National Jewish Retreat 2026

National Jewish Retreat 2026

Schedule is tentative and subject to change.

9:15am EDT

When the Rebbe Challenged Me: Personal Encounters That Changed the Way I Live

Wednesday August 5, 2026 9:15am - 10:05am EDT

Behind-the-scenes encounters you won’t hear anywhere else: personal attention, a blunt call to maturity, a life-changing directive on marriage and family, an Israeli political storm, and intimate moments in the Rebbe’s home and at the Ohel on Gimmel Tammuz.

Speakers

Rabbi Dovid Eliezrie

Rabbi Dovid Eliezrie is a senior Chabad shliach in Yorba Linda, California. He is the author of Undaunted, a biography of the Sixth Lubavitcher Rebbe. His first book, The Secret of Chabad, was honored by the National Jewish Book Award. Rabbi Eliezrie is active in national and global Jewish affairs, serving on the Board of the Jewish Agency for Israel and as president of the Rabbinical Council of Orange County, California... Read More →

Wednesday August 5, 2026 9:15am - 10:05am EDT
Crystal

Lecture

10:20am EDT

Building a World through Kindness: Rebuilding a Fractured World—One Act at a Time

Wednesday August 5, 2026 10:20am - 11:10am EDT

In a world that often feels fractured and uncertain, what is the one force that can truly hold it together? Drawing on timeless Torah wisdom and powerful real-life stories, this lecture reveals how even the smallest act of kindness carries the power to transform lives—and shape the future of our world. Sometimes, a single moment of compassion can echo across generations.

Speakers

Rabbi Moshe Bryski

Rabbi Moshe Bryski is the director and spiritual leader of Chabad of the Conejo in Agoura Hills, California. He oversaw the establishment of numerous neighboring Chabad centers and founded the Conejo Jewish Academy, an adult Jewish education institution serving 3,000 students annually... Read More →

Wednesday August 5, 2026 10:20am - 11:10am EDT
Crystal

Lecture

11:25am EDT

The Forgiveness Experiment: What Would Your Life Look Like If You Let It All Go?

Wednesday August 5, 2026 11:25am - 12:15pm EDT

Everyone says forgiveness is important. Few people actually try it. What happens when we stop replaying old hurts, release the weight we've been carrying, and discover what life looks like on the other side? The results may surprise you.

Speakers

Rabbi Yisroel Bernath

Wednesday August 5, 2026 11:25am - 12:15pm EDT
Crystal

Lecture

2:00pm EDT

A WILD Jewish Love Story: A Chinese Movie Star and a Puerto Rican Wall Street Woman

Wednesday August 5, 2026 2:00pm - 2:50pm EDT

He was a Chinese movie star. She was a Puerto Rican Wall Street executive. Neither imagined Judaism would completely change the course of their lives. Join Matt Trusch and Yael Trusch for the fascinating, funny, and deeply moving story of how two unlikely journeys led to one extraordinary Jewish future.

Speakers

Mrs. Yael Trusch

Mr. Matt Trusch

Wednesday August 5, 2026 2:00pm - 2:50pm EDT
Crystal

Lecture

3:10pm EDT

Has Religion Been Good for the World? The Case For—and Against—Faith

Wednesday August 5, 2026 3:10pm - 4:00pm EDT

Wars, oppression, division, guilt: religion has been blamed for all of them. Yet faith has also inspired charity, morality, community, and some of humanity's highest ideals. So, what's the verdict? Join Rabbi Manis Friedman for a candid exploration of religion's complicated reputation, and discover why the real question may not be whether religion has helped the world, but what happens when it disappears.

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 →

Wednesday August 5, 2026 3:10pm - 4:00pm EDT
Crystal

Lecture

4:20pm EDT

Becoming a Mother Without a Womb: How Raw Faith Rewrote My Story

Wednesday August 5, 2026 4:20pm - 5:10pm EDT

Born without a womb, Ariella was told motherhood was impossible. Through groundbreaking medicine and unwavering faith, her story took an unexpected turn. Ariella shares a deeply moving journey of hope and the quiet strength it takes to keep believing.

Speakers

Mrs. Ariella Kamen

Wednesday August 5, 2026 4:20pm - 5:10pm EDT
Crystal

Lecture

9:15am EDT

I Didn't Ask to Be Born

Thursday August 6, 2026 9:15am - 10:05am EDT

You didn't ask for life, so why does life ask so much of you? Rabbi Manis Friedman explores the deepest questions of existence, purpose, and responsibility, uncovering a perspective that can transform the way you think about being here in the first place.

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 →

Thursday August 6, 2026 9:15am - 10:05am EDT
Crystal

Lecture

10:20am EDT

G-d: The Original They/Them: Because the Creator of the Universe Doesn't Fit in Your Box

Thursday August 6, 2026 10:20am - 11:10am EDT

Think you’ve got the Infinite figured out? Think again. In Jewish mysticism, the Divine isn’t just a “He” in the sky—it’s a reality that defies every category we try to impose on it. Join us as we explore the ultimate paradox: how G-d can be intimately present in every detail of life, yet remain infinitely beyond the reach of the entire universe.

Speakers

Mrs. Rivkah Slonim

Thursday August 6, 2026 10:20am - 11:10am EDT
Crystal

Lecture

11:25am EDT

Three Minutes Underwater: The Miracle That Changed Our Family Forever

Thursday August 6, 2026 11:25am - 12:15pm EDT

One summer afternoon, a two-year-old girl was pulled lifeless from a swimming pool. What happened next would defy every expectation and transform an entire family's life. In this unforgettable and deeply moving presentation, Charlene Aminofff shares the miraculous story of her daughter Gali's survival, the crisis that tested her faith, and the lessons about trust, prayer, and Divine providence that continue to inspire thousands around the world.

Moderators

Mrs. Yael Trusch

Speakers

Mrs. Charlene Aminoff

Thursday August 6, 2026 11:25am - 12:15pm EDT
Crystal

Lecture

3:10pm EDT

What do Jews Really Think About Non-Jews: The Rebbe's Vision For All Humankind

Thursday August 6, 2026 3:10pm - 4:00pm EDT

For generations, Judaism's message was largely focused inward—building families, communities, and a sacred way of life. Yet the Rebbe envisioned something far bigger: a universal moral awakening that would elevate all of humanity. Time and again, proposals were made to bring this vision to the world, and time and again the answer was: not yet. What is this mission? Why did the Rebbe see it as so essential? And could it be that the moment he was waiting for has finally arrived?

Moderators

Rabbi Yosef Vogel

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 →

Thursday August 6, 2026 3:10pm - 4:00pm EDT
Crystal

Lecture

4:20pm EDT

G-d, Where Were You? A Journey through Tragedy, Protest, and Unshakable Faith

Thursday August 6, 2026 4:20pm - 5:10pm EDT

When life breaks your heart, easy answers aren't enough. Explore the Jewish response to suffering, loss, and resilience through powerful stories and timeless Torah wisdom.

Speakers

Rabbi Moshe Bryski

Rabbi Moshe Bryski is the director and spiritual leader of Chabad of the Conejo in Agoura Hills, California. He oversaw the establishment of numerous neighboring Chabad centers and founded the Conejo Jewish Academy, an adult Jewish education institution serving 3,000 students annually... Read More →

Thursday August 6, 2026 4:20pm - 5:10pm EDT
Crystal

Lecture

9:15am EDT

Antiques Roadshow, Jewish Medicine Edition: Stories, Secrets, and Surprising Artifacts from Our Medical Past

Friday August 7, 2026 9:15am - 10:05am EDT

Step into a Jewish twist on Antiques Roadshow, where curious artifacts come with remarkable stories. In this fast-paced session, Dr. Reichman reveals exceedingly rare, never exhibited medical items from across Jewish history—including some suspected forgeries. You will learn the true origins and significance of each piece, uncovering the surprising role Jews played in shaping the world of medicine.

Speakers

Rabbi Dr. Edward Reichman

Friday August 7, 2026 9:15am - 10:05am EDT
Crystal

Lecture

10:20am EDT

Hacking the Human Mind: Brain Chips, AI, and the Future of Free Will

Friday August 7, 2026 10:20am - 11:10am EDT

The mind was humanity's last private place. Now, brain chips and AI are breaking down the door. As technology learns to decode—and perhaps influence—our thoughts, who controls your mind, your choices, and your freedom? Welcome to the next frontier of medical ethics.

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 →

Friday August 7, 2026 10:20am - 11:10am EDT
Crystal

Lecture

11:25am EDT

Gratitude Is an Attitude: The Life-Changing Power of Appreciation

Friday August 7, 2026 11:25am - 12:15pm EDT

What if the secret to a richer, happier life isn’t getting more, but noticing more? Rabbi Yitzchak Schochet explores the transformative power of gratitude and how a shift in perspective can change the way we experience our relationships, challenges, and everyday lives.

Speakers

Rabbi Yitzchak Schochet

Friday August 7, 2026 11:25am - 12:15pm EDT
Crystal

Lecture

3:05pm EDT

Jews, Meet History: We've Been Here Before

Friday August 7, 2026 3:05pm - 3:55pm EDT

The names are different. The circumstances are new. The questions are remarkably familiar. Join historian Dr. Henry Abramson for a fascinating journey through the moments in Jewish history that feel uncannily relevant today—and the wisdom they offer for what comes next.

Speakers

Dr. Henry Abramson

Friday August 7, 2026 3:05pm - 3:55pm EDT
Crystal

Lecture

3:00pm EDT

Judaism's First Female To Appear In Print: Rivka Tiktiner's Seven-Branched Vision for the Jewish Future

Saturday August 8, 2026 3:00pm - 4:00pm EDT

A pioneering voice in Jewish history, Rivka Tiktiner used the seven-branched menorah to articulate a compelling vision of Jewish life, purpose, and continuity. Discover why the insights of Judaism's first female author still resonate today.

Speakers

Dr. Henry Abramson

Saturday August 8, 2026 3:00pm - 4:00pm EDT
Crystal

Lecture

7:45pm EDT

Beyond Jewish Survival: A Jewish Revival From Defense to Destiny

Saturday August 8, 2026 7:45pm - 8:30pm EDT

The Jewish story has always been one of resilience, but it was never meant to end with survival. Drawing on history, current events, and timeless Torah insights, this lecture explores why the next chapter of Jewish life must be defined not by what we are fighting against, but by what we are living for. The result is a compelling call to action for a new era of Jewish revival.

Speakers

Rabbi Moshe Bryski

Rabbi Moshe Bryski is the director and spiritual leader of Chabad of the Conejo in Agoura Hills, California. He oversaw the establishment of numerous neighboring Chabad centers and founded the Conejo Jewish Academy, an adult Jewish education institution serving 3,000 students annually... Read More →

Saturday August 8, 2026 7:45pm - 8:30pm EDT
Crystal

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

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

Ask the Rabbi Doctor: The Jewish Medical Ethics Crossfire

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

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