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National Jewish Retreat

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The National Jewish Retreat (NJR) is a six-day Jewish learning and cultural experience organized annually by the Rohr Jewish Learning Institute (JLI).[1] Founded in 2006, it now draws over 1,000 annual participants, making it the largest Jewish retreat in the United States.

Held each August at a high-end hotel across the United States, the retreat offers 120+ concurrent sessions, talks, and workshops led by 50+ scholars, rabbis, entertainers, and public figures alongside kosher dining, concerts, comedy, and children's programming.[2]

The inaugural retreat was held in Copper Mountain, Colorado,[3] and subsequent retreats have been held in Cheyenne Mountain, Colorado; Park City, Utah; Greenwich, Connecticut;[4] Reston, Virginia; Alexandria, Virginia; Chicago, Illinois;[5] Washington, D.C;[6] Palm Desert, California;[7] Stone Mountain, Georgia;[8] and Miami, Florida.[9]

Alongside the main program, the Sinai Scholars Retreat assembles 150 college students each year for a specialized program that includes focused workshops on Jewish identity, leadership, and campus life.[10]

The 2010 retreat became the subject of media interest when former senator George Allen publicly discussed his mother's Jewish heritage for the first time since the rumors were substantiated.[11]

In 2018, Robert Meeropol, the son of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, spoke at the retreat and celebrated a belated bar mitzvah at age 71.[12]

In 2022, Ben Ferencz, the last surviving Nuremberg prosecutor, presented at age 103, just months before his passing.[13][14]

In 2024, October 7th survivor Natalie Sanandaji and freed hostage Sapir Cohen shared their harrowing experience at the hands of Hamas terrorists. In 2025, Or Levy, who spent 491 days as a hostage in Gaza, shared his story in a session with Rabbi Pinchas Allouche.[15]

Scholars in residence

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Speakers have included Rabbis Yisroel Meir Lau, Adin Steinsaltz,[16] Yoel Kahn, Manis Friedman, Simon Jacobson, Yossi Jacobson, Doron Perez,[17] David Bashevkin, Dr. Edward Reichman,[18] Dr. Jacob Immanuel Schochet,[19] as well as professors Jonathan Sarna,[20] Lawrence Schiffman,[21] Henry Abramson, psychologist Lisa Miller, and many others.[22][23][24]

The retreat has also featured numerous performing artists including Dudu Fisher,[25] Peter Himmelman,[26] Alex Clare,[27] Shulem Lemmer, Avraham Fried,[28] and Mordechai Ben David,[29] as well as comedians such as Elon Gold, Robert Cait, and Avi Liberman.

Previous scholars in residence include:

References

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  1. ^ Jewish Learning 10,000 Feet Above Sea Level
  2. ^ "National Jewish Retreat Opens in Virginia". Lubavitch.com. 17 August 2010. Retrieved 2010-08-19.
  3. ^ "New, old together creates a new experience". Ynetnews. 2006-08-25. Retrieved 2026-04-13.
  4. ^ Nicole, Narea (2011-08-19). "Over 800 attend National Jewish Retreat in Old Greenwich". Greenwich Time. Retrieved 2026-04-13.
  5. ^ "Over 1,000 Attend JLI Retreat in Chicago". CrownHeights.info - Chabad News, Crown Heights News, Lubavitch News. 2014-08-17. Retrieved 2026-04-13.
  6. ^ "JLI Retreat to Take Place in Washington, D.C." COLlive. 2025-05-20. Retrieved 2026-04-13.
  7. ^ "JLI Wraps Up Six Impactful Days at National Jewish Retreat". Anash.org. 2023-08-17. Retrieved 2026-04-13.
  8. ^ "National Jewish Retreat Opens in Georgia After Hiatus". COLlive. 2021-08-13. Retrieved 2026-04-13.
  9. ^ "Author and Iranian Revolution survivor Jacqueline Saper will speak at National Jewish Retreat". Sun Sentinel. 2024-08-04. Retrieved 2026-04-13.
  10. ^ "the retreat". Sinai Scholars. Retrieved 2026-04-13.
  11. ^ "Politician, once unaware of Jewish roots, to address his heritage". USA Today. 2010-08-19. Retrieved 2010-08-19.
  12. ^ Sales, Ben (2018-08-03). "Son of executed Rosenbergs celebrates belated bar mitzvah". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Retrieved 2026-04-13.
  13. ^ "Law, Not War". www.torahcafe.com. Retrieved 2026-04-13.
  14. ^ "Watch: Nuremberg Prosecutor Ben Ferencz's Final Interview". COLlive. 2023-04-26. Retrieved 2026-04-13.
  15. ^ "1,200 People Join Record-Breaking National Jewish Retreat". COLlive. 2025-09-14. Retrieved 2026-04-13.
  16. ^ Posner, Menachem. "Five Days of 'Wow' at National Jewish Retreat, With Every Topic Under the Sun - Rohr Jewish Learning Institute's annual program, this year held in Chicago, draws 1,000 participants". www.chabad.org. Retrieved 2026-04-13.
  17. ^ Staff, Jewish Link (2024-07-18). "World's Greatest Jewish Minds Will Come Together For Inspirational Weekend in Miami". The Jewish Link. Retrieved 2026-04-13.
  18. ^ "If Maimonides Were Alive Today: The Rambam on Contemporary Jewish Medical Ethics". www.torahcafe.com. Retrieved 2026-04-13.
  19. ^ "E Pluribus Unum?". www.torahcafe.com. Retrieved 2026-04-13.
  20. ^ "Myer Myers Rimonim Case: An Inside Look". www.torahcafe.com. Retrieved 2026-04-13.
  21. ^ "The History of Jews in Islamic Countries". www.torahcafe.com. Retrieved 2026-04-13.
  22. ^ Staff reports. "Rohr Jewish Learning Institute to present 'Life in the Balance'". The Bulletin. Retrieved 2016-10-20.
  23. ^ "JLI offers adult courses on medical dilemmas | j. the Jewish news weekly of Northern California". www.jweekly.com. Retrieved 2016-10-20.
  24. ^ "Chandler AZ Community seeks answers to a Jewish problem". Ahwatukee Foothills News. Retrieved 2016-10-20.
  25. ^ "But Zaidy Made us Laugh". www.torahcafe.com. Retrieved 2026-04-13.
  26. ^ "California Oasis to Host Biggest-Ever National Jewish Retreat". COLlive. 2023-07-19. Retrieved 2026-04-13.
  27. ^ "1,000 Renew Their Jewish Pride at National Jewish Retreat". COLlive. 2024-09-05. Retrieved 2026-04-13.
  28. ^ "Avraham Fried in Concert". www.torahcafe.com. Retrieved 2026-04-13.
  29. ^ "Just One Shabbos". www.torahcafe.com. Retrieved 2026-04-13.
  30. ^ "Chabad of South Hills to explore Jewish identity in modern world - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 17 September 2014.
  31. ^ Lakein, Dvora (5 May 2009). "Chabad's Rohr JLI Offers Retreat to Self". Chabad Lubavitch World HQ/News. Retrieved 20 October 2016.
  32. ^ Chabad Lubavitch Headquarters (17 August 2010). "National Jewish Retreat Opens in Virginia". Chabad Lubavitch World HQ/ News. Retrieved August 18, 2012.
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