High School Girls Gather for Thanksgiving Retreat in Northern New Jersey

More than 40 girls from public high schools all across the East Coast celebrated their brief Thankgiving breaks with a Chabad-Lubavitch women's outreach organization for a three-day retreat of activities and classes in Morristown, N.J.

The program was part of Bais Chana International's host of learning seminars for Jewish women, pioneered by author and scholar Rabbi Manis Friedman.

Friedman led four lessons throughout the weekend, intuiting topics of interest for the girls. Lessons included in-depth discussions on Torah's view of marriage, the importance of avoiding extremes, how to relate to life's traumas and hurdles and the definition of true happiness.

Bais Chana director Hinda Leah Sharfstein described the weekend as "life expanding."

"Girls leave this weekend with the notion that they can live more enriched and purposeful lives, that they're not 'stuck,' and that they can have a profound and positive influence on life around them," said Sharfstein.

In addition to classes, the girls enjoyed celebratory Shabbat meals, a local hike and painting and Pilates workshops.

Founded in 1971, Bais Chana was born from the Lubavitcher Rebbe's directive to provide meaningful and in-depth learning for Jewish women of all ages and backgrounds. Its next teen retreat will take place President's Day weekend in Running Springs, Ca.