Great Response to Anash of Illinois Shabbaton

KENOSHA, WI [CHI] — This past Shabbos Parshas Vayigash, a Shabbaton for Anash of Illinois (men & boys) was held at a hotel in Kenosha Wisconsin. Organized by Lubavitch Chabad of Illinois this phenomenal event was plannned with the help of the Rabbis and Shul representatives of Bnei Ruven, FREE, Bais Menachem, Cheder Lubavitch , Lubavitch Mesivta of Chicago, and Rabbi Tzali Wilschansky. Shliach in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

More pictures in the Extended Article! (by Avrohom Gedaliah Gershon)

Featured guests were Rabbi Yossi Lew of Chabad of Atlanta, GA who was the guest speaker and Farbrengen leader for the adults, and Rabbi Zalmy Kudan of Chabad of S. Barbara, CA, who together with a team of bochurim from the Lubavitch Mesivta of Chicago operated the concurrent children’s program.

Perhaps the most beautiful aspect of the event was purely the participation. Simply being together, young newly marrieds with old timers, teachers and businessmen, shluchim and askanim, all together, davening, learning, singing and saying l’chaim; it was beautiful. Throughout the Shabbos the children had their own daavening, meals and programs with songs, games and divrei Torah.

Here are some of the comments from participants in this unique Hakhel event.

“Dear Shabbaton organizers: How wonderful is it when brothers sit together. What an inspiring Shabbos! The only shame was that we couldn’t bottle the Shabbaton and sell it J”

“.. after this most amazing Shabbos, I can say I enjoyed every moment and was very inspired. Rabbi Lew was amazing of course, but the ikker was the Achdus, I had tears in my eyes sitting around the table last night singing Hinei Mah Tov with fellow Shluchim, mnahalei Mosdos, ”successful BB“, old timers, young anash vchulu all sitting azoi vi brider zin fun ein foter (like children – sons of one father).”

“Life as an urban Lubavitcher even with all of the unifying themes of Chassidus available, can still feel fragmented, disjointed and chaotic. To be in a place where the Chassidus is flowing that is also complemented by constant and uninterrupted togetherness with Chassidim, the same Chassidim facing the same everyday challenges at home and then upon returning home hearing that the women and girls got together and connected nicely too. Let me think of a word for this. Geulah. Atzilus. Pick one.”

Another E-mail: “Dear Rabbi Moscowitz: Thanks for “dragging me” to the Shabbaton I thought I would do you the favor of showing up; I was the beneficiary, I am inspired, I’ve always known how special our community is and this Shabbaton was the crowning event. Thank you, thank you, thank you, for convincing me to participate.”

“…you know I NEVER stay up late and I was at the farbrengen till after 4 AM and still at chassidus the next morning — this Shabbos I felt like I was in another world; I loved every minute”

Special thanks go to Rabbi Baruch Epstein and Rabbi Yosef Moscowitz for coordinating the event, to R’ Dovid Grossman for his dedication and hard work, and to Lubavitch Chabad of Illinois for organizing and sponsoring a wonderful Shabbaton.