By COLlive reporter
Looking back, organizers of the 11th National Russian Shabbaton, the largest of its kind in North America, can hardly believe that it took place a short few weeks ago, on the third of Adar 5780.
“In all likelihood, it was the last gathering of over 1,200 Yidden before the world was thrown into turmoil,” the organizers told COLlive.com this week as the world continues to fight the outbreak of coronavirus and events are banned under the strict social distancing regulations.
Over 1,200 mostly Russian-speaking Jews from the full spectrum of Torah observance gathered at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Stamford, CT.Shluchim from 40 communities and 16 states brought their mekuravim, young and old, families with small children, professionals, students, singles, and teens. Many experienced an authentic Shabbos for the very first time.
No effort nor expense was spared to provide the ultimate in comfort, luxury, and entertainment. The unprecedented large number of guests, the choice of 70 inspiring and informative lectures, the sensational concerts, the abundant gourmet cuisine by Weiss Brothers Catering of Nesher Inc., the beauty of an authentic Shabbos celebration, the great accommodations, the feeling of achdus that permeated the large crowd—surpassed all expectations.
From the lavish welcome buffet lunch on Friday through the farewell meal Sunday afternoon, it was one joyous celebration. The lectures by some of the greatest Torah scholars in the Jewish community, rabbis, doctors, and professors, were delivered both in Russian and English on a broad range of topics, at times six sessions running simultaneously.
This herculean undertaking is a joint project of Lubavitch Youth Organization, under the directorship of Program Director, Rabbi Kasriel Kastel and Executive Board Members, Rabbi Chaim Meir Lieberman and Rabbi Shalom Tenenbaum, and Chamah International: Rabbi Hillel Zaltzman, President, Rabbi Moshiach Chudaitov, Executive Vice President, Rabbi Binyomin Malachovski, Executive Director, Rabbi Benzion Laskin, Program Director, and Rabbi Berri Spitezki, Director of Development and Rabbi Menachem Chuzin Controller.
Many weeks of meticulous planning were evident by the smooth running of the event, headed by Rabbi Benzion Laskin, Shabbaton Director, and his hard-working Program Committee: Rabbis Baruch Lepkivker, Moshe Chaim Levin, Velvel Belinsky, Eli Kogan and Mrs. Esther Tauber.
Speakers were flown in from Israel, Australia, Russia, and Canada. The Shabbaton guests were faced with the dilemma of choosing between these renowned speakers: Rabbi Manis Friedaman, Rabbi YY Jacobson, Rebbetzin and psychologist Mrs. Esther Ofengenden, Israel, Rabbi Yoram Ulman, Head of Rabbinical Beis Din of Sydney, Australia, Rabbi Dov ber Baytman from Dnepropetrovsk, and many other mesmerizing lecturers.
Over 70 lectures were offered in English and Russian on a vast array of topics including halacha, kabbalah, text-based Torah study, Torah and science, optimizing your health, interpersonal relationships, family, and chassidus. The learning touched people’s minds and hearts, organizers said.
Throughout the weekend guests participated in hands-on workshops, such as challah baking, with Shlucha Sara Rodkin of Shaloh House in Boston, and “Bake your own hamentshen” with Shlucha Esther Winner of the Sea Breeze Jewish Center, food decorating, and much, much, more.
After the Shabbos Queen was eloquently ushered out, the fun-filled Motzoei Shabbos program began, kicked off by an incredible Concert “Music of the Jewish soul” by vivacious and acclaimed Israeli Composer Zlata Razdolina with her band “Jewish Jazz”, and Chassidishe stories told by Rabbi Benzion Laskin, engaging the audience. Soon, they had the men on their feet and jubilantly dancing with the exuberance that did justice to Chodesh Adar, with the ladies dancing on their side of the mechitzah.
The excitement was palpable as the 1,000 guests filed into the grand ballroom for the Gala Melave Malka Dinner. Dani Dayan, Consul General of Israel delivered his inspiring message to the crowd, Dr. Simcha Leibovitz, Representative of the WZO in North America inspired the crowd as well, as well as lending their kind support. Star singer Dudu Fisher live in concert with his band mesmerized the guests, and Moish, the newest star on the Jewish music scene rounded out the perfect evening.
The Sunday highlights were Crossfire with Rabbis Jacobson, Friedman and Ulman. The moderator of the fascinating Crossfire was Holywood screenwriter David Sacks.
At the closing ceremony Sunday afternoon, David Sacks shared his inspiring story of how a Golden Globe and Emmy awardee from Hollywood became a Shabbat- observant Jew. Rabbi YY Jacobson’s farewell address mesmerized the crowd. The incredibly gifted M Generation Boys Choir, a project of F.R.EE of Brighton Beach was the perfect send-off to a memorable weekend.
The fun-filled and educational children’s full-day program, which freed the parents to fully participate and enjoy the program. The Director of the Children Program were talented Sheina Golomb head counselors were Bracha Zaltzman and Rochel Heller, and babysitting services were efficiently headed by Mrs. Gitty Liberow. The Teen program was ably run by Rabbis Yaakov Golomb, Mendel Barrocas and Gira Sominski.
The nearly impossible feat of the Shabbaton Registration was efficiently tackled by Dasha Lakshin and Daniella Jebreel, Levi Levin, Esther Tauber and Mushkie Edelman of the Chamah staff were all deeply involved in the planning and execution of the event.
Special Thanks to coordinator Mrs. Nechamah Peles, David Scharf and Tuli Abrahams, Food and beverage director.
Thanks to Rabbi Zalman Zvulunov, Rabbi Itzhak Volovik, and Rabbi Baruch Babayov of the Bukharian Jewish community center in Queens.
One of the three Shabbaton sessions run by three in-house shadchanim dedicated to helping singles find their bashert in a Jewish setting was held Motzoei Shabbos. The shadchanim met one on one with singles and gave lectures on dating. Separate events were held for younger and older singles. Each year several couples who had met at the Russian Shabbaton are married. Many have returned with their children in tow.
From the time the candles were lit by hundreds of mothers and daughters, through the inspiring, uplifting Havdalah, it was truly a Shabbaton to remember. Indeed, new steps were taken by many attendees, women lighting Shabbos candles for the first time, couples inspired to begin keeping taharas hamishpacha, and many donning tefillin for the first time. A sofer sold several pairs of tefillin and taleisim to guests who undertook to begin laying tefillin.
The participants shared their history of surviving Soviet Communism, and their unique Russian mentality still affecting them culturally here in America. At the Shabbaton with their usual defenses down, surrounded by others like themselves they felt comfortable to begin opening up, exploring, asking, and even doing. Following the Shabbaton, several families motivated by the fantastic programs for teens and children decided to give their children a Jewish education.
The Shabbaton is the perfect medium for shluchim to bring their mekuravim up to the next level. It’s their hard work year after year that makes the Shabbaton such an amazing event.
Following an additional list of wonderful speakers and Shluchim that participtated at the Shabbaton!
Rabbi Shlomo Babayov, Israel
Rabbi Velvel Belinsky
Ariel Jewish Center, Baltimore, MD
Rabbi Eli Blokh, Chabad of Rego Park
Mrs. Shulamit Blokh, Chabad of Rego Park
Dr. Marika D. Cherfas, Doctor of Internal and Holistic Medicine
Mrs. Basya Chudaitov, Lecturer on Judaism to the Russian-Jewish Community
Rabbi Moshiach Chudaitov, Executive Vice President, Chamah
Rabbi Menachem Chuzhin, Director Chamah Mobile Center
Sara Chuzhin, M.S.E.D
Ambassador Dani Dayan
Rabbi Manis Friedman
Rabbi Dovid Goldshtein, Raje
Rabbi Avrohom Hertz, Chabad of Bensonhurst
Dr. Aleksandr Ilyaev
Mr. Ari Kagan, Brooklyn District Leader and Journalist
Rabbi Mordechai Kanelsky, Bris Avrohom, Executive Director
Mrs. Shterney Kanelsky, Bris Avrohom, Associate Director
Rabbi Aryeh Katzin, CEO of RAJE
Rabbi Eli Kogan, Jewish Russian Learning Center of S.I. and Editor of Ru.Chabad.org
Mr. Eugene Lekah, Executive Director of American Forum of Russian-speaking Jewry
Mrs. Doba Levin, Chabad of Kensington, Brooklyn, New York
Mrs. Sara Lieberman, Renowned Educator and Lecturer
Nadia Lipes, Historian, Portugal
Rabbi Shlomo Noginski, Shaloh House, Russian J.C. of Greater Boston
German Nudelman Ph.D, Immunologist, Mount Sinai Medical Center, NY
Rabbi Hirsh Okonov, F.R.E.E of Brighton Beach
Arsen Peremeyer, entrepreneur,
Avraham Shneor Zalman Petrosian, Author
Rabbi Eli Raskin, Cantor
Rabbi Dan Rodkin, Shaloh House, Russian J.C. of Greater Boston
Mrs. Sarah Rodkin, Shaloh House, Russian J.C. of Greater Boston, Shadchanit
Rabbi Aaron I. Reichel, Esq.
Raizel Rusanov, Shadchanit
David Sacks, Hollywood Producer and Screenwriter
Eduard Shyfrin, PhD
Dmitry Shiglik, Chairman of American Forum for Israel
Ilya and Esther Storobinsky, Matchmakers
Mrs. Sofya Tamarkin, Author
Rabbi Zushe Winner, Chabad Neshama Center
Mrs. Esther Winner, Chabad Neshamah Center
Rabbi Moshe Dovid Winner, Chabad Neshamah Center
Organizers said that they feel blessed for having “the opportunity to bring together so many Yidden, b’lev echad k’ish echad.” They said, “We raise our voices in a heartfelt tefilah that in the z’chus of the achdus that was so palpable at the Shabbaton, may He send a refuah shleimah immediately to all the cholim, and restore peace and tranquility to the world with the coming of Moshiach Tzikeinu, now!”
You are the best. עד מאה ועשרים. The Rebbe and Saba Refoel are shepping nachas!
Thank you so much to LUBAVITCH Youth and Chamah for making so much nachas to the rebbe ..
Great event, Great speakers, Great food, Great Melave Malka, Great Concert, Great Rabbis, Great Achdus, Great pictures.
Great job done by: Chammah, Lubavicher Youth Organization and Project Director Rav. Benzion Laskin and all staff members.