All of RKYHS and its faculty gathered for a memorable full-school shabbaton. Shifting the school shabbaton to the start of the year enabled the school to come together as one and start off the year bonding together with a unifying Shabbat all together and set the tone for the school year.
Set on the grounds of Camp Lavi, RKYHS students were able to take advantage of the outdoor opportunities on the camp’s grounds when they arrived on Friday. From the trampoline park and boating to sports activities and a Ninja Warrior course, there were many opportunities for fun. RKYHS alumni chaperones joined for the weekend to help run programs, but they also know how quintessential the RKYHS shabbaton experience is for students and were set on making sure RKYHS students continued to make lasting memories on their shabbaton.
Once Shabbat arrived, the magic of RKYHS shabbaton truly began. The Shabbat was focused on this year’s theme of “Just Do it, Right” based on the pasuk from Devarim, “v’asita hayashar v’hatov b’einei Hashem, and you shall do what is proper and good in the eyes of Hashem.” After a beautiful davening and dinner, students participated in a round robin hearing from teachers and peers about personal experiences of moral dilemmas and making the right choices—from major life moments to the mundane the focus was knowing within ourselves what is the right choice and utilizing your strength to make those choices. A rousing senior-led tish followed the round robin complete with singing and more delicious food.
Shabbat day was filled with inspirational davening and shiurim, with divrei Torah from students at every meal. During one of the learning sessions students learned the text of some Selichot to add meaning to them for later that night. Grade games, peer leader-led programming for freshmen and free time rounded out Shabbat.
After a moving Havdala, students had more opportunities to use the Camp Lavi grounds as well as glow in the dark sports, silent DJ and more. They finished the night with unity Selichot which were said in both Sephardic and Ashkenazi versions. Having learned the text of select Selichot earlier on Shabbat added meaning to an already inspirational davening. After Selichot, RKYHS seniors, who have already begun to cherish their final year at RKYHS, stayed together for a senior kumzitz by the fire.
