Young Adult Shabbaton is a South American Hit

By COLlive reporter

A Pegisha – Shabbaton for young adults and students took place in Argentina, where over 230 Jewish young men and women spent 4 days at a hotel retreat, and were inspired and learned about Judaism.

The weekend event, now in its 30th year, is organized by Beit Chabad Palermo – El Lazo Youth Center in Buenos Aires, directed by Rabbi Shlomo Levy, whose “passion, dedication and ability to connect with the students, is what makes this yearly event a success,” participants said.

The Pegisha attracts students and young professionals from 18-35 years old, who hail from Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, Chile, Brazil, and other locations throughout South America.

This year’s Pegisha took place in Carilo, Buenos Aires, at a beautiful beachside hotel. The theme was, “The main thing is the action,” and participants took part in lectures, sports, a full Shabbat experience, farbrengens, Jewish “speed dating,” and more.

“The Kabalas Shabbos was an amazing sight to see,” Rabbi Zalmy Levy, one of the coordinators of the Pegisha, told COLlive. “The dancing, prayers, inspiration and singing were out of this world!”

A main goal of the yearly Pegisha weekend is to teach participants about the Jewish approach to relationships and marriage, as well as the calamity of intermarriage. Each participant received a book by Uruguay shliach Rabbi Lazer Shemtov, “Rabbi, Why Can’t I Marry Her?”

“Every year we see more couples as a result of the weekend, and so many participants come out more connected to their Judaism,” Rabbi Zalmy Levy said.

The 4 day retreat was full of emotional milestones, with many students having their first aliya to the Torah, some the first time they put on tefillin, and many of the women were given a Hebrew name, Levy said.

Other topics dealt with during the weekend were Taharat hamishpacha, happiness, Shabbat, and purpose in life.

Sunday night, a fascinating “Stump the Rabbi” session led into a grand bonfire on the beach.

“We have seen so many of these young students come back uplifted from the Pegisha,” organizers said. “They are prepared to live up to the best of their abilities to ensure a Jewish future.”