After almost two years of planning, Rabbi Alonim and his "Pilot Class" finally went on their shabbaton. The senior class along with the Witty and Alonim family went up to Kitchener, Ontario and spent the Shabbos with one of Canada's oldest Jewish communities. The community of Jews has decreased in numbers for more then thirty years. What was once a booming Jewish neighbourhood, home to many of our students parents, is now a community with a shul that literally struggles to make a minyan on Shabbos. We were welcomed into the shul with open arms, provided with a place to sleep, food to eat, and souls to inspire. And that is exactly what we did, inspire the uninspired. The seniors demonstrated tremendous achdut when they created one of the most meaningful Shabbos' that the Jewish community of Kitchener has seen in the last three decades.
Zvi Zobin, along with his committee of helpers, arranged this entire Shabbaton to its last detail. With the aid of Rabbi Alonim, Rabbi Witty, and his fellow classmates, Zvi managed to make something from almost nothing. Zvi has inspired Or Chaim to make this a tradition and perhaps expand it to not only the senior class, but a Shabbos for every grade.
Seniors literally did not want to get on the bus home as they were enthralled with the amount of energy that was produced over Shabbos. Facebook statuses lit up minutes after the departure explaining in such simple yet meaningful words what a great time they had in Kitchener.
All in all this shabbaton was a huge success and will hopefully become a custom to Or Chaim and its senior class.
The Alonim are leaving after this year. Being a senior myself, I would like to thank the entire Alonim Family for being with us every step of the way. You were there when we first came in to Or Chaim, and you'll be there when we accept our diplomas.
Leshana Haba Ba Bayt Shel Mishpachat Alonim (next year in the house of the Alonim's)
Your Editor,
Daniel Turk
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