Pittsburgh hosting Chabad Women's Convention Retreat that emphasizes faith, friendship
For years, Chanie Rosenblum hoped her hometown would again host an annual event aimed at uniting women through faith and friendship.
When a call came from the national director of the Chabad Women's Convention Retreat asking whether Pittsburgh could host its yearly event, it was a dream come true.
“It's the right time,” says Rosenblum, of Squirrel Hill, president of Lubavitch Women's Organization and one of the retreat's organizers. “We took the plunge, and we rallied all the women. More than 100 are involved in planning this convention. It's beautiful.”
The 53rd annual convention, featuring workshops, speakers and entertainment, will be from Dec. 12 to 14 at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel in Greentree. Topics to be addressed include everything from family life to creativity, finding miracles, happiness and meditation.
“This convention is intended to help women with the essential tools they need,” says Lieba Rudolph of Squirrel Hill, who also is involved in planning. “The Jewish woman is the foundation of the home and the foundation of Jewish life. When she is well oriented and happy and doing her job well, everything runs smoothly.”
Rudolph attended a convention in Orlando more than 15 years ago, and remembers the profound impact it made on her.
“These conventions have a very powerful effect on the person who wants it,” she says. “I'm looking forward to the bonding. When people get together and are united, nothing is more pleasing to God.”
Featured presenters include Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Jacobson, one of the country's premier Jewish scholars in Torah and Jewish mysticism; Rabbi Manis Friedman, a scholar, counselor, lecturer and philosopher; and Rivki Hazan, who serves as director of the Merkos L'Inyonei Chinuch Schools in Milan, Italy.
Organizers are expecting 300 attendees over the course of the convention.
“We want them to not only enjoy it with their minds, but to laugh and be inspired,” Rosenblum says. “We're trying to reach everybody through their minds, their emotions, physically and spiritually.”
This is the third time in the event's history that Pittsburgh has played host. It last came to the city 22 years ago. While it will draw attendees from all over the country, Rosenblum says the goal is to “include as many women in Pittsburgh as possible to be inspired, be uplifted and go home with a tremendous boost.”
The retreat's theme, to be explored in workshops and celebrations, is “Step Into the Light.”
“If you have a dark room, how do you get rid of darkness? You can't push it away. You have to let light in,” Rosenblum says. “There is so much light and goodness in this world. You just have to flip the switch in your own homes and in your own environment to make this place much brighter — look at all the miracles and all good things that have happened in this world, and bring that into our families and our communities.”
Rachel Weaver is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. She can be reached at 412-320-7948 or rweaver@tribweb.com.
