all the amenities of an upscale resort, the body will be well taken care of. The rest is up to the soul—with opportunities available in bucket loads. With farbrengens, lectures, davening, and as many heart-to-hearts that a couple hundred hearts can handle, the stage is set for an experience of both body and soul.

After the peaceful rest of Shabbos, a Fireside Social is scheduled to take place in a swanky location downtown. With a bonfire, BBQ, and kumzitz with music sensation Yossi Rodal, there’s bound to be that trademark CYP energy and fire. The evening is open to the public, giving the opportunity for all those YPs who couldn’t make it over Shabbos to join the fun.

The Shabbaton will be topped off on Sunday with an epic trek through the beautiful rock formations, iconic sandstone cliffs, and breathtaking scenic views at the summit of the Torrey Pines Trail in what promises to be a stunning conclusion to one powerful weekend.