To say the Shabbaton at the Stamford Plaza in Connecticut, was a success would be an understatement.

February 18 – 20, 2011. The crowd totaled some 700 people who came from Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, Boston and its surrounding cities, Philadelphia, Chicago, and even from California, Toronto and Ottawa. 37 cities from about 9 states to be exact. They were a very diverse group of families, workers, scientists, students and singles.

Their common interest was a genuine desire to learn more about our Jewish Heritage . And their cultural connection, other than being Jewish, was they all were Russian speakers.

--- Click here for more photos from the Shabbaton ---

The Shabbaton attracted the Russian media – newspapers, TV, and radio - such as Ari Kogan, Mikhail Nemirovsky, and Boris Tenser. There is no doubt that the Shabbaton will have a long-lasting influence on its guests. There was a special program for teenagers, a special program for singles, and a babysitting program so that parents could freely attend lectures.

Mrs. Katya Kapelnikova, a poet and bard singer (reading poems with the accompaniment of guitar), came from Chicago with her poems on Jewish subjects that brought many women to tears, and on Sunday, the talented Russian immigrant Boys Chior, M Generation, inspired all of the guests, the children in particular.

Jewish music superstar Avraham Fried had the crowd singing and dancing with true spirit and Adar joy until after midnight.

Some even complained about having "too many interesting lectures happening simultaneously," and they could not keep up with all of them – because 5 to 6 lectures were held at the same time for every level of knowledge. Guests couldn’t find words to express their excitement about the program and how well it was organized. One said, “We have been on a lot of Shabbatons, but never experienced such an organized Shabbaton filled with so much knowledge as this one.”