Over 1,000 Russian-speaking Jews will gather at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Stamford, CT to be inspired, educated, entertained—and to usher in Adar with joy.
Excitement is mounting as the date of 8th Annual National Russian Shabbaton is fast approaching.
Registration is filling up quickly for what has become the largest event of its kind for Russian Jewry in North America. Participants come from seven countries and forty communities from across the United States and Canada. Great attention is paid to every detail to ensure the success of the Shabbaton, evidenced by the overwhelming number of guests who return year after year.
The National Russian Shabbaton is a joint project of Lubavitch Youth Organization, Rabbi Kasriel Kastel, Program Director, and Rabbi Chaim Meir Lieberman, Member Board of Directors, LYO, and Chamah International, under the leadership of Rabbis Hillel Zaltzman, Moshiach Chudaitov and Binyomin Malachovski, with participation of many dozens of shluchim. For a full line-up of this year’s faculty click here.
The event unites Jews from all stages of observance. For many, the Shabbaton is the first time experiencing an authentic Shabbos and learning about their rich heritage. “This is an event that is changing lives,” said Shabbaton Director Rabbi Benzion Laskin.
“We are constantly hearing about participants who were inspired to join their local Chabad House, keep Shabbos, or send their children to Jewish schools—all because of the strong connection to Yiddishkeit that was forged at the Shabbaton. Each year several couples who met each other at the Shabbaton are happily married.”
As per the Rebbe’s directive, the organizers make every effort to reach out to as many Yidden as possible. It is indeed an opportunity to encourage all Russian speaking Jews—in fact, all Jews—to be part of a most intense learning experience, and bonding with fellow Yidden in warm, congenial atmosphere.
Over 70 inspiring and educational sessions in both English and Russian—as many as six running simultaneously—and 40 stimulating workshops inspire and educate.
Special programs for singles afford them the opportunity to meet their bashert—in fact, two couples who had met at last year’s Shabbaton got married this year. Expert Shaddchanit Sara Rodkin of ru.shiduch.org will be available to meet one-on-one with Shabbaton participants. Fifty college-age girls from Chabad of Moscow will be special guests at this year’s Shabbaton.
The guests relax and rejuvenate in luxury accommodations, will be wined and dined with eight gourmet meals, royally entertainment by Tal Vaknin, latest Israeli singing sensation in concert; Zlata Radzdolina, award-winning Israeli composer and singer; the sweet voices of M-Generation Choir of F.R.E.E. of Brighton Beach, and Avi Liberman, hilarious stand-up comedian, featured on CBS, Showtine and Comedy Central.
This year’s lineup of prominent lecturers includes Rabbi Yosef Mendelevich, famous Refusenik, “Prisoner of Zion”, author of The Unbroken Spirit; Dr. Yisroel Susskind, clinical psychologist and marital counselor; Chana Weisberg, author and editor of thejewishwoman.org; Rabbi Boruch Gorin, Editor-in-chief of Krinizhniki Publishers and spokesman for FJC; Rabbi Yeshaya Gisser, scholar-in-residence of the Steinzaltz Center; Rabbi Aryeh Weinstein, Rabbi of The Shul at Newtown, PA; Esther Wojcicki, educator and author; Dr. Alexander Poltorak, theoretical physicist; Tzameret Borevitz, lecturer and teacher.
For the full line-up of this year’s full faculty, click here.
Over 30 counselors run fun-filled, educational programs to engage the teens, and the full day camp keeps the 300 children happily occupied, freeing their parents to participate in the program worry-free, and to get the most out of the Shabbaton. Babysitters entertain and care for the little ones. The amazing children’s program is very ably run by veteran educator Chanie Zaltzman.
The Shabbaton has proven to be a valuable tool for shluchim. Chabad houses from 40 communities in the US are represented. Shluchim from as far as Canada, Russia and the Ukraine bring their mekuravim back year after year.
Registration takes place at russianshabbaton.com, or by calling 212-943-9690.
The best testimonial to the success of the Shabbaton is the most-oft remark heard from participants: “When is next year’s Shabbaton?”
No words . Was first time last year and was really amazed .Not going to miss this years Shabbaton .