National Jewish Retreat 2026: Full Schedule

Experience the most fascinating real-life questions ever brought to the world's greatest rabbis. Through gripping stories and timeless wisdom, discover how Jewish law has guided generations through an ever-changing world.

Speakers

Rabbi Mordechai Dinerman

Rabbi Mordechai Dinerman co-directs the Jewish Learning Institute’s curriculum department. He has authored, edited, or otherwise participated in creating over twenty JLI courses on numerous Jewish topics, including Life in the Balance (Jewish Medical Ethics), How Happiness Thinks (Positive... Read More →

Sunday August 9, 2026 9:30am - 10:30am EDT
White & Gold 1

Lecture

9:30am EDT

Proof the Devil Is Real?! The Origin and What the Bible Really Says about Satan's Fall

Sunday August 9, 2026 9:30am - 10:30am EDT

Ivanka

Did Satan rebel against G-d? Was he cast out of Heaven? Is the Devil an independent force of evil? Many of the beliefs people hold about Satan come from sources outside the Bible. Join Rabbi Simon Jacobson, as he separates myth from scripture, explores Judaism's fascinating understanding of Satan, and reveals what the struggle between good and evil really means for our lives today.

Speakers

Rabbi Simon Jacobson

Sunday August 9, 2026 9:30am - 10:30am EDT
Ivanka

Lecture

9:30am EDT

Raising Humans: Building Happy, Healthy Families in a Chaotic World

Sunday August 9, 2026 9:30am - 10:30am EDT

White & Gold 2

In a world of constant pressure, distraction, and anxiety, raising grounded and emotionally healthy children has never felt more challenging. Discover timeless Jewish wisdom and practical insights for building stronger families, deeper connection, and homes where children and grandchildren can truly thrive.

Speakers

Mrs. Rivkah Slonim

Sunday August 9, 2026 9:30am - 10:30am EDT
White & Gold 2

Lecture

9:30am EDT

The End of Death? Longevity, Gene Editing, and Signs of a Messianic Future.

Sunday August 9, 2026 9:30am - 10:30am EDT

Crystal

The first generation to dramatically slow aging may already be alive. Scientists are extending lifespans, rewriting genes, and pursuing technologies once confined to science fiction. Are these merely medical breakthroughs, or could they be part of a larger story foretold by Jewish tradition? Join us as we explore the race to extend human life, and what it may reveal about the world we are destined to build.

Speakers

Rabbi Yechiel Krisch

Rabbi Yechiel Krisch is a science journalist and rabbi. His coverage of biomedicine, technology, environmental issues, space, mathematics, and health policy has appeared in The New York Times, Scientific American, The Atlantic, and numerous other publications. As an ordained rabbi... Read More →

Sunday August 9, 2026 9:30am - 10:30am EDT
Crystal

Lecture

10:45am EDT

1940s Budapest: Nicht für Kinder The Holocaust, the Iron Curtain, and the Twins Who Remained

Sunday August 9, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am EDT

Ivanka

Two young brothers come of age in 1940s Budapest as Jewish life is pushed into hiding. From yellow stars and false names to the terror of the Danube and a narrow escape from behind the Iron Curtain, this survivor testimony traces how ordinary childhood moments were reshaped by fear and the quiet acts of courage that sustained them.

Moderators

Mrs. Yael Trusch

Speakers

Mr. Laszlo Selly

Sunday August 9, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am EDT
Ivanka

Lecture

10:45am EDT

Ask the Rabbi Doctor: The Jewish Medical Ethics Crossfire

Sunday August 9, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am EDT

Crystal

From pig heart transplants and AI to contested embryos and aid-in-dying legislation, everything is on the (operating) table. Bring your questions—or borrow someone else's—as we tackle the most challenging, surprising, and thought-provoking issues in health care today. No question is too simple, too complex, or too controversial. And yes, everything is covered by insurance.

Speakers

Rabbi Dr. Edward Reichman

Sunday August 9, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am EDT
Crystal

Lecture

10:45am EDT

Marriage Is Made in Heaven. How on Earth Does It Work?

Sunday August 9, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am EDT

White & Gold 2

Modern culture tells us to follow our hearts, find the perfect match, and expect marriage to fulfill our every need. Judaism sees things differently. Join one of the Jewish world's most beloved relationship thinkers for a practical, humorous, and deeply insightful look at what marriage is really for—and how it can become one of life's greatest sources of meaning, connection, and joy.

Speakers

Rabbi Manis Friedman

Rabbi Manis Friedman is a world-renowned author, lecturer, philosopher, co-founder of the Bais Chana Institute of Jewish Studies, and founder of It’s Good to Know website. He is the most popular rabbi on YouTube and is the author of numerous books on relationships and ethics including, The... Read More →

Sunday August 9, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am EDT
White & Gold 2

Lecture

10:45am EDT

Ruth: Not the Story You Think You Know Love, Controversy, and the Birth of a Dynasty

Sunday August 9, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am EDT

White & Gold 1

Everyone knows the story of Ruth. Or so they think. Discover the overlooked controversies, surprising twists, and legal drama behind the Moabite outsider who became the matriarch of King David's dynasty."

Speakers

Rabbi Chaim Block

Sunday August 9, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am EDT
White & Gold 1

Lecture

12:00pm EDT

20 Years of JRetreat: A Recap and Launch of a Bold New Future

Sunday August 9, 2026 12:00pm - 1:00pm EDT

Ivanka

Sunday August 9, 2026 12:00pm - 1:00pm EDT
Ivanka

Mega Event

1:00pm EDT

Closing Lunch

Sunday August 9, 2026 1:00pm - 3:00pm EDT

Grand Ballroom

Sunday August 9, 2026 1:00pm - 3:00pm EDT
Grand Ballroom

Meal

7:30am EDT

8:00am EDT

8:00am EDT

8:00am EDT

8:00am EDT

9:30am EDT

9:30am EDT

9:30am EDT

9:30am EDT

10:45am EDT

10:45am EDT

10:45am EDT

10:45am EDT

12:00pm EDT

1:00pm EDT

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