This year’s Shabbaton at the 4 H Center in Columbiana was truly a success. Thanks to the tireless efforts of Cynthia Tobias, Susan Biedinger, Tricia Elgavish and Sarah Ellen along with the help of everyone who attended, the weekend ran without a glitch. Having Rabbi Yaacov and Aliza Feit, Rabbi Rob and Aviva Schur and Moshe Adler, as well as Rabbi Raphael Berdugo, added to the Ruach of the weekend. Thank you to Eric Asman of Threads, Inc. for the super caps, Jay at the Mountain Brook Creamery for the ice cream social and Joe Preston for the great invitations.

As I said at the conclusion of the weekend, we are entering one of the most ominous and depressing times in the Jewish calendar, historically speaking, which is relived and recalled yearly. The destruction of the two Temples occurred during this time. The Second Temple was destroyed because of Sinat Chinom, hating one’s fellow man for no reason. What we saw at the Shabbaton was that peace can be achieved with Ahavat Chinom, pure love for no reason other than we are a group of Jewish people of different backgrounds who feel passionately about our faith and our connection to G-d. This Shabbaton is truly a model for what all of Jewry needs to strive toward to rebuild the Beit HaMikdash, the Temple, may it be speedily in our days when we will return to Jerusalem and find a venue there for Shabbaton 2008.

Adina Shmidman
Shabbaton Chair