TABC’s annual Welcome Back Shabbaton for sophomores, juniors and seniors is making an early run for highlight of the year. The students departed Thursday night after school (and a Chickies dinner) and after a night at the Castle Fun Center, students set off for Camp Kaylie. After settling into the bunks and enjoying a late night barbecue, a spirited kumzitz formed around the campfire, led by Rabbi Jake Berman on his guitar. Students enjoyed roasting marshmallows and S’mores and sang well into the night.

As the sun came up on Friday and the temperature rose to 80 degrees, students packed the courts and fields for tennis, football, sand volleyball and more. Additionally, dozens of students participated in Rabbi Jachter’s eruv check and got a firsthand look at how to check an eruv. The indoor arcade was packed with students going head to head in Madden and NBA2k and Rabbi Steven Finkelstein led students on a hike to nearby campgrounds.

The real highlight of course was Shabbat. Senior Gabi Antosofsky led Kabbalat Shabbat and a delicious meal, inspiring shiurim, a rocking oneg and tish (and even a post-tish tish) followed. The pleasant weather allowed for a perfect afternoon, with students and faculty gathered in gazebos and around picnic tables, learning and schmoozing. Shabbat ended on a high note with seuda shelishit, a meaningful dvar Torah from Rabbi Finkelstein, and a spiritual Havdala led by Rabbi Dovid Einhorn. The getaway was the perfect prelude to what promises to be another great year at TABC.