Shayndel's Blog
October 17, 2019
I am sharing my Yom Kippur remarks for anyone who was unable to join us this year:
Welcome to Yom Kippur and our time to connect as a community and individually as our New Year begins. I was actually pretty sick this past week. And it wasn’t great. But it gave me some time to slow down. Which is great and actually pretty Holy for the time of year! In fact I was resting so much that I found myself reading and listening to a number of messages on slowing down. And I found a beautiful connection between slowing down and being uplifted and rejoicing at the same time. And it brought me to a beautiful prayer that is said at the beginning of the new year each year as we enter into Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. It was said by Hanna, a beautiful woman in the Torah who actually developed the movement and certain utterances of the prayers we say even today.
May G‑d grant that everyone actively strive for the abov...
July 20, 2018
Blog 5/Week 5
Jen and Shayndel remembering the trip and thinking about the next steps toward inspiration.
Spending time with the best people and dreaming about the greatest community and how we can all make a difference. Liumi West is bringing our community together and making our time together more special than ever!
July 13, 2018
Blog 4/Week 4
Liumi West Retreat had an exciting week of great friends visiting the property. So many renovations and professionals throughout the community came out to take a walk, take a look, and envision the future together.
What amazing opportunities to bring light to our people, community and world!
A look ahead: The excitement is brewing for an amazing New Year. Look out this week for our
hot-off-the-press- registration details for High Holidays - Days of Awesome at Liumi West Retreat 2018.
Wishing the world a Good Shabbos!
July 6, 2018
Blog 3/Week 3
Another amazing week at the Liumi Retreat! With the most wonderful friends coming out to visit, we can't wait to get started with inspirational and meaningful events!
"We have enlisted friends and even our friend's son's, along with the greatest people in our community to become a part of this one of a kind center," said Shayndel Plotkin, executive director. There is so much being done to the interior and exterior of the retreat center. Can't wait to have our first welcome home party in a few weeks, including a gardening party, painting party and Shabbat Dinner series.
June 29, 2018
Blog 2/Week 2
"...לבנות ולהיבנות"
"To Build and to be Built..."
With the love and support of so many amazing friends we are honored to be building our Jewish home and our world together.
So much progress in such little time. From a morning of inspiration with the men to a women's moment of soulful meditation, we are already shaping our Future. Liumi Retreat is all about enriching the Mind, Body and Soul each and every day.
Thank you to all who came out this week rolled up their sleeves and helped us in so many ways with the beginning of the Retreat center.
Wishing the world a Good Shabbos! Enjoy a miraculous day of rest and renewal.
Reb Baruch and Shayndel
Liumi West Retreat
For details about how to be a part of this incredible new Retreat call Shayndel Plotkin 561-929-0675.
High Holiday Retreat details and Registration coming soon!
June 22, 2018
Blog 1/Week 1
״בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹקינוּ מֶלֶךְ הַעוֹלָם שֶׁהֶחֱיָנוּ וְקִיְּמָנוּ וְהִגִּיעָנוּ לַזְּמַן הַזֶּה״
״Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, who has granted us life, sustained us and enabled us to reach this occasion.״
With a blessing and a prayer this week, Liumi West has officially opened its doors, gardens and home!
Rav Baruch along with over a dozen friends lead Spirited prayers and a Torah reading on Monday morning.
Thank you for being a part of our first Minyan at our New Home! With blessings and light, Mazal Tov!
Women’s Workshop for the Soul:
(Thursday Mornings 8:30-9:45a.m.)
Our group took a tour of the 5 acres and then sat together and studied the deep and mystical teachings of or Jewish Heritage. We sat under a tree and retreated in our th...
January 5, 2017
When Bubby said “Zi gezundt,” she didn’t just mean farewell or goodbye. It was her way of transferring legacy. Of connecting the past with the present. Her memories traveled through her words and entered my being. My Bubby, Bessie Grape, was a survivor. But not the kind you think. Not from a camp. She was a survivor of another place and time. I could write my Bubby’s story without even asking her a word of it. She would say two words to those she met, and we’d hear them each time we left the party or get-together: “Zi Gezundt.” Although she shared her words with me, she never shared her voice. She hadn’t had one as far as I knew. She never had the chance to discover it or find it or whatever it is we overprivileged young women get to do. We had the chance to contemplate and deliberate and search. It was important to our parents. They would say to me, “What do you want be, Shayndel, when you grow up?” “Wha...
