The Beyond BT Shabbaton is scheduled for Shabbos Nachamu (August 4-5), in Kew Gardens Hills and we would really love for you to join us. The focus of the Shabbaton is connecting with our fellow Jews, face to face. We want people to develop a deeper appreciation of each other and take a small step towards creating the tight knit and truly caring Jewish community that we all desire.
We want to emphasize that all Jews, be they BTs, FFBs, Partially Observant or Non Observant, are encouraged to join us.
The program will be centered around people telling their own stories and sharing other thoughts in short 5-7 minute chunks throughout the communal meals. Everybody is encouraged to share, but if that’s not your thing, that’s fine too. We’re also going to try to arrange the meals so that people will sit with and have the opportunity to converse with the greatest number of people.
It is very important that we have your reservations as soon as possible so that we can properly arrange for housing and catering.
Here’s the preliminary itinerary. Let us know what you think.
7:20 – Mincha at CAY (Congregation Ahavas Yisroel)
8:30 – Friday Night Meal- Group meals in selected homes
10:15 – Oneg at the Linns
8:30 – Davening at CAY, Jewish Heritage Center or other local Shuls
11:00 – Kiddush at CAY
12:30 – Lunch at CAY – 1-2 Short Divrei Torah, people telling their Teshuva Stories and sharing other thoughts
3:30 – 5:00 – Rest, Walk, Shmooze
5:00 – Shiur by Guest Speaker (two very good prospects but waiting for a final committment)
6:00 – Mincha at CAY
7:00 – Shalosh Seudos at CAY – 1-2 Short Divrei Torah, more stories, more thoughts
8:57 – Maariv
9:30 – 11:00 Havdalah – Melave Malka – Beyond BT Jam Band (in formation)
The cost is $25 per adult, $18 for 18 and under, $12 for 12 and under, $5 for 5 and under and babies are free.
Please join us. It should be a great time. Please email us at beyondbt@gmail.com to let us know
you’re coming and with any scheduling recommendations.
“I’m also impressed that you can identify such advanced spices like Cumin.”
Ours is a mixed marriage, my wife is sefardi.
Thanks David. I’m also impressed that you can identify such advanced spices like Cumin. :)
It tastes amazing!! Fresh Cilantro, Garlic, Lemon and (I think) Cumin with a beef type stock and chunks of potatoes and beef.
BTW, SefardiLady, I’m working on that mango soup recipe for you.
David,
Yemenite soup? What does that taste like? Never heard of it!
I think if I talk to the group, maybe I should have my post with me, so I don’t forget anything!
Mark,
Just the fact that you & David are undertaking this is a mitzvah in itself…you are to be congratulated!
How, when, and to whom to I make payment?
Thanks,
Marty
Marty
As we mentioned previously, this Shabbaton is not really structured around guest speakers, although we will have one shiur, Shabbos Afternoon at 5:00.
The goal is to create deeper connections to our fellow Jews and learn from the participant’s experiences. It is our firm belief that *every* BT’s story is powerful with much to inspire and learn from.
Mark,
I will be there for sure, and I will print the schedule out and discuss it with my family, as to who might want to join me when, since there is so much to do!
Whom do you have as a guest? I don’t know if you can get him, but last Thursday evening, courtesy of EMET Collegiate Outreach, Laura (my 13-year old) & I saw Alan “Shlomo” Veingrad, a BT who played for the Green Bay Packers & Dallas Cowboys in the late 80’s and early 90’s. He lives in Florida, and lectures all over the country. He was very good!
David,
Please, please email me the receipe for Mango Soup. Sounds like a fantastic summer soup.
This looks like a nice program. When I was in NCSY, we used to have a kumsitz at some Shabbatonim and discuss and tell “teshuvah stories.” All we need now is “As Shabbos Ebbs Away” with the right dveikusdik niggunim!
SL,
My wife serves, alternatively, Traditional matzoh ball soup, Yemenite Soup and our summer favorite Mango Soup!! (Recipe available upon request)
Soup? No Soup?
Is there perhaps somewhere a Talmudic discussion on this?
As long as we have beautiful Jewish neshamas, BTs & everyone else who loves Hashem, Torah & Mitzvot, who cares what’s for dinner? :-)
Good Shabbos, my brothers & sisters!
I shouldn’t silence the cheering section by admitting that I rarely serve a traditional chicken soup, now should I?
But, even without a traditional chicken soup, I can’t imagine a Friday night without soup. The very thought makes me sad. :(
Shabbat Shalom and Good Shabbos to everyone.
Why not give people the Mincha option, then move the Oneg up a bit? It will give those who want the longer meal the option, make sure the Oneg doesn’t go too late, and still be late enough that those who want to make late Shabbos will come when it’s still in full swing?
To anyone planning on coming – if you’re staying at our house, we do usually skip the fish and dessert. I’d sooner skip the meal! But I’d never, ever skip chicken soup. That’s sacreligious!
My Mother’s idea of cooking was sort of like an old Henny Youngman joke – the Chinses restaurant – but the one thing she could make was an awesome chicken soup. I’m not sure mine is as good (after all, what butcher sells chicken feet anymore) – but it’s a Shabbos necessity. Sephardi Lady, you’re right again!
Ilanit, I was thinking the stories would be of the sort, “How and Why I Became a BT” or “Classic Moments in the Life of a BT”.
We once had Rabbi Yitzchak Kirzner zt”l in KGH for a Scholor in Residence and we had the unbelievable honor of having him over for the Friday night meal.
He was giving a shiur that Friday night and I was nervous that we would be late, so I told him that we would be skipping the soup.
I remember during the shiur he joked in his warm and loving way that the meal would have been even better if we hadn’t skipped the soup.
The moral of the story: Sephardi Lady is right, don’t skip the soup, skip the desert.
Wish I could be there (far to travel to from Houston). Question – I am co-in charge of planning a Shabbos Nachamu after-Shabbos after-party and I’ve never done one or been to one before. Any ideas? I like the segment of sharing stories (what would the stories be about?). Thanks and shabbat shalom!
It is on the short side, but it’s summer, so we can probably skip the soup.
I really wish we could go. Sounds like it will be a fun event. But, skipping the soup in our house would practically be like skipping Eshet Chayil.
What about skipping dessert since there is an oneg?
Actually, we weren’t sure about what do to on Friday night. On the one hand we also enjoy a 3-4 hour leisurely meal. On the other hand we thought an Oneg would be another good opportunity for people to meet.
Obviously no event on the schedule is mandatory and if you prefer hanging and shmoozing at the meal instead of coming to the Oneg, thats fine.
I’m guilty in that regard. Mark originally scheduled dinner to run through 10:30, I shortened it to 10:15. I figured 10:30 jewish time would be 10:45-11:00.
It is on the short side, but it’s summer, so we can probably skip the soup. We wanted to have an Oneg Friday night and give people an additional opportunity to get to know others.
Maybe we should provide a 6:20 Mincha option (which is the first Plag Hamincha minyan at CAY), so people can have a longer meal and also go to the Oneg.
Those are *short* Friday night meals, aren’t they? (Okay, maybe that’s just us and our crazy meals…?)
Otherwise, looks great.