Shabbaton 2024
During the first weekend in February, 50 students from eight UNC campuses arrived at Greensboro’s Camp Weaver to spend Shabbat reconnecting with friends from other schools and building an intentional statewide community at our 2nd annual NC Hillel Statewide Shabbaton. Now more than ever our students have felt the need to disconnect from challenging campus environments and be welcomed into a safe Jewish space. Our immersive experiences like the Shabbaton are critical pieces of our statewide programming, providing our students with a wide, diverse support system to rely on during college and after graduation.
As students arrived at camp, NC Hillel staff were there with a warm hello and an even warmer Shabbaton exclusive, an NC Hillel knit beanie. When asked about their reason for participating in the Shabbaton, one student said they wanted to "meet other Jews across different North Carolina campuses” and that during the retreat, “it was interesting to learn about how each Hillel is unique and get to bond with them."
The weekend opened on Friday with group Shabbat blessings, followed by two Shabbat service options: a musical prayer service beautifully led by UNCW student leaders and a restorative yoga reflection led by App student leaders.
After dinner and services, students took the time to rest around the campfire, play board games, and fill out Jewish-inspired coloring books. Students stayed up long into the night hanging out and bonding with each other, unwinding from a long school week.
Saturday centered around exploring traditional camp activities: boating, rope courses, archery, a nature walk, and arts & crafts. Hillel @ NC State students led a group Zumba class and Link engagement associate, Bekah Green, brought in some southern flair leading a large group in line dancing. Students loved designing their own tote bags, many creating their own Shabbaton and NC Hillel related designs.
Saturday night’s meaningful Havdalah service was led by two UNCW students and included an interactive exploration of the senses we use to honor Shabbat. Afterwards, we jumped right into the new week with a spirited version of the Maccabiah games (a color war); students competed in a variety of games, including Sponge Toss, Name that Tune, and Relay Stack Cup. The Blue Team ultimately prevailed, but everyone had a blast!
On Sunday morning, we took one final group photo and said our farewells as students headed back to their campuses across the state. They hugged each other goodbye, promising to see each other at the Statewide Purim Ball next month at NC State (and of course at next year’s Shabbaton!).
Reflecting on the weekend, an ECU student said the Shabbaton made them feel “empowered and motivated to keep growing the Hillel [they’re] a part of and reignited a flame to find the other Jews on campus.” Another student from NC State concluded that “it was a really fun experience that helped me meet new people and enhance my Judaism.”
We can’t wait for Shabbaton 2025!