The Shabbat Weekend Retreat in October at the Lakeview Hecla Resort was a remarkable weekend of relaxation, friendship, great weather and total goodness.
The sold-out retreat was coordinated by JLI, the adult education arm of Chabad-Lubavitch and a partner agency of the Jewish Federation. Close to 100 people from Winnipeg's Jewish community participated.
Please click here to see highlights from the shabbaton and the program schedule.
A very special thank you to:
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Our guest speakers Rabbi Mendel & Rachel Duchman, for their passion, excitement, energy and inspiring words.
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The beautiful Lakeview Hecla Resort, for providing such a beautiful facility and pristine location.
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Our many volunteers, for their extraordinary help, commitment and friendship without whom this retreat wouldn’t be possible.
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Our deepest appreciation to all of our sponsors, for their generous support and visionary foresight. Namely, Avi & Tal Glazer, Frank & Ahava Lavitt, Keith & Linda Levit, Perry & Sylvia Schulman, Perry & Batya Gall, Jeff & Joanne Marcus, Mitch & Marcia Cosman, Rocky & Barbra Kravetsky, Eli Herscovitch, Richlu Sportswear, Sobeys Grant Park, LaBrea Bagels and Nonie of Beverly Hills.
Click here to view our online album
Here is first-hand testimonial we just received last week from one of the guests:
I find myself here struggling to express my feelings through words. The Shabbat Weekend Retreat in Hecla ranks as one of the highest spiritual Jewish experiences of my life, a completely positive experience.
Everything was so well done, the speakers were all great and add a lot of knowledge and inspiration to me. I learned so many things, enjoyed the different styles, the communal effort, the knowing of new people and the meeting of old friends. I also enjoyed the fact that many of us were new canadians, and I realize how much are you adding Jewish values into our lives. It was beautiful and meaningful, the perfect Shabbat experience, a Shabbat of healing for me, of tears and laugh. What else can I asked for. There is no way to pay for this kind of experience!
How much I enjoyed the stories, the anecdotes, the learning...and what better lesson about the value of kashrut than the fabulous experience of Jewish home made dishes! Every bite was a memory of our families, the people we loved, the people we lost, the places we used to live.
Being as it was an intense and almost exclusive Jewish experience I got to experience the power of being among Jews: There is enormous power and richness in that. It opens and unfold my mind in a completely different way.
Rabbi and Mrs. Duchman's energy and commitment was an example and an inspiration to me. The bonfire was so intense an experience to me, the story that Rabbi Altein shared was so inspirational, it touched my heart directly, like an arrow. I will never forget it.
I know how much effort was involved to put an event like that together. I also know how lucky I am too had the chance to go. I am so looking forward to the next retreat and if it possible to contribute even more. I am already full of ideas!
You really know how to treat people and how to empower and to teach them Jewish wisdom and knowledge and values and how to make them feel as Jews, complete Jews. Another way to say it would be: You are the indisputable kings of Jewish content.
Gracias!!! At this point I am positive you understand the meaning.
- Aida Strocovsky