Beit Midrash Fellows Bond at Annual Shabbaton
The Beit Midrash Fellows arrived in West Los Angeles on Friday afternoon on October 20, eager for a jam-packed program of activities, discussions, Shabbat services, community building, and festive meals. This annual student-led Shabbat weekend retreat allows Beit Midrash Fellows to disconnect from the outside world and focus on community and team building. Faculty living in the area and friends of the Milken community graciously opened up their homes to host Milken students for the Shabbaton and shared breakfast with them each morning.
Remarked Upper School Rabbi David Saiger, “What we want the students to take away is twofold: First, that they have the knowledge, creativity and power to construct a unique and innovative Jewish experiences for themselves and their peers. And second, that spending a traditional Shabbat with their friends and classmates—away from technology, homework and college applications is a spiritually, intellectually, and socially empowering experience. It reminds them of the power of simple, deep, human connection.”
Remarked Upper School Rabbi David Saiger, “What we want the students to take away is twofold: First, that they have the knowledge, creativity and power to construct a unique and innovative Jewish experiences for themselves and their peers. And second, that spending a traditional Shabbat with their friends and classmates—away from technology, homework and college applications is a spiritually, intellectually, and socially empowering experience. It reminds them of the power of simple, deep, human connection.”
Friday night, the seniors led a rousing chorus of Shabbat songs and dancing. “It felt like they were going to bring the house down ... there was so much joy in the room,” observed Rabbi Saiger.
A time for meaningful reflection and community building, sophomores, juniors and seniors led discussions and debates that engaged everyone intellectually, morally and spiritually. They contemplated the most important ideas of Judaism, the life and lessons of the biblical character Noah, the ethics of fighting violence with violence, and the meaning of being created in the Divine image. Guest Speaker Rabbi Ari Lucas of Temple Beth Am led a provocative session on Harvey Weinstein and the Talmud. There was deep reflection and debate about how we are doing as a community and society making sure that we do not treat people as objects.
With plenty of opportunity for community building through niggunim, food, play, learning, programming, and just relaxing and unplugging, students talked, laughed, and sang late into the night. Faculty and students got to know each other better, as they hung out, played games, and chilled. Rabbi Gordon Bernat-Kunin noted, “The Beit Midrash Fellowship achieves in a number of ways one of the great Jewish challenges: translating elements of camp (spirit, community, and leadership) into the city.”
Connecting with classmates, students voiced that the deep interaction was an important part of the Shabbaton experience. “The communal feel and togetherness of the whole Beit Midrash Fellowship program really stood out to me. I learned a lot about my Jewish values, through activities and text learning, and I really questioned which ones were the most important to me,” shared Maya Robin ’20.
Gavin Lieberman ’19, enjoyed the chance to bond with other Beit Midrash Fellows he did not know well. He added, “My favorite part of the Shabbaton was eating dinner that first night and having discussions on texts for that Shabbat parashah. I learned that the Beit Midrash is so much more than a class. You obviously have a professional relationship with the teachers, but on the Shabbaton, they really open up and it's amazing to talk to them.”
The exuberant havdallah ceremony marking the end of Shabbat on Saturday evening was a joyful time under the stars, with spirited singing and dancing that carried throughout the quiet neighborhood.
A time for meaningful reflection and community building, sophomores, juniors and seniors led discussions and debates that engaged everyone intellectually, morally and spiritually. They contemplated the most important ideas of Judaism, the life and lessons of the biblical character Noah, the ethics of fighting violence with violence, and the meaning of being created in the Divine image. Guest Speaker Rabbi Ari Lucas of Temple Beth Am led a provocative session on Harvey Weinstein and the Talmud. There was deep reflection and debate about how we are doing as a community and society making sure that we do not treat people as objects.
With plenty of opportunity for community building through niggunim, food, play, learning, programming, and just relaxing and unplugging, students talked, laughed, and sang late into the night. Faculty and students got to know each other better, as they hung out, played games, and chilled. Rabbi Gordon Bernat-Kunin noted, “The Beit Midrash Fellowship achieves in a number of ways one of the great Jewish challenges: translating elements of camp (spirit, community, and leadership) into the city.”
Connecting with classmates, students voiced that the deep interaction was an important part of the Shabbaton experience. “The communal feel and togetherness of the whole Beit Midrash Fellowship program really stood out to me. I learned a lot about my Jewish values, through activities and text learning, and I really questioned which ones were the most important to me,” shared Maya Robin ’20.
Gavin Lieberman ’19, enjoyed the chance to bond with other Beit Midrash Fellows he did not know well. He added, “My favorite part of the Shabbaton was eating dinner that first night and having discussions on texts for that Shabbat parashah. I learned that the Beit Midrash is so much more than a class. You obviously have a professional relationship with the teachers, but on the Shabbaton, they really open up and it's amazing to talk to them.”
The exuberant havdallah ceremony marking the end of Shabbat on Saturday evening was a joyful time under the stars, with spirited singing and dancing that carried throughout the quiet neighborhood.
The Beit Midrash Shabbaton was a wonderful way for students and faculty to connect outside of school. Students and faculty left feeling renewed and invigorated. It was an unforgettable and inspirational experience for everyone involved.
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