1,200 Attend JLI National Retreat

Photo Credit: David Miller

Over 1,200 participants from across the U.S., Canada, Europe, and Australia enjoyed six days immersed in learning and luxury at JLI’s eleventh annual National Jewish Retreat in Palm Desert, California.

The program offered an astounding array of over 150 topics and various styles of sessions allowing participants to experience the depth and breadth of what Torah and Chassidus has to offer.

At any given time, participants could choose from up to six concurrent options, including lectures, interactive study, seminars, first-person accounts, text-based learning, hands-on workshops, and round-table discussions with the presenters.

Some of the highlights included Crossfire session with leading rabbonim and shluchim, a mock biblical trial, a humorous (and surprisingly educational) Latke vs. Hamentash debate, a keynote address by Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky, “Ten Talks” modeled after the popular TED Talks format, a lively concert with Jewish Broadway sensation, Dudu Fischer, a surprise performance by Peter Himmelman, a musical Havdalah, and a hilarious Jewish comedy session with comedian Robert Cait.

Philanthropist and driving force behind JLI, Mr. George Rohr, spoke at the banquet on Thursday night announcing the launched of Yaldeinu: A Fellowship for the Jewish Future, a new JLI program offered in partnership with Kohelet Foundation and the Avi Chai foundation, that will develop learning communities of parents with young children and will be piloted this year in 11 cities across North America.

The exceptional faculty of rabbis, scholars, historians, musicians, authors, artists and political pundits, included: Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky, Rabbi Shlomo Cunin, Rabbi Yisroel Deren, Rabbi Sholom B. Levitin, Rabbi Y.Y. Jacobson, Rabbi Yitzchok Schochet, Rabbi Dov Greenberg, Rabbi Moshe Bryski, Rabbi Simon Jacobson, Rabbi Yossi Schusterman, Rabbi Berel Bell, Professor Jeffrey Woolf, Professor Lawrence Schiffman, Rabbi Mendel Kalmenson, Rabbi Dovid Eliezrie, Mr. Dennis Prager, Mr. David Sacks, Mr. Randy Gold, Professor Michael Helfand, Rabbi David Aaron, Dr. Jacob Eisenbach, Rabbi Chaim Block, Dr. Barry Burak, Rabbi Dr. Edward Raichman, Rabbi Dr. Aaron Rakeffet, Rabbi Efraim Mintz, Rabbi Benjamin Blech, Mr. Joseph J.B. Bensmihen, Rabbi Jason Weiner, Rabbi Hesh Epstein, Justice Andrew Kaufman, Rabbi Chaim Hanoka, Rabbi Dov Muchnik, Rabbi Yosef Teitelbaum, Dr. Joel Roffman, Rabbi Mendy Rubenfeld, Rabbi Mendel Simons, Rabbi Burt Siegel, Rabbi Zalman Abraham, Rabbi Mordechai Dinerman, Rabbi Raleigh Resnick, Rabbi Reuven Goldstein, Rabbi Burt Siegel, Mr. Herschel Lazaroff, Dr. Simcha Leibovich, Mr. Robert Messing, Rabbi Shimon Posner, Professor Martin Pritkin, Mr. Sassy Reuven, Rabbi Yisrael Rice, Rabbi Yossi Lazaroff, Mrs. Manya Lazaroff, Mrs. Shimona Tzukernik, Mrs. Shaindy Jacobson, Lt. Laurie Lans, Mrs. Menucha Schochet, Mrs. Molly Resnick, Mrs. Sara Briman, Mrs. Barbara Hines, Mrs. Dina Hurwitz, Mrs. Sara Mintz, Mrs. Matty Bryski, Dr. Sarah Kranz-Ciment, Mrs. Mary Cramer, Mrs. Keren Blum, Mrs. Carolyn Hezzel, Mrs. Vivi Deren, Mrs. Myrna Zisman, Ms. Jessica Fechtor, Mrs. Holly Cohen, Mrs. Sorele Brownstein, and Mrs. Chavi Esptein.

The resort’s magnificent views allowed participants to enjoy the stunning Palm Desert scenery while remaining in cool shelter. Impeccable service and the five-star gourmet kosher cuisine by Foremost Ram Caterers, the premier Kosher catering services from New York, provided a beautifully-presented culinary experience throughout the five days of study with a lavish 24-hours team room.

From early morning well into the night, participants partook in a nonstop schedule of learning. For many, this was their first exposure to the world of Torah and Chassidus. New friendships and connections were formed with like-minded Jews from across the continent and participants shared that they were inspired to take on additional mitzvos and increase their commitment to living a Torah lifestyle and helping their Shluchim and communities grow and succeed.

Thanks to the generous support of Mr. George Rohr, 150 college students got to participate in a simultaneous program by the Sinai Scholars Society, a partnership between Chabad on Campus International and JLI. The event was themed “Learn Aleph, Teach Aleph” and was life changing for the students that attended. Hundreds of resolutions were taken to increase in the performance of Torah and mitzvos and to encourage others to do the same.

The over ten-thousand cumulative hours of Torah study at the JLI Retreat were dedicated in loving memory of Mr. Sami Rohr, of blessed memory.