Posted to Photo Galleries on

Photo Gallery: JLI Retreat Comes to a Close

The National Jewish Retreat concluded Sunday after five days of learning and inspiration.The sold out crowd of 600 enjoyed close to 200 lectures and seminars led by Rabbi Manis Friedman who stimulated deep thinking, Rabbi Dr. Immanuel Schochet who demonstrated the philosophical profundity of Yiddishkeit and Rabbi Moshe Bryski who inspired laughter and tears in his packed classrooms.

Rabbis Yona Reiss and Shlomo Yaffe helped provide a glimpse at the breadth of Jewish Law; Professors Jonathan Sarna and Larry Schiffman gave insightful historical perspectives. Additional workshops by Rabbi Yossi Jacobson, Mrs. Shimona Tzukernik, Rabbi Asher and Sara Esther Crispe, Mrs. Rivka Slonim, Rabbi Dovid Eliezrie, Rabbi Chaim Block, Rabbi Yisroel Deren, Rabbi Yossi Rosenbloom, Rabbi Ronnie Fine, Rabbi Nissan Mangel, Rabbi Yudi Shemtov, Rabbi Tuvia Teldon, Rabbi Avraham Sternberg, Rabbi Zalman Wolowick, Rabbi Sholom Deitsch, Dr. Stephen Serbin, Rabbi Simcha Weinstein, Rabbi Levi Kaplan, Rabbi Yosef Deren, Rabbi Dov Drizin, Bruce Backman, Mrs. Rivkah Kotlarsky, Mrs. Molly Resnick, Mrs. Aviva Deren, Mrs. Chaya Teldon, Mrs. Chavi Epstein, Mrs. Chana Epstein, on a cornucopia of topics provided a deep lineup of options in every time slot. for providing the unique energy that is Chabad.

Special features included a two hour seminar with Reb Yoel Kahn entitled, An Interview with the World’s Foremost Expert on Chassidic Philosophy Today and addresses by and Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky , Mr. George Rohr and Connecticut Governor Jodi Rell. Presentations on the holocaust feature film, Defiance, Comedy Hour by Marc Wiener, A discussion on Chassidic Art by Michoel Muchnik and a cooking class by chef Jack Silverstein rounded out the program. Tributes were made to basketball player Tamir Goodman (The Jewish Jordan) and former principal Shimon Waronker. Avraham Fried’s concert and inspiring words brought the cheering crowd to their feet in dance.

Many participants expressed that they plan to return next year – may it be in Yerushalaim Habnuya.

(Photos by: Baruch Ezagui)

Related Articles

16 Comments

  • Moshe

    Who will they bring next year as an attraction? Looks like they called on every star in Lubavitch, even Rabbi Yoel Kahan!!

  • Looks well done

    It really looks like a beautiful event that was very well thought out – Yasher Koach.
    I must say i am quite amazed at the amount of shluchim that attended – it was a VERY costly program!
    Interesting to note that the shluchim that were there were all “head” shluchim…. HHmmmmmm

  • Sheryl

    Nice and everything, but looks like a program of excess appropriate for times before the economic downturn.

    How can we, Lubavitch, condone such spending when everyone is cutiing down?

    Why not take this $500,000 (my guesstimate) and distribute to neediest and most suffering Chabad House?

  • regards from TN!!!

    hey mini nuvi & vulva!!! it’s really something to see u guys there!!!!
    WOW!!!!!!!!!U GUYS R SOMETHING ELSE!!!!!!!!!

    maish dididim and zelig are waiting for u guys!!! hurry up already!!!!

  • Talent on loan from G-d

    to Moshe,

    they get all the Chabad “Talent” for a dime and a dance and a free meal at a posh retreat. Next year they’ll find other leidigeyers looking for a free vacation

  • more tefilins needed

    only dovid kotlarsky putting on teffilin? theirs quite a few men eligible. wheres the bochurim?

  • Wondering!!?

    “Every star in lubavitch” – quite a few were missing, Rabbi Simon Jacobson, Rabbi Michoel Seligson, Mrs. Esther Piekarski, Mrs. Bronya Shaffer…

  • So Impressed

    Why can’t we just be proud and happy? Why the need to criticize? Leave it be – when you will work hard and pull off something half as “large-scale” as this project – then you can begin to criticize YOUR OWN WORK. Until then, be pleased that others are doing their part – and doing it well.

  • Sarah from CT

    So next year, let’s add Sheva Chaya Shaiman from Tzfat to do a women’s program. She would provide an awesome art show. I just got back from Tzfat. She is blessed and talented. Her studio renovation recently unearthered a well. I am a great fan. Hope she can be included.