Torah study had never been part of Gabriela’s life in Ecuador. But by the final day of the Oasis Espiritual retreat in Panama City, she found herself approaching one of the speakers. “I would like to begin, little by little, to study Torah,” she told her. “It is never too late.”
Her words captured the spirit of the second annual Oasis Espiritual, the four-day spiritual retreat for Spanish-speaking Jewish women organized by the Spanish Desk at Merkos 302. Held April 23–26 at Panama City’s Bet El Synagogue, the retreat brought together women from across Latin America for a Shabbos of Torah classes, farbrengens, and deeply personal conversations, shared entirely in their native language.
“Across Latin America, women are reconnecting to their Yiddishkeit, each guided by her local shlucha, each on her own journey,” said Rabbi Mendy Kotlarsky, Chairman of Merkos 302’s Spanish Desk Executive Director of Merkos 302. “When they come together, they discover they’re not alone in their questions and spiritual aspirations.”
Building on the success of last year’s inaugural retreat, this year’s program featured a lineup of seven engaging speakers, covering topics from Shalom Bayit and bitachon to the meaning of tefilah and personal geulah.
Thursday opened with a welcome dinner and a greeting from Rabbi Aaron Laine, Head Shliach and Chief Ashkenazi Rabbi of Panama. An art workshop with wine and cheese followed, setting a warm, informal tone before the weekend began. Friday morning, Mrs. Goldie Slavin delivered the retreat’s first full lecture on faith and resilience, followed by a group excursion and visits to local synagogues and kosher stores in Panama’s vibrant Jewish Community.
As Shabbos settled over Panama City, participants gathered for a group candle lighting and Kabbalas Shabbos. The Shabbos seuda featured words of Torah alongside personal stories from participants themselves. Later that evening, Mrs. Molly Resnick spoke about her journey from Hollywood to Jewish life.
Shabbos day continued with a morning lecture by Mrs. Slavin, a Torah reading, and a guided mikve visit. Participants shared their own stories of Jewish life during the second seuda, and Mrs. Raquel Burstein led a session on the connection between song and prayer. At Seudat Shlishit, Mrs. Nechama Benayon spoke on personal redemption and the path to geulah, before Havdala closed Shabbos.
Motzei Shabbos brought a grand Melave Malka with a gourmet dinner and an illusionist show. The retreat concluded Sunday with two sessions by Mrs. Yael Trusch, a closing program with hachlatos, and lunch boxes for the trip home. Additional classes were held over the weekend with Mrs. Sandra Gutt, Rebbetzin Fradel Laine, Mrs. Sara Dornbusch, and Mrs. Sara Perman.
For many women, the retreat’s deepest impact came between the scheduled sessions. “I was deeply moved to hear the personal stories of so many women, their journeys and their experiences,” said Melanie from Chile. “The atmosphere felt warm, joyful, and cohesive, a place where every single detail had been thoughtfully crafted.”
Hanita from Paraguay echoed the feeling. “I truly felt that everything was designed to ensure our comfort,” she said. “Most importantly, I left with a renewed desire to continue growing spiritually and to draw closer.”
The retreat was organized under the leadership of Rabbi Chai Kohan, director of the Spanish Desk at Merkos 302, in partnership with the host community led by Rabbi Aaron and Rebbetzin Fradel Laine and a Vaad of Shluchos and local women who coordinated the programming.
“After many months of work alongside a wonderful team of shluchot and local women, Baruch Hashem, we were able to witness the positive results achieved by each of the participants,” said Rabbi Kohan. “Seeing how they connected with the classes and with their Judaism is a great accomplishment that they were able to achieve.”
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Vaad of Shluchos:
Mrs. Fradel Laine, Mrs. Chana Spalter, Mrs. Chani Liberow, Mrs. Miriam Feigelstock
Panama Collaborators:
Mrs. Sara Dornbusch, Mrs. Carolina Dejtiar, Mrs. Lorena Bekmuan, Mrs. Debbi Finkelstein
Special thanks to Mrs. Esther Kamhaji for her support before and during the retreat, and for serving as MC.
