Shabbaton Ruach!

Earlier this month, more than 270 students and faculty members journeyed to Camp Ramah Darom for The Weber School’s beloved annual all-school Shabbaton. The winding roads may have made for a harrowing bus ride, but queasiness quickly gave way to laughter and excitement as everyone arrived. From the moment Kabbalat Shabbat began, the weekend’s tone was set. With prayer, song, and Shabbat rituals led by students, the community leaned into rest, reflection, and connection.

 

This year, students especially embraced the opportunity to unplug. With no phones or outside distractions, the energy shifted to meaningful, face-to-face moments—whether during family group activities like the silly, fun, and inexplicably difficult-for-adults-to-grasp game Wavelength, cheering each other on in the grade-level basketball game, or exploring the outdoors through waterfall hikes, archery, and the climbing wall.

 

As is custom, Shabbat ended with a standout edition of The Word, Weber’s Shabbaton talent show. While the evening featured a wide array of acts, a few unforgettable moments stood out: the crowd trying to keep up during a group singalong led by math teacher Christian Silavetz and his students; Tomer Bezalel brought down the house—and then rode above it—crowd-surfing on a sea of students after his electric performance of Uptown Funk by Bruno Mars; student bands lit up the stage; and a spirit of warmth and inclusivity filled the room as every senior girl took part in a choreographed, high-energy dance to You Spin Me Round (Like a Record). The night closed on a heartfelt note with a moving tribute to the senior class, written and performed by Stella Galanti, that left many in the audience wiping away tears.

 

Throughout the weekend, students formed new friendships across grades, deepened existing bonds, and reveled in the joy of Shabbat in the mountains. Whether it was a quiet moment of embroidery on the porch of the Chadar, the echo of laughter from the playing fields, or one of the many spirited post-meal table chants led by clusters of very enthusiastic boys, Shabbaton 2025 reminded us all of the power of slowing down, showing up, and sharing sacred time together.

 

A heartfelt thank you to the incredible faculty and staff who, with the guidance of Director of Student Programming and Leadership Michelle Geppert, chaperoned, supported, and walkie-talkied their way through the weekend. We’re also deeply grateful to the Sandy Springs Police Department for accompanying our group and helping ensure a safe journey to and from camp—even if the trip home upheld the storied Shabbaton tradition of bus breakdowns and misadventures!