Winter Regional - Dec. 2005

One can only try to portray how amazing the NCSY Regional Shabbaton was. There were many interesting and inspirational speakers. Every meal was filled with singing and dancing. Even one who performs Havdalah on a weekly basis, cannot know of the special experience of a Havdalah with NCSY. The live band, singing and dancing before, during and after Havdalah, was a true conclusion to Shabbat and a welcoming of the new week. As always friendships were formed that will continue to grow. Thank you NCSY for such an incredible shabbaton experience that wont be forgotten.

Sincerely,

Jessica Anishban
Granada Hills High School

Valley Shabbaton (2) Nov. 2005

I wanted to write about my experience at the recent Valley Shabbaton.

I found it to be very enjoyable. It was rather different from the usual ones I've been attending at my local Chabad.

This Shabbaton had the perfect balance between spirituality involved with being Jewish and the amount of fun to keep me on my toes. I feel that if the Shabbaton has too much spirituality invovled, then in today's world, students may stop coming to the Shabbatons because they came to have fun with their Jewish friends.

Then on the other hand if there is no spirituality, then one can forget the entire idea of a Shabbaton, and they might as well just make it a party. This past Shabbaton had the perfect balance to persuade me into attending more, and indeed, I am planning on attending
the regional, which I've heard only good things. I can't wait.

I cannot even imagine how much of your time must go into making the Shabbatons perfect, and I just want to thank you for putting all your effort and time into it, just for the maximum enjoyment of those who attend.

Thanks for everything, including hosting my family and I for a lovely Shabbos dinner,
Cherise M
Van Nuys High School

Valley Shabbaton - Nov. 2005

The Valley Shabbaton was incredible!

From the moment I got on the bus, I started meeting new friends from our awesome Valley Chapter. When we got to the hotel we had to quickly get ready for Shabbos.

Shabbos was a blast, the theme was "Passion of the Jew," Eliezer did a wonderful job working it into the Shabbaton. Avrami and Mrs. Weiss were both outstanding speakers. Shabbos was very chillaxed, which was great because it gave us an opportunity to hang with our friends. Ebbing was amazing and very inspirational, all Valley board members and Malky got up on the stage during Ebbing which was very cool. Almost all of the teens got on their chairs to sing along the sweet Shabbos tunes including Tov Lhodos, Achainu and Im Eshkachech, the power of that ruach could have blown anyone away, at one point, all of a sudden everyone jumped down from their chairs at the same time and moved closer to the stage and formed circules of friends bonding and singing louder and louder, pouring their hearts out into the song - Now that's NCSY for you.

That for me was definitly the highlight of the shabbaton - being up on that stage surrounded by NCSYers who share my goal - thats what I live for - it's what keeps me going.

The shabbaton as a whole was great. We had an extremely moving havdala on a yacht - Yanky's beautiful voice is what gave it that impact we craved for. I guess we should thank Hashem for that. (i actually told one of my friends that she's not gonna get why NCSY is so amazing and why im so obsessed with it until havdala.. and during havdala she looked at me with glowing eyes and was like, "I get it.")

After Havdallah, we went Ice Skating, which was a fun Motzei Shabbos activity, the best part was seeing Rabbi Fe join us at the Ice Skating rink (since he could not be with us for the Shabbaton).

The next day was quite sad because the Shabbaton was coming to an end and we all had to go home.

The shabbaton was a great experience for me and I'm sure that every who was there could tell you the same. It was so much fun seeing all of our old friends as well as making new ones. I can't wait to see you all on regional!!!

:-)Rachely