1,200 Jews of all backgrounds flocked to the Trump National Doral in Miami, Florida for JLI’s spectacular five-day program of thought-provoking lectures, workshops, and live experiences.
On Sunday, JLI wrapped up its 20th annual National Jewish Retreat, held over five learning-packed days on the spectacular grounds of the Trump National Doral in Miami, Florida. “The retreat was one of the most meaningful experiences of my life,” said Wendy T., a pediatrician from Phoenix, Arizona. “I learned so much, felt so much. My soul is full.”
On the opening day, last Wednesday, Rabbi Yosef Marlow kicked off the program with a talk called “Halachah in the Hot Seat.” Down the corridor, Rabbi Naftali Silberberg opened the Beis Midrash program with an in-depth shiur on Tanya, with Rabbi Mendel Krasnjanski delivering a talk boldly titled “Fanatics and False Messiahs” later in the afternoon. Rabbi Moshe Bryski closed the day’s talks at 4:20 with “G-d, Where Were You?”
That was the first day. On Thursday, Friday, and, after a rousing shared Shabbos of warmth and inspiration, again on Sunday, participants enjoyed a bevy of live events, workshops, and riveting talks.
There were lectures from Rabbis Manis Friedman, Yitzchak Schochet, Mordechai Dinerman, Yechiel Krisch, Simon Jacobson, Moshe Lieberman, and Dovid Eliezrie; from Rivkah Slonim, Henry Abramson, Yael Trusch, Adam Hasner, President of FAU, Judge Roy K. Altman, and many more. And there was live comedy with Elon Gold, a live concert, films, winetasting, and a spectacular live learning event “Libel” that brought to life a real-life gut-wrenching halachic dilemma Jews faced in 17th-century Poland.
For Ari M. from Philadelphia, the retreat was both a spiritual delight and a call to action. By his own account, he went home inspired to double his giving to tzedakah, to organize a Tanya shiur with a local shliach, to join the board of his local Jewish day school, and to start a weekly pre-Shabbos broadcast sharing Torah messages with friends and community.
“It was like seminary on steroids,” said Inna K, from Los Angeles. “I love being here.” Her takehome resolution: to organize Torah classes for her friends.
To pre-register for next year’s retreat at a discounted rate signup here at Jretreat.com.
