Teen Network Hits the Slopes

Jewish Youth Network of Ontario’s annual Ski Retreat to Mt. Tremblant hit the slopes this year with a bang, sporting a bigger and better program than ever before!

Filled to capacity with wait-list room only, every single seat on the 56 passenger bus was occupied with enthusiastic and lively teenagers from across the GTA, who could hardly contain their anticipation of spending three exhilarating days carving up the mountains of Mt. Tremblant.

And carve they did, with excellent ski conditions, lots of fresh powder and good weather. Boosted by deluxe accommodations and nourished with plenty of kosher food and snacks catered directly from Montreal, the vivacious group skied from early morning to nightfall, finally winding down to dinner and intriguing fireside discussions.

Oran Avivi, Grade 10 Student at Northern Secondary School, observed: “What a wonderful view there was on the slopes, seeing the sun set on a gorgeous sparkling frozen lake, with evergreen trees and a sun so potent with color it could blind you, and to top it all off was sharing that view with your best friends, 870 meters in the sky!”

Some of the Retreat’s highlights included Mincha at the summit, a grand Super Bowl Party complete with Buffalo wings and schnitzel, thrilling first-hand Gaza war experiences as told by former IDF Paratrooper and trip chaperone Levi Mogilevsky, and a heated “Stump the Rabbi” session reflecting on Jewish identity by JYN Director and Youth Rabbi, Shmuli Nachlas.

North Toronto Collegiate Institute’s Grade 12 student, Jacqueline Gigan, commented: “I feel as though I really connected to my Jewish roots, and I highly enjoyed hearing stories from Levi about the Israeli army.”

The group was most enthralled by the tiny but kosher Torah that was used during morning prayers, captivated by its fascinating story of struggle and survival.

Special thanks and acknowledgement are extended to the Muchnik family, Chabad Shluchim to Mt. Tremblant, who, for 7 consecutive years, have made their Chabad House open and available to JYN, accommodating them in every way possible, and helping make this year’s trip a Retreat like no other. Our next youth retreat is planned for April to Washington D.C.