National Jewish Retreat 2026: Full Schedule

Schedule is tentative and subject to change.

10:20am EDT

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

From modern dilemmas to timeless debates, join Rabbi Yosef Marlow as he dives into the burning questions on the minds of today’s Jewish world. Whether it’s technology, ethics, or everyday challenges, we’ll explore how eternal Torah wisdom guides us through the complexities of the present.

Speakers

Rabbi Yosef Marlow

Wednesday August 5, 2026 10:20am - 11:10am EDT
White & Gold 2

Lecture

11:25am EDT

Unwrapping Your Legacy: What Halachah Really Says about Your Will

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

White & Gold 2

Think your will is in order? Halachah may say otherwise. Discover what matters, what’s often missed, and how to do it right.

Speakers

Rabbi Moshe Lieberman

Wednesday August 5, 2026 11:25am - 12:15pm EDT
White & Gold 2

Lecture

2:00pm EDT

Fanatics and False Messiahs: The Scandal That Fractured the Jewish World

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

White & Gold 2

A mysterious mystic. A desperate generation. A promise of redemption that swept across continents. Four hundred years after the birth of Shabbetai Tzvi, discover how one man captivated the Jewish world—and why his story still matters today.

Speakers

Rabbi Mendel Krasnjanski

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

Lecture

3:10pm EDT

How You Say It Matters: The Secrets to Being an Outstanding Speaker

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

White & Gold 2

Have you ever been asked to say a few words in shul or in a business presentation and want to
stand out and make an impact? Learn the hints, methodology, and inside scoop to create the
most interesting speech from a global speaker who has inspired thousands of audience
members.

Speakers

Rabbi David Nesenoff

Wednesday August 5, 2026 3:10pm - 4:00pm EDT
White & Gold 2

Lecture

4:20pm EDT

Holy Intimacy: The Transformative Power of Mikvah

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

White & Gold 2

Far more than a ritual, Mikvah offers a powerful framework for renewal, connection, and sacred intimacy within Jewish marriage. In this women-only session, explore the emotional, spiritual, and practical depth behind one of Judaism’s most timeless and transformative traditions.

Speakers

Mrs. Rivkah Slonim

Wednesday August 5, 2026 4:20pm - 5:10pm EDT
White & Gold 2

Lecture

9:45pm EDT

Undaunted: From Czars, Communists, and Nazis to a Modern Jewish Renaissance

Wednesday August 5, 2026 9:45pm - 11:00pm EDT

White & Gold 2

Rabbi Yechiel Krisch leads a gripping conversation with Rabbi David Eliezrie about Undaunted, the dramatic life story of Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneerson, the Previous Lubavitcher Rebbe. In a chaotic century of despotic czars, communist terror, and Nazi Europe, his leadership towers: he narrowly escapes a Soviet death sentence and is rescued from war‑torn Poland by an unprecedented collaboration between the United States and Nazi Germany. This session explores how his courage, leadership, and vision carried Judaism through upheaval and helped lay the foundations for a new era of vibrant Jewish life in America—and for the modern Jewish renaissance we are living today.

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 →

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 9:45pm - 11:00pm EDT
White & Gold 2

Panel

7:30am EDT

Shacharit: Beginners' Prayer Workshop for Women

Thursday August 6, 2026 7:30am - 8:15am EDT

White & Gold 2

Speakers

Mrs. Aliza Scheinfeld

Thursday August 6, 2026 7:30am - 8:15am EDT
White & Gold 2

Prayer service

9:15am EDT

Stalin Couldn’t Break Him, Hitler Couldn’t Crush Him: The Rebbe’s Blueprint for Defeating Antisemitism

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

White & Gold 2

Stalin tried to erase Jewish life. Hitler tried to annihilate it. Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneerson—the Previous Lubavitcher Rebbe—answered with unstoppable, defiant Jewish strength. This session uncovers his radical, courage‑driven blueprint and shows how it can transform the way we confront antisemitism today, moving us from fear and reaction to bold, visible, and proudly Jewish living.

Speakers

Rabbi Dovid Eliezrie

Thursday August 6, 2026 9:15am - 10:05am EDT
White & Gold 2

Lecture

10:20am EDT

The Legacy Letter: What Future Generations Will Thank You For

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

White & Gold 2

What do you want to leave behind? Through timeless Jewish wisdom, inspiring stories, and a powerful reflective exercise, discover how clarifying your deepest values can transform the way you live today—and the legacy you leave for tomorrow.

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 10:20am - 11:10am EDT
White & Gold 2

Lecture

11:25am EDT

From Conservative Rabbi to Chabad: From Guitars on the Bimah to Black Hats on Shabbos

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

White & Gold 2

A respectful inside look at the liberal Jewish movements and how I was led from being a
Conservative progressive liberal rabbi to becoming a Chasid of the Lubavitcher Rebbe. A unique true story that is not only personal, but also encompasses the various movements in
Judaism and how Chabad stands out for many Jews who seek to understand Torah amidst
modernity.

Speakers

Rabbi David Nesenoff

Thursday August 6, 2026 11:25am - 12:15pm EDT
White & Gold 2

Lecture

3:10pm EDT

Pulsating MatriarX - The Rachel and Leah Energies That Shape the Jewish Soul

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

White & Gold 2

Rachel and Leah were more than biblical figures. They represent two powerful spiritual energies that continue to shape our inner world, our relationships, and the story of the Jewish people. Through the lens of Jewish mysticism, explore the hidden paradigms pulsating beneath the surface of the soul and discover how these ancient forces still live within us today

Speakers

Mrs. Rivkah Slonim

Thursday August 6, 2026 3:10pm - 4:00pm EDT
White & Gold 2

Lecture

4:20pm EDT

Beat Swords into Plowshares: From Vision to Victory

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

White & Gold 2

Can humanity ever truly move beyond conflict? From the prophets’ ancient vision of the messianic era to the turbulent realities of today’s world, this session explores Judaism’s dream of a future transformed, where war gives way to peace, destruction to growth, and the world moves closer to the coming of Mashiach.

Speakers

Rabbi Simon Jacobson

Thursday August 6, 2026 4:20pm - 5:10pm EDT
White & Gold 2

Lecture

9:45pm EDT

Film Screening: Among Neighbors

Thursday August 6, 2026 9:45pm - 11:00pm EDT

White & Gold 2

Thursday August 6, 2026 9:45pm - 11:00pm EDT
White & Gold 2

Movie

7:30am EDT

Shacharit: Beginners’ Prayer Workshop for Women

Friday August 7, 2026 7:30am - 8:15am EDT

White & Gold 2

Speakers

Mrs. Aliza Scheinfeld

Friday August 7, 2026 7:30am - 8:15am EDT
White & Gold 2

Prayer service

9:15am EDT

Spirituality Deficiency Syndrome: The Quiet Crisis in the Jewish Soul—And How to Fix It

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

White & Gold 2

Could your soul be suffering from "Spirituality Deficiency Syndrome"? Through humor, powerful stories, and timeless Jewish wisdom, discover why so many of us feel spiritually depleted—and learn how to reconnect with the meaning and purpose we've been searching for.

Speakers

Rabbi Moshe Bryski

Friday August 7, 2026 9:15am - 10:05am EDT
White & Gold 2

Lecture

10:20am EDT

A Lovable, Vulnerable G-d: The Surprising Jewish Understanding of the Divine

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

White & Gold 2

We often imagine G-d as all-powerful, self-sufficient, and beyond human need. Yet Jewish thought paints a far more surprising picture: of a G-d who loves, waits, forgives, and even makes Himself vulnerable in pursuit of a relationship with humanity. Join Rabbi Manis Friedman for a fresh look at the Divine qualities that make G-d not only awe-inspiring, but deeply lovable.

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 →

Friday August 7, 2026 10:20am - 11:10am EDT
White & Gold 2

Lecture

11:25am EDT

Do Jews Belong on the Temple Mount? Understanding the Halachah and History Behind the Question

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

White & Gold 2

When did Jews ascend the Temple Mount—and when did they not? Explore the historical record and the halachic sources that shaped Jewish practice across the centuries. Discover how that history informs one of the most significant halachic questions of our time: should Jews ascend the Temple Mount today?

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 →

Friday August 7, 2026 11:25am - 12:15pm EDT
White & Gold 2

Lecture

3:05pm EDT

How I Went from PLO Sympathizer to Pro-Israel Advocate

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

White & Gold 2

Once a celebrity journalist with PLO sympathies, Molly Resnick’s life took an unexpected turn toward Jewish learning and life. In this powerful session, she shares the eye-opening moments that reshaped her identity, her values, and her mission.

Speakers

Mrs. Molly Resnick

Friday August 7, 2026 3:05pm - 3:55pm EDT
White & Gold 2

Lecture

9:45am EDT

Shacharit: Beginners’ Prayer Workshop for Women

Saturday August 8, 2026 9:45am - 10:45pm EDT

White & Gold 2

Speakers

Mrs. Aliza Scheinfeld

Saturday August 8, 2026 9:45am - 10:45pm EDT
White & Gold 2

Prayer service

11:00am EDT

Re’eh: When Every Choice Becomes Destiny

Saturday August 8, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm EDT

White & Gold 2

Parshat Re’eh presents one of the Torah’s most dramatic visions of free will: not what some philosophers describe as neutral trade‑offs, but stark choices between right and wrong, good and bad, that bring blessing or curse and shape our destiny. This session explores how Re’eh turns everyday decisions into moments of profound moral weight—and what that means for the way we live today.

Speakers

Rabbi Dovid Eliezrie

Saturday August 8, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm EDT
White & Gold 2

Lecture

4:30pm EDT

Farbrengen! A Traditional Chasidic Repast for Mind, Heart, and Soul (for Men)

Saturday August 8, 2026 4:30pm - 6:15pm EDT

White & Gold 2

Speakers

Rabbi Manis Friedman

Rabbi Simon Jacobson

Saturday August 8, 2026 4:30pm - 6:15pm EDT
White & Gold 2

Workshop

8:00am EDT

Shacharit: Beginners’ Prayer Workshop for Women

Sunday August 9, 2026 8:00am - 8:30am EDT

White & Gold 2

Speakers

Mrs. Aliza Scheinfeld

Sunday August 9, 2026 8:00am - 8:30am EDT
White & Gold 2

Prayer service

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

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

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

Lecture

10:20am EDT

11:25am EDT

2:00pm EDT

3:10pm EDT

4:20pm EDT

9:45pm EDT

7:30am EDT

9:15am EDT

10:20am EDT

11:25am EDT

3:10pm EDT

4:20pm EDT

9:45pm EDT

7:30am EDT

9:15am EDT

10:20am EDT

11:25am EDT

3:05pm EDT

9:45am EDT

11:00am EDT

4:30pm EDT

8:00am EDT

9:30am EDT

10:45am EDT

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