I must admit that when Purim falls on erev Shabbos and erev Pesach falls on Shabbos, it can be challenging. But now that Pesach is packed away and the last load of laundry is in the washer, there’s no time to waste. It’s time to start planning for another challenging yet eagerly anticipated event: Nismach’s fourth annual Labor Day Weekend Shabbaton, planned for Friday through Sunday, August 29 to August 31.
The Shabbaton attendees are
primarily members of Nismach Maryland, the local friendship and activities
group for Jewish almanos (widows)
formed in 2016 by Stephanie Savir-Perlman of Silver Spring. They have been
joined by other almanos from as far
away as Boca Raton, Brooklyn, Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit, Lakewood, Monsey,
New Haven, and Passaic.
Both of us having personally
experienced widowhood, my husband, Michael Steinberg, and I – aided by a small
army of our family members, friends, and neighbors – particularly look forward
to hosting yet another beautiful, bekavodik,
and uplifting Shabbos for approximately 60 women.
As you read this, you might think
that you’ve never heard of anything sadder than a Shabbaton for widows, but
nothing could be further from the truth. As the organization’s name implies,
Nismach is a group that encourages happiness. It is patterned after the
international group, Samchainu, which gives support to 2,700-plus widows
throughout the world. Our activities are uplifting and fun with the intention
of reminding the participants that, even though our husband has died, we all
need to continue seeking happiness and enjoy life.
Indeed, by the end of each Nismach
Shabbaton, the participants – several of whom hadn’t known each other 24 hours
prior, can be seen laughing together, singing with arms around each other,
posing for pictures, and exchanging phone numbers and email addresses so they
can keep in touch. Bonds of friendship are formed, the natural support that
friendship brings is built, and very warm, happy memories are created.
The
Checklist
I don’t know about you, but I get
extreme satisfaction from creating a to-do checklist and checking off the boxes
when tasks are completed. Here’s my checklist for the upcoming Nismach
Shabbaton:
·
Choose and invite a scholar-in-residence and other
speakers
·
Decide on theme/panelists for either a panel or a
Q&A session
·
Select and invite motzaei
Shabbos entertainment
·
Schedule sound check for musical entertainment
·
Design the invitation
·
Update the online registration form; track housing
preferences, food sensitivities, and allergies on a spreadsheet
·
Purchase raffle prizes
·
Email/WhatsApp/call prospective participants
·
Arrange Ranchleigh neighborhood housing for
participants: 15-20 houses (including handicap accessible) being mindful of
walking distance capability, single/double occupancy, and roommate preferences,
etc.
·
Confirm housing with hosts closer to the event
·
Find volunteers to purchase items for “goodie bags”
and assemble and distribute them upon arrival
·
Create menus for erev
Shabbos toameha, Shabbos dinner,
Shabbos lunch, shalosh seudos, melave malka, and Sunday farewell brunch
·
Review the menu from last year to assess
likes/dislikes and quantities to order
·
Obtain centerpieces
·
Order food from multiple local vendors, being mindful
of food allergies/sensitivities and preferences; arrange delivery day/time
·
Arrange for baristas for Sunday farewell brunch
·
Reserve tablecloths from tablecloth gemach – find
volunteers for pick up and return
·
Recruit volunteers to set up tables/chairs on Thursday
·
Hire waitresses for all meals
·
Solicit chair massagists and sheitel machers for
complimentary erev Shabbos messages
and sheitel touch-ups
·
Arrange for the printing of name tags and personalized
schedules, noting housing assignment and nearby shuls
·
Find volunteers for erev Shabbos registration
·
Find volunteers to assist registrars by directing the
attendees to their accommodations
·
Find volunteers to pick up/drop off participants at
train/bus stations
·
Find rides for Shabbaton participants who need
transportation
·
Order paper/plastic goods and serving pieces for five
meals after taking inventory of extras from last year’s Shabbaton
·
Fundraise – last, but definitely not least!
*
* *
The Labor Day Weekend Shabbaton is
the highlight of the year for the members of Nismach. (Among other highlights
are Nismach’s popular pre-Purim and pre-Chanukah parties, which we also host.)
On a personal note, these Shabbatons are among the most fun and meaningful
Shabbosos of my life. And, as I
expressed at the farewell brunch of our very first Nismach Shabbaton, “I
especially shepped nachas from the
warmth that permeated the entire weekend – the bonding, non-stop smiles,
schoolgirl chit-chat, and laughter. This camaraderie will carry these heroines
through to our next Shabbaton. Michael and I cannot wait to host it again, iy”H!”
Nismach
Maryland is sponsored by Yad Yehuda of Greater Washington and operates under
the rabbinical guidance of Rabbi Moshe Walter. You can learn more about it at www.nismach.org. Members are never charged to participate in Nismach events. Donations
are always welcome at www.nismach.org/donate. Nismach is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit
organization, and all contributions are tax deductible.
