Retreat Recap

For the first time since COVID-19 closures began in 2020, List College got back together for an annual retreat, this time to Camp Ramah Nyack. The Shabbaton was a huge success; a wide variety of students attended, including the vast majority of the senior and freshmen classes. Many of the seniors were excited to make new memories of an event that they remembered fondly as freshmen. For the other classes, this was a totally new opportunity to engage in the List College community off-campus and with all the wonderful facilities of Ramah Nyack. There were lots of opportunities to meet new people, connect over board games, and hear some Torah from the dean of List College, Amy Kalmanofsky. 

The retreat had a number of highlights. We welcomed in Shabbat with a floor-shaking Kabbalat Shabbat, complete with dancing. The food was delicious and plentiful, and many people stayed and sang zemirot after the meal. A personal favorite moment was the mentor-mentee programming at the retreat, where older students were paired with freshmen to find all the pieces of a puzzle. Challenges included rhyming, course registration, and even knowledge of the transportation system! The activity was a wonderful way to deepen the mentor-mentee bond that serves to anchor freshmen in our community. Finally, we wrapped up Shabbat with a camp-style havdalah and then hopped on the bus back to campus. Looking forward to another retreat next year!