A Weekend of Giving Thanks and Sharing Insight
RUNNING SPRINGS, CA — As the cooler temperatures of late November arrive, Chabad’s magnificent mountaintop campus will welcome people from all over the West Coast as they converge on Running Springs to participate in the West Coast Chabad Jewish Retreat.
Taking place over the Thanksgiving Day weekend, the Chabad Jewish Retreat is a special time of learning and fellowship. It’s an event where Jews can come together, learn more about themselves and their heritage, and enjoy everything the magnificent natural surroundings of the S. Bernadino Mountain range have to offer.
“Thankfully, the retreat was untouched by the recent devastating wildfires,” said Yossi Burston, Project Coordinator for West Coast Chabad Jewish Retreats. “And now more than ever, we have reason to celebrate as we are preparing our beautiful campus for this extra special weekend.”
“To provide a special place for people to explore and make an investment in their Judaism is such a joy,” said Rabbi Boruch Shlomo Cunin, head of West Coast Chabad. “It’s wonderful to see so many people taking an active role in their faith. The true blessing will be when they take this valuable and insightful information home and spread it among their own community.”
The weekend will host a collection of top Jewish scholars and entertainers including Rabbi Simon Jacobson, a sought-after lecturer on Jewish thought and its contemporary application, and Miryam Swerdlov Miryam, who teaches Jewish history and has lectured on women’s issues all over the world. It has been said that when Miryam speaks, you laugh, you cry, and you think.
A highlight of the weekend will be a special performance by world renowned pianist Gershon Wachtel, whose repertoire includes a broad range of classical, Jewish, and Broadway music. Wachtel has appeared on television and radio and just recently preformed for the Canadian Parliament in Ottawa.
But there are more to these weekends than thought-provoking educational programs and world-class entertainment. Everyone will have time to take advantage of a wide variety of recreational actives. Facilities and equipment for many sports are available free of charge including: basketball, tennis, archery volleyball, soccer and squash/handball.
And in addition to the athletic programs available, retreat participants will be able to explore the great outdoors and take advantage of the breathtaking scenery of the 70-acre mountaintop campus. Participants can learn all about the local plant and wildlife from qualified nature guides. Hiking trails crisscross the campus, providing an assortment of possibilities for all skill levels. Retreat participants can also enjoy the physical challenge of the ropes courses; these supervised sessions will take you into the treetops, and are a great way for individuals and families to learn the benefits of teamwork.
The Jewish retreat is a family friendly event, offering a wide range of exciting activities and adventures for children. Counselors incorporate Jewish themes into the children’s programs so everyone can share in the joy of learning. In addition to all the athletic and nature activities, the children can take part in arts and crafts projects that reflect their Jewish heritage, like candlemaking and challah braiding. The game room and moon bounce will provide fun for child and adult alike. Baby sitters are on duty to watch children as their parents enjoy the seminars and workshops.
The Running Springs campus offers contemporary cabin lodging. You can enjoy all the comforts of home in the rustic wilderness of the S. Bernardino Mountains. Chefs prepare fresh kosher meals for your dining pleasure. You’ll enjoy a wide variety of delicious creations that blend new flavors with a taste of tradition.
Future retreats are scheduled for the holiday weekends of Presidents Day and Memorial Day in 2008. “We have planned these unique retreats around long three-day weekends to give people enough time to take advantage of the workshops and still have an opportunity to relax and have fun,” said Burston. “Our goal is to create a special weekend for the participants and make it an annual event for them and their families.”
The West Coast Chabad Jewish Retreat weekends are a project of the Panikoff Center of Love and Kindness at Kiryas Schneerson. To learn more, please visit www.chabadretreats.com or call (310) 208-7511, ext. 261
A highlight of the weekend will be a performance by noted pianist Gershon Wachtel. (Photo: Chabad.com)
Led by informative guides, nature hikes will take participants to places they?ve never seen before. (Photo: Chabad.com)
