Only a couple months after becoming the oldest in the high school, the class of 2027 had their shabbaton, held on March 6-7. The theme for their shabbaton this year was “Leaping into Leadership,” capturing the shift of becoming the oldest grade in the high school during the second semester of their junior year after the seniors’ graduation. This overarching idea guided the weekend’s activities, from small group discussions to grade-wide bonding exercises.
The shabbaton is a JDS tradition where students spend the duration of Shabbat at retreat centers as a grade. High School Jewish Life Chair Robbie Shorr was one of the administrators who coordinated the junior shabbaton and planned active bonding exercises to help the grade engage with the theme.
“I think putting this break right now right in second semester was really important,” Shorr said. “And at the same time as they’ve been the oldest grade in the school for a month and a half now, kind of giving them a chance to discuss what it means to be the leaders in the school.”
Before the shabbaton, students went to Climb Zone, an indoor rock climbing park that was voted on as the preceding activity by the grade. Afterward, the grade arrived at the Pearlstone Retreat Center, where they engaged in various games and interactive activities. Mimicking their first shabbaton, the juniors played rounds of “speed dating” where they each spoke one-on-one with random members of their grade. Junior Eve Sharp enjoyed talking to people during this game and feeling how close her grade had gotten.
“Everyone was talking to other people that they haven’t usually talked to,” Sharp said. “Most of the activities were done, instead of in friend groups, just in general, it was just more of an inclusive, fun time.”
One game the juniors participated in was called “Detective,” where the grade silently followed the hand motions of one student and had to guess who the leader was. Shorr attributes the purpose of these games to showing the grade what a leader can look like, and how being a leader can come in multiple forms.
On Saturday, the juniors had prayer time in the morning, followed by free time in the afternoon. They were also given opportunities to select activities throughout the day, such as yoga or a nature walk. One activity, planned by the student government, gave the students opportunities to ask teachers questions. They ended their leadership programming with small-group discussions, tying what they learned together.
Unlike other grades, each year the junior class has their shabbaton at Pearlstone Retreat Center instead of Capital Camps. The retreat center does not have the same sleepaway camp atmosphere as Capital Camps, and students slept in rooms instead of bunks. Shorr believes that the change in location symbolizes the juniors’ growth as the oldest grade in the school.
Junior and co-vice-president Grant Levy reflected on the change from Capital Camps to Pearlstone.
“I think it’s very great for the 11th grade shabbaton because there was a lot more freedom,” Levy said. “Going from a camp experience to a more elevated experience felt more like getting into a point where we’re going to be 18, going to the real world soon with college.”
Levy was particularly inspired by the leadership discussion where students shared about who they believed the leaders in their grade and community were.
“There’s different leaders in different contexts,” Levy said. “It was very introspective, giving kudos to other people you think really helped move the grade in a nice direction.”
The juniors closed out their third shabbaton swaying in a circle, singing their grade niggun. They returned to JDS Saturday night with newfound lessons about how they can lead their communities.
“I think the emphasis on having leadership be [the theme for] the junior shabbaton, as opposed to the senior [shabbaton], is really helpful,” Sharp said. “… it sets the tone, saying, even though you’re not a senior, you are taking on the leadership role in clubs and activities, and what you are going to do with that responsibility.”
gurney • Mar 10, 2026 at 2:10 pm
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