Shabbaton 2007: The Power of One
By Miriam Leah Silver
Phone calling, typing, organizing, planning, shopping, cooking, decorating, and WOW, what results! Mesorah’s Shabbaton 2007, November 9-11, entitled “The Power of One” was positively fabulous! Mesorah hosted students from Sheairm Torah Girls’ High School in Phoenix, Arizona. Our Mesorah girls warmly greeted the Phoenix girls on Thursday night at the airport before escorting them to their hosts for the night. Friday morning they came to school to visit and sit in on a few classes. We then headed to BOUNCE-U, where we flew (and flopped) on the many inflatables there.
After a few hours of preparation for Shabbos, we rejoined at the Hoffmans to get settled and daven Kabbalas Shabbos. The Banarers hosted a delicious Shabbos Seuda, followed by an Oneg at the Methals along with a workshop by Brocha and Arielle. Rabbi Yitzchak Feigenbaum, principal of Tiferes Bais Yaakov in Toronto, our guest lecturer for the Shabbaton, presented a “Heroic” speech. We ended the evening with singing after which we all headed back to the Hoffmans to sleep (or whatever).
Shabbos day was packed solid! After davening and Kiddush at Ohr HaTorah, we again got to hear Rabbi Feigenbaum speak about personal growth. Lunch was at the Rosenbergs, followed by Questions and Answer with Rabbi Feigenbaum. By the end of the session, it was already time for Shalosh Seudos, so we trekked to the Katzs for a yummy meal and a beautiful kumzitz. As Shabbos ended, Rabbi Feigembaum presented a final, powerful speech. We all left feeling inspired by the fact that one tiny thing we do, one word, one smile can literally change someone’s life.
A couple of hours later, we gathered up north at Congregation Toras Chaim for a Texas style Melava Malka and an inspiring speech by Rabbi Rich, followed by an activity and dancing. At the end of the evening, most of us said goodbye to our Phoenix friends, and went home to digest everything we learned during the Shabbaton.
We’d like to extend a thank you to anyone and everyone who contributed to the Shabbaton. Thank you to our hosts, the Hoffmans, Banarers, Katzs, Rosenbergs, and Congregations Ohr HaTorah and Toras Chaim. Thank you to the Glazers for allowing us to use their kitchen. Thank you to the activity, welcome kit, decorations, songbook, clean-up, and food committees for making sure everything was done to the last detail, and a big thank you to our heads, Miriam Baum and Yael Glazer for EVERYTHING you did to make the Shabbaton possible. Thank you to Rabbi Kosowsky and Mrs. Rich for being so supportive. Finally, thank you to Rachel Offenberg for being so kind, organized and nice even when we didn’t “have mercy on Rachel,” and for everything, everything, everything that you did to make the Shabbaton possible