Shabbaton 2007

I personally had a great time, and I know all the people i talked to agreed they would come back next year. That means it must have been an amazing trip.

this year shabbaton was amazing from meeting new people like us to meeting celeberties such as matisyahu ive never had a greater experience then this shabbaton havdalah in time square and meeting kids from canada it was amazing i loved the atmospherer and i would like to thank Rabbi chaim for help making the shabbaton a fun and exciting environment the whole shabbaton is schedueled with non stop fun and great activities after shabbat we took a limo to the rabbies grave and it was the most outstanding experience of my life ive never been able to have one wish that i hoped to happen and hopefully watch it come through this is the best weekend in my life i love u rabbi chaim and you all should really go!!!

Rabbi Chaim, Yocheved, Chanie, and all the wonderful chaperones,

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all from the bottom of my heart for a great, fun, and very inspirational weekend. All of your hard work and dedication really was really shown and I know we all appreciate it very much. The warm loving atmosphere you have all created this weekend was amazing and really added to the experience. The balance of the enrichment of our souls and satisfying our bodies was absolutely perfect; we were able to reflect on who we are and what we wish to become through the Carlebach shul we attended, story time with Yocheved, the lectures we heard from Rabbi Chaim and Doron Kornbluth, and, to me the most meaningful, attending the Rebbe's gravesite. This was a very moving experience that has definitely made a permanent mark on my life and will affect me forever.
In order to make sure we didn’t get too grave with all the time for self-reflection, we had time to loosen up and satisfy our bodies through attending a very comfortable hotel, walking around Times Square with all the fun activities, and just having time to meet new people and get closer to older friends.
I was very hesitant about going on this weekend, but it ended up being one of the best decisions I have ever made. I really don’t know how to thank you all enough for your love and dedication that really made this a Shabbat to remember forever. Can’t wait for next time!
With love,
Gal Dayan

WOW!! What a great time I had. It was so much fun spending time with all of my friends and also friends that I met there. I can't wait till wednesday so I can hang out with you guys again, even if it is only for a couple hours. I had so much fun and I can't wait until next year. Thanks so much, guys, for making this experience such a great one.

Thank you rabbi Chaim, it was an amazing weekend and everyone had a lote of fun. We should organize more shabbatons before the senior grade goes to Israel and college!

this weeekned was awesome. truth is one of the best of year. the activities were great fun and the teens were so much fun. good memories this weekend and i hope we all stay in touch. if not i know we shared a great experience together.

i loved the speaker doron and the mentalist was unbelievable. espn zone and ripleys even for a short time was a lot of fun, great activities. the ohel was so inspiring. i really felt a strong connection to God and judism and i know that the others felt the same.
shabbos was inspiring and fun.
rabbi, you did an amazing job and you never sieze to amaze me how well you plan things and know exactly how to plan great events. everything about this trip, from activities, accomodations, and personell was incredible.
thanks rabbi and let me know when the next teen event is, if you need help im there

Dear Rabbi Chaim and the crew,

This shabbaton really inspired and opened my eyes to many different things. First of all this is my first shabbaton ever and i can safely say that it will not be my last one! The people were great and the activities were amazing! I learned so much about keeping shabat and I just loved Doron's inspiring speaches as well as the restaurants, espn, the mentalist etc. Everything that was done in this trip was beautiful! I couldn't ask for anything else!

Dear Rabbi Chaim & all,
Thanks to you I had an enjoyable weekend, one that I will never forget. This has not only inspired all of us to become better jews but it has also opened up opportunities for us to meet jews in our area that we hadn't previously known. I know I had made many friends on this trip along with many other kids. I have not one complaint about this trip, everything was perfect! Thanks again, and I'll be seeing you all again on the shabbaton next year =)
Sincerely,
Odelya Hayon

The weekend of the Shabbaton was truly an unforgetable one; from the walks around central park, to the limo rides, to the mind reader, and even to Matisyahu! Thank you Rabbi Chaim, Yochevet, and everyone else who contributed to the making of this fantastic experience. If I had to change one thing about this trip, I simply wouldn't, because it was great in so many ways. Although the group from Toronto was loud and numerous and at times detrimental to our experience, we ultimatly laughed it off, creating memories and inside jokes. It's so great to travel with a group of individuals that you truly feel connected to. I can honestly say that the Shabbaton taught us the most important lessons in life and things we did not know about ourselves, and anyone from the trip will agree with me on this one. One of the speakers on the trip, Doron Kornbluth, lectured about interacial marriage and other like matters. I remember him saying the, " To know who you are, you must know your past." The Shabbaton not only let us get intouch with ourselves, but let us connect ourselves with our faith, Judaism. Next year I will most definitely aboard the Shabbaton with everyone else!I had a great time

This weekend was really amazing. I was so enlightened on so many levels and i experienced things i will remember forever. At the Ohel i felt so connected it was really beautiful. Rabbi Chaim and all the cahperones really elevated the entire experience. I met great people and made resolutions i honestly intend on keeping. Thank you so much!

Although I was never "officially" affiliated with Chabbad, I have spent a great deal of my time with in the walls of this great shul; from the Wednesday night teen community service, to Shabbat morning davening. But even with all the time I’ve spent with Chabbad, I was still very hesitant to go on the Shabbaton. For two weeks I heard from friends who had previously gone on a Chabbad Shabbaton that it would be a lot of fun and a great experience. But unlike most of my friends, I never met a lot of the kids going on the Shabbaton and so, was afraid that I wouldn't enjoy myself as much as the rest. I'd like you all to know that I had an amazing time on the Shabbaton and I am definetly going again next year. The second we got to the hotel, all my fears were drained away and I knew that this would be an amazing trip. I bonded with old friends as well as made amazing new ones! Thank you Rabbi Chaim, Chanie, Yocheved, Gilboa Brothers and the rest for organizing this amazing trip. I learnt, as well as did the rest on the trip, what is truly important in life; that we should strive to satisfy our souls more than our physical needs. This Shabbaton perfectly exemplified the meaning of this idea. From the most comfortable accommodations and the great limos, to the sensational Carlibach Shul and the awe inspiring trip to the Rebbe's gravesite, this Shabbaton satisfied our physical needs and even greatly so our spiritual needs. Everything about this trip made me want to stay longer and never leave! Doron Kornbluth's shiurim were insightful and inspiring, Rabbi Chaim's lectures were always intelligent and very interesting, and the chaperones made the trip all the more fun with their outgoing personalities and great smiles. I know that I will never forget this weekend; it really had an impact on the way I view myself, others and the world.
Thank you all so much for organizing this Shabbaton and allowing me to take part on such a meaningful adventure.
Till next time,
Arielle

Rabbi, I think personally this was the best shabbaton yet. The hotel was amazing, the speakers were great, and best of all, the kids have a stronger connection and love for Torah. Also, it was nice to meet the Toronto kids. The Ohel was very spiritual as usual. It was incredible to also see Matisiyahu. The overall trip was a great success.

What an amazing trip! This shabbaton was truly outstanding this year, and I had just an awesome time. I really liked visting the Rebbe's mohel.

This was by far the best Shabbaton I've been on so far. There was not one thing that i didn't like or didn't enjoy. I have no doubt in my mind that i will come back next year. Every single person that was supposed to come and didn't end up coming definetly missed out. Everything from the hotel we spent the night in to the food we ate to the places we visited and the people we met were what made this trip so great. I'll never forget any of it. Thank You so much for everything Rabbi Chaim

Dear Rabbi Chaim,
I had such an amazing and meaningful shabbat on the Shabbaton. Although I dont belong to Tenafly Chabad I have spent alot of time there and have heard so much about it, I am so glad I got to be apart of shabbaton. Everything was perfect! From the shuls to the Saturday Night activities. The Rebbe's Ohel was very insprirational and I'm so glad I got to experience that with the Shabbaton. I hope that another one can be planned this year before the Seniors go off to college, you can sign me up now! Thank you to the chaperones, your family, and everyone else so such an amazing unforgettable time! Nothing could have been better!
Thanks,
Sara

I was a chaperon on the shabbaton and had one of the most amazing shabbats ever. In the beginning getting close to the high school kids, having fun all over New York City, having a meaningful shabbat with great food, and doing the crazy awesome activities Saturday night were great. My favorite was the mentalist. I met a lot of cool kids on the retreat and we had a lot of fun.
But what was most inspiring was after all the fun and activities when we got to the the Rebbe's Ohel through all the fun and laughing, everyone was touched by Rabbi Chaim's words and the holiness of the Rebbe. Watching kids who you did not think would want to write a letter or care about the place, sat down and were filled with spirituality and meaning. I saw kids who did not know how to read hebrew, reading tehillim and pouring out there hearts at the Ohel. It was one of the most inspiring and motivating things I have ever experienced.
Thanks Rabbi Chaim and mostly thanks to the kids who made the shabbaton as inspirational and great as it was.

Avi Gilboa