To say the Shabbaton at the Stamford Plaza in Connecticut, was a success would be an understatement. Organizers from Chamah, Lubavitch Youth Organization and Bris Avrohom all admit that it surpassed all their expectations.
They were a very diverse group of families, workers, scientists, students and singles. There was a group of young people and a teacher from the Litvishe community who later commented, "We never knew that Lubavitch could accomplish such a great event."
The crowd totaled some 700 people who came from Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, Boston and its surrounding cities, Philadelphia, Chicago, and even from California, Toronto and Ottawa. 37 cities from about 9 states to be exact.
Their common interest was a genuine desire to learn more about yiddishkeit. And their cultural connection, other than being Jewish, was they all were Russian speakers.
Shabbos meals and the food was of the highest quality, yet people said "We didn’t come for the food; we’re looking for spirituality!" Coordination of the weekend rested on the shoulders of Chamah and especially their program director Rabbi Benzion Laskin who worked from about 8 AM until after midnight (and the hours remaining for rest were literally sleepless). Rabbi Baruch Lepkivker, Program Director of Bris Avrohom, played a key role in the program preparation, and was a great keynote speaker as well - his lecture was enjoyed by many people. Levi Levin also worked tirelessly, dedicating countless hours toward the program.
The Shabbaton attracted the Russian media – newspapers, TV, and radio - such as Ari Kogan, Mikhail Nemirovsky, and Boris Tenser. There is no doubt that the Shabbaton will have a long-lasting influence on its guests. If some initially felt they would be a black sheep among the 'black-hatters', they were surely amazed to find Jews from various backgrounds, attitudes, opinions – religious and totally secular – who united as one large family. People made new friends, exchanged phone numbers and emails. There was a special program for teenagers, a special program for singles, and a babysitting program so that parents could freely attend lectures. Although there was a heated pool available and a fitness room, guests were more focused on the 50 talks and lectures on yiddishkeit. The main speaker was Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Jacobson, one of the most sought after speakers in the Jewish world, who encouraged his audience to strengthen their commitment to Judaism with his educational stories and humor.
Rabbi Levke Kaplan was very instrumental in making the Shabbaton a success as a chazzan singing Chassidic niggunim in the davening.
Mrs. Katya Kapelnikova, a poet and bard singer (reading poems with the accompaniment of guitar), came from Chicago with her poems on Jewish subjects that brought many women to tears, and on Sunday, the talented Russian immigrant Boys Chior, M Generation, inspired all of the guests, the children in particular.
Jewish music superstar Avraham Fried came on Motzoei Shabbos and had the crowd singing and dancing with true ahavas yisroel spirit and Adar joy until after midnight.
Chamah expresses special thanks to the following Shluchim for their tireless efforts and participation, which contributed to the success to the Shabbaton:
Rabbi Mordechai Kanelsky, who, as always, gave an impressive speech, and brought about 30 families from Bris Avrohom from the New Jersey area.
Rabbi Dan Rodkin from Shaloh House in Boston, arrived with more than twenty families, contributing greatly to the Shabbaton.
Rabbi Eli Blokh organized a large group from Queens, and organized a great babysitting program.
Rabbi Sholom Goldshmidt of Lubavitch Center for Russian Jewry in Philadelphia sent a group of about 20 university students – even paying a part of their expenses. Rabbi Eli and Tanya Kogan from Staten Island arrived with their community, and as always, gave highly intellectual speeches.
Also thanks to Rabbi Ze’ev Kushnirsky, who came with his group from Sheepshead Bay, Rabbi Ephriam Zaltzman from Chabad of Kingsborough College and Rabbi of Young Israel of Brighton Beach, Rebbetzin Chana Zaltzman, a professional teacher and speaker, Rabbi Dovid Okonov from FREE of Brighton Beach, Rabbi Zushe Winner from Project Neshama, and Rabbi Chaim and Rivky Brikman of Chabad of Sea Gate, who arrived with members of their community and gave very inspirational speeches.
Rabbi Moshe Chaim Levin of Chabad of Kensington brought members of his community and inspired guests with his lectures. His family took a important role at the Shabbaton, such as Mrs. Doba Levin who gave various lectures in Russian, Rabbi Yehuda Levin spoke as well, Levin's married daughter, Rochel, ran the youth program, and his daughters Rivkah and Elka who greeted Shabbaton guests upon their arrival to the hotel – checking their names and handing them a program with a bar of chocolate. Also thanks to Mrs. Shulamit Blokh who took upon herself the difficult job of managing the babysitting program, Mendy Wilansky, who took special care of the young boys – guiding them through the davening, new member of Chamah, Elana Litkowski, from Long Beach, California, who contributed greatly to all the behind-the-scene operations, Mrs. Yehudit Brum, a renowned lecturer on family relationships, Mrs. Chedva Federman, a criminal investigator, spoke about finding and helping a young woman reclaim her Jewish identity amidst a murder investigation, and Mrs. Sarah Mendelson did not only come with a group of people, but also gave inspiring speeches.
Speeches were also heard from Rabbi Dovid Karpov of Chamah Moscow who came specially for this event; Rabbi Yisroel Deren, Director of Chabad Lubavitch of Fairfield County, Connecticut; Rabbi Pinchus Morozow from Chabad of Coney Island; Rabbi Yaakov Elman from Milwaukee, and Mrs. Basya Chudaitov spoke eloquently about what the Shabbat candles tell us.
Some even complained about having "too many interesting lectures happening simultaneously," and they could not keep up with all of them – because 5 to 6 lectures were held at the same time for every level of knowledge. The impact of the Shabbaton was evident when Rabbi Dan Rodkin noted that less men put on Tefillin with him since they have committed at last year's shabbaton to do so everyday and have kept the resolution faithfully. Guests couldn’t find words to express their excitement about the program and how well it was organized. One said, “We have been on a lot of Shabbatons, but never experienced such an organized Shabbaton filled with so much knowledge as this one.” It was amazing to see how women – religious and non-religious – covered their hair, and stayed for a few minutes with closed eyes before their Shabbat candles, praying. "This Shabbaton and its partners demonstrate the saying of our sages, 'Nothing stands in the way of the will.' The Rebbe said as a guarantee, that whatever Chassidim are involved in, they will always be successful and have the upper-hand," said the organizers Rabbi Hillel Zaltzman, Rabbi Moshiach Chudaitov and Rabbi Benjamin Malachowski.
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