SOVEYA 
Changing the Jewish World One Pound at a Time
Changing the Jewish World One Pound at a Time
Shabbaton
Soveya First Annual Shabbaton a Smashing Success!
“A
whole Shabbos without diet coke? I never thought I could do it!” So
said one of the more than 100 participants who joined Rabbi Eli &
Mrs. Zakah Glaser, Rabbi Paysach Krohn, and Shloime Dachs at the Soveya
Shabbaton, held last weekend, Parshas Chayei Sarah, at the luxurious
Dolce Hotel & Resort in Basking Ridge, N.J.
Billed as “two days that will nourish your body and soul”, the Soveya Shabbaton provided a pioneering program in the Jewish world – an inspiring and what some called “life-changing” Shabbos experience, focusing on healthy eating and developing a proper relationship with food.
Rabbi Krohn delighted the crowd with motivating stories and penetrating divrei Torah on connecting to HaShem with our body and soul, and the Torah perspective on eating and overeating. Rabbi & Mrs. Glaser, founders and directors of Soveya, offered in-depth and practical workshops for men and women on how to develop a healthy relationship with food, as well as telling their own uplifting stories of struggles and success with obesity and losing weight. Shloime Dachs’ davening, kumzitz and Melava Malka concert added greatly to the ruchniyus and ruach.
“The innovative idea to have a "healthy Shabbaton" is truly 'yaish ma'ayin' for the frum world,” said Mrs. K. from Elizabeth, NJ. “Who would have thought that we could have an enjoyable and spiritually meaningful Shabbos without overeating and having all kinds of nosh? Yet with the theme of 'V’nishmartem meod l'nafshoseychem,' the physical goal of weight loss became elevated to a level of 'avodas Hashem', thus turning what is often felt as deprivation into a lofty pursuit. Being with others who, like myself, are seeking a healthier way of life and witnessing the success of others afforded tremendous chizuk.”
The Shabbaton was filled with a unique mix of stimulating lectures and concrete tools to help participants begin making lifestyle changes that have often seemed too difficult to start or too hard to maintain. One of the highlights occurred during the Shabbos day seudah when Rabbi Glaser asked everyone to put down their forks as the steaming bowl of chulent rested in front of them. It wasn’t easy for many people to “break away” from the impulse of the eating once they started.
“Who’s in control?” Rabbi Glaser asked. “Does the chulent control you, or are you in charge? Can you enjoy the delicious food and still be in control, not having to stuff yourself with second servings in order to feel satisfied?” he challenged everyone. “Eating healthy means enjoying good food but knowing when to stop and being able to stop.”
The theme of the weekend, “Nothing Tastes as Good as Feeling Good Feels” emphasized the importance of health and wellbeing far beyond just weight loss and looking better. Eating is one of the primary opportunities to elevate ourselves spiritually by not being controlled by our physical drives and desires. As Rabbi Krohn pointed out, “our connection to HaShem depends a lot on how we behave when we eat.”
Rabbi Krohn quoted Rav Hutner, z’l who said that a doctor in Konigsberg, Germany, once said that the person who obeyed his prescribed regiment for eating and exercise more than anyone else was Rabbiner Lipkin – otherwise known as Rav Yisroel Salanter, whose last name was Lipkin.
Rav Yisroel Salanter understood that if one’s health is compromised, then he cannot function properly, including his performance of mitzvos. Thus the enhancement of the neshoma is curtailed because of physical flaws in the human body! Rabbi Krohn posed the question, “Could it not be that after 120 years on the ultimate day of judgment, that we will be held responsible for our health issues if we were negligent (overeating, lack of exercise etc.) because it led to a decrease in being able to perform mitzvos or study Torah?” Are the French fried potatoes worth it? Is the canoli worth it? The extra portion of ice cream?
“This morning (Sunday) I felt great, light, and invigorated, not nauseous as I do after every Shabbos,” said R.W. of Williamsburg. “On the way back from the hotel we went to visit friends. Suddenly a tray of cake materialized. There was seven layer cake and kokosh cake, marble cake and rainbow cake. They each called my name in a different tone joining together to become a beautiful symphony. Let me tell you this much. I was really tempted. But then I blinked, and in my mind’s eye I saw a plate of hot steaming chulent, with rice, chicken and vegetables, and I heard a voice behind me say, ‘Put down the fork everybody. Who is in control here, you or the food?’ Whereas in the past I allowed the cake to be my boss, this time the tray remained untouched. I was in control. This Shabbos really made a difference in my life.”
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| Rabbi Eli Glaser & Rabbi Paysach Krohn | Shloime Dachs |
Billed as “two days that will nourish your body and soul”, the Soveya Shabbaton provided a pioneering program in the Jewish world – an inspiring and what some called “life-changing” Shabbos experience, focusing on healthy eating and developing a proper relationship with food.
Rabbi Krohn delighted the crowd with motivating stories and penetrating divrei Torah on connecting to HaShem with our body and soul, and the Torah perspective on eating and overeating. Rabbi & Mrs. Glaser, founders and directors of Soveya, offered in-depth and practical workshops for men and women on how to develop a healthy relationship with food, as well as telling their own uplifting stories of struggles and success with obesity and losing weight. Shloime Dachs’ davening, kumzitz and Melava Malka concert added greatly to the ruchniyus and ruach.
“The innovative idea to have a "healthy Shabbaton" is truly 'yaish ma'ayin' for the frum world,” said Mrs. K. from Elizabeth, NJ. “Who would have thought that we could have an enjoyable and spiritually meaningful Shabbos without overeating and having all kinds of nosh? Yet with the theme of 'V’nishmartem meod l'nafshoseychem,' the physical goal of weight loss became elevated to a level of 'avodas Hashem', thus turning what is often felt as deprivation into a lofty pursuit. Being with others who, like myself, are seeking a healthier way of life and witnessing the success of others afforded tremendous chizuk.”
The Shabbaton was filled with a unique mix of stimulating lectures and concrete tools to help participants begin making lifestyle changes that have often seemed too difficult to start or too hard to maintain. One of the highlights occurred during the Shabbos day seudah when Rabbi Glaser asked everyone to put down their forks as the steaming bowl of chulent rested in front of them. It wasn’t easy for many people to “break away” from the impulse of the eating once they started.
“Who’s in control?” Rabbi Glaser asked. “Does the chulent control you, or are you in charge? Can you enjoy the delicious food and still be in control, not having to stuff yourself with second servings in order to feel satisfied?” he challenged everyone. “Eating healthy means enjoying good food but knowing when to stop and being able to stop.”
The theme of the weekend, “Nothing Tastes as Good as Feeling Good Feels” emphasized the importance of health and wellbeing far beyond just weight loss and looking better. Eating is one of the primary opportunities to elevate ourselves spiritually by not being controlled by our physical drives and desires. As Rabbi Krohn pointed out, “our connection to HaShem depends a lot on how we behave when we eat.”
Rabbi Krohn quoted Rav Hutner, z’l who said that a doctor in Konigsberg, Germany, once said that the person who obeyed his prescribed regiment for eating and exercise more than anyone else was Rabbiner Lipkin – otherwise known as Rav Yisroel Salanter, whose last name was Lipkin.
Rav Yisroel Salanter understood that if one’s health is compromised, then he cannot function properly, including his performance of mitzvos. Thus the enhancement of the neshoma is curtailed because of physical flaws in the human body! Rabbi Krohn posed the question, “Could it not be that after 120 years on the ultimate day of judgment, that we will be held responsible for our health issues if we were negligent (overeating, lack of exercise etc.) because it led to a decrease in being able to perform mitzvos or study Torah?” Are the French fried potatoes worth it? Is the canoli worth it? The extra portion of ice cream?
“This morning (Sunday) I felt great, light, and invigorated, not nauseous as I do after every Shabbos,” said R.W. of Williamsburg. “On the way back from the hotel we went to visit friends. Suddenly a tray of cake materialized. There was seven layer cake and kokosh cake, marble cake and rainbow cake. They each called my name in a different tone joining together to become a beautiful symphony. Let me tell you this much. I was really tempted. But then I blinked, and in my mind’s eye I saw a plate of hot steaming chulent, with rice, chicken and vegetables, and I heard a voice behind me say, ‘Put down the fork everybody. Who is in control here, you or the food?’ Whereas in the past I allowed the cake to be my boss, this time the tray remained untouched. I was in control. This Shabbos really made a difference in my life.”
Among the slew of emails we received from participants still floating several days after the Shabbaton were these:
"I wanted to tell you what a beautiful,
delicious, and most important of all, inspirational Shabbaton your 1st Soveya
Shabbaton was! I feel truly privileged
to have been part of Soveya history, and am already looking forward to next
year's Shabbaton!" MF, Monsey, NY
"Just wanted to let you know this past weekend exceeded my expectations in every way - from the food to the lectures, it was all excellent. The crowd was great, activities were fun, the weekend was planned fabulously to meet the needs of everyone! I enjoyed every minute and look forward to upcoming Soveya weekends!" CL, Queens