Directors and principals of Chabad educational institutions in Israel held a conference in an unlikely location: The Ramada Almaty Hotel in Kazakhstan.
The group flew in to spend a few days discussing opportunities and challenges that they face daily in their work in educating the next generation of the Lubavitch community.
Held under the auspices of Reshet Oholei Yosef Yitzchok, the network of Chabad schools, the conference included sessions about helping students love Torah, and utilizing new educational models and tools.
The reason the conference was held in Almaty, formerly known as Alma-Ata, was to mark the yartzeit of Rabbi Levi Yitzchok Schneerson OBM, the fearless and scholarly father of the Rebbe.
Speakers during the conference used Reb Levik as an example for the devotion and self-sacrifice required to teach Jewish children. At the highlight of the conference, participants went together to his Ohel and davened there.
Reshet’s director Rabbi Eliyahu Kritchevsky presented a gift with the times of Kazakhstan, Israel and New York to the conference’s patron Avi Shaulson of Miami and his friend Sam Stern of Crown Heights.
The concluding event was a festive banquet with elegant décor and music by Yoni Shlomo and the Welner brothers. Following the speakers, participants danced together.
Educators thanked Reshet, the contributors, and the Fleishman Peles VIP production company for coordinating the inspiring convention.
Wow, how times have changed. I wouldn’t be so surprised about Moscow, or one of the other well recognized big cities. Moshiach Times!
EFZ