Chizuk Mission’s Arizona Retreat
Break free, Going beyond your limitations
Four days of self discovery in the unique landscape of the Arizona desert
The retreat is in memory of Ruchama Chaya Fruma bas R’ Dov Pinchas a''h
and Shaindel bas Moshe a"h
Andaz Scottsdale Bungalows and Suites
6114 N Scottsdale Rd, Scottsdale, AZ 85253
Program subject to change. All times listed are Mountain Time
Sunday, February 28
והוצאתי "I'll take you out."
Arrival on own to hotel, upon arrival hotel will take luggage and remote check-in all guests, deliver luggage to rooms and bring keys to the lunch area.
1:45 – 3:30pm Opening Lunch (casual arrival the hotel)
3:00pm Welcome remarks by Barrie Feld, Founding Director, Chizuk Mission
3:15 - 4:15pm Rabbi Shimon Green, On our journey to freedom
Break to freshen up and Mincha
5:00 - 6:00pm Esther Wein, Paradigm shift 1: Designing your eternal spiritual architecture
6:00 - 7:00pm Ice Breaker
6:23pm Shkiyah
7:00 - 8:15pm Dinner
8:15 - 11:30pm Spa Night (private for the Chizuk Mission only spa)
Monday, March 1
והצלתי "I shall rescue you."
7:30am Breakfast (delivered to individual hotel rooms)
Shacharis davening on your own (or on the bus)
8:00am Bus departs for Sedona
10:00 - 12:00pm On the trail to self discovery with Esther Wein; Sedona Hike
12:30 - 2:30pm Lunch and program with Esther Wein
Paradigm Shift 2: There is no such thing as “Choosing” bad. Empower yourself to Choose life.
Mincha after lunch
2:45 - 4:30pm Amongst the Rocks of Sedona; reflection and creative inspiration workshop with meditation
Breakout groups
Travel back to Scottsdale
6:24pm Shkiyah
6:45 - 7:45pm BBQ Dinner back at the hotel, followed by after party Kumzitz with Tzivia Zimmerman
Tuesday, March 2
וגאלתי "I will redeem you."
8:00 - 8:45am (optional) Yoga to liberate your Mind, Body and Soul with Amy Tyre
All levels yoga practice to help you move from narrow straits to expanded possibilities.
8:30 - 9:30am Breakfast
Shacharis davening on your own
9:30 - 10:30am Esther Wein, Paradigm Shift 3: The “Yetzer Hara” is not a Noun,
Understand the human predicament and why we err.
10:45 - 11:45am Rabbi Ariel Shoshan, V'Gaalti: Giving the World the Gift of Your Potential
Travel to Segaro Lake
12:45 - 1:45pm Lunch at Segaro Lake Ranch
Mincha after lunch
1:45 - 3:45pm Hike and Emunah workshop at Segaro Lake with Sunny Ariella Levi
4:00 - 5:20pm Segaro Lake Cruise on the Desert Belle
Travel back to hotel
6:00 - 7:30pm Dinner
6:25pm Shkiyah
7:30 - 8:30pm Cindy Landesman, Unlocking the Door to Connection
8:30 - 10:00pm An evening of music with Rabbi Shimon Green
Wednesday, March 3
ולקחתי "I will take you"
8:00 - 8:45am (optional) Yoga to liberate your Mind, Body and Soul with Amy Tyre
All levels yoga practice to help you move from narrow straits to expanded possibilities.
8:30 - 9:30am Breakfast
Shacharis davening on your own
9:30 - 10:30am Esther Wein, Paradign Shift 4: Lack of Nevuah and open Nissim means we are CLOSER than ever to Hashem. Breathe new life into your role as Hashem’s partner/Co creator
10:45 - 11:45am Rabbi Shimon Green, The Purpose of Life
12:00 - 1:00pm Lunch
Mincha after lunch
1:30 - 4:00pm Taking YOU home; group breakout in Nature with Robin Meyerson
Hotel offering late check out to those departing (2pm check out)
4:30 - 5:30pm Rabbi Pinchas Allouche, Bringing Geula through Simcha
5:30 - 7:30pm Dinner/Symposium Closing wrap up
6:25pm Shkiyah
LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR SPEAKERS (BIOS):
RABBI SHIMON (Shimi) GREEN
Rabbi of Kehillas HaTurim of Phoenix, Arizona, a warm Torah-focused shul where people grow,
and Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivas HaTurim, a powerful new yeshiva that is a project of Kehilas HaTurim.
Rabbi Green was formerly Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivas Bircas HaTorah in Jerusalem. After building the yeshiva
for 22 years, feeling that he had completed his work there, he gave Bircas HaTorah to his students so that
he could work on Yeshivas HaTurim, the next step towards the achievement of his Torah goals.
Rabbi Green's yeshiva classes are designed to de-mystify the study of Talmud through the utilization of clear
and precise learning methods that can be reproduced and verified by any diligent student. Faithful to classic
gemorra tradition, he interweaves the twin disciplines of shmasasa and agadita into an organic whole that infuses his students with a vision that inspires them to emulate and gradually replicate the outstanding character traits and fear of Heaven that are exemplified by Chazal.
Over the last two decades Rabbi Green has given numerous shiurim and Shabbatonim throughout the United States. His presentations are famous for their depth, clarity, humor, and inspiration. As an accomplished musician, he has often used the language of music and song to express Torah thoughts and feelings. He released an album entitled, Where Everything is Love.
Rabbi Green strives to help every Jew achieve the ecstatic Torah experience that he believes is their birthright, through joyous and deep learning, fervent prayer, personal character development, and total dedication to Torah, the Jewish People, and the service of G-d.
ESTHER WEIN
Mrs. Esther Wein has been a recognized international lecturer and educator for over 35 years. She currently
teaches at Elyon seminary, Shulamith High School, the Jewish Renaissance Center, Juniversity.co and via daily
Zoom classes. Esther's presentations are aimed at deepening our understanding of the foundational ideas of
Judaism, presenting them in a user friendly, visual and interactive format.
Her classes are of a philosophical and kabbalistic nature. Using classical and original sources, Esther's approach synthesizes, clarifies and illuminates the many ideas we encounter as we learn Torah. Esther's approach has been guided largely by the influences of her grandfather, Rav Shimon Schwab ZT’L and Rav Moshe Shapiro ZT’L. Esther lives in Lawrence, NY with her family and husband Heshy Wein, her biggest influence.
RABBI ARIEL SHOSHAN
Founding rabbi of Ahavas Torah: The Scottsdale Torah Center. He serves as a part-time rebbe at both Yeshiva
High School of Arizona and Torah Day School of Phoenix, as rabbinic director of Valley Eruv Project, and as
rabbinic advisor of Ezras Cholim of Phoenix.
A descendant of a well-known Vishnitzer family and raised in Chicago, Rabbi Shoshan was profoundly influenced
by his rebbe, Rabbi Meyer Juzint zt”l. After studying for two years in Yeshivat Hakotel, Rabbi Shoshan learned in
Baltimore's Ner Israel Rabbinical College from 1995 through 2002. While in Baltimore, he achieved close
relationships with many of his rabbeim, most importantly the Rosh HaYeshiva Rabbi Yaakov Weinberg zt”l, and ybl”c Rabbi Yissocher Frand and Rabbi Tzvi Berkowitz shlita.
He received semicha from Ner Israel and holds a bachelor's degree in economics from the University of Maryland Baltimore County. Rabbi Shoshan served as the director of the Phoenix Community Kollel from 2002 through 2007 and founded Ahavas Torah, together with his wife Ayala and 13 other families, in late 2004.
As the heart and soul of our community, the rabbi’s professional, passionate, and spirited approach has been shaped by his Chassidic roots, his upbringing in a warm American shul-based community, and his education from leading gedolei Torah in the Lithuanian Yeshiva world. This unusual mixture is recognizable in his stirring tefillos, his meaningful, scholarly and articulate drashos and shiurim, and his care for each and every member and member family.
Rabbi Shoshan is a member of the Conference of Synagogue Rabbonim of Agudath Israel of America, and works closely with the leadership of Torah Umesorah: National Society for Hebrew Day Schools. In addition to his current classes at Yeshiva High School and Torah Day School, he has taught extensively for Shearim Torah High School for Girls and JAC: Jewish Arizonans on Campus. A sought-after speaker, he is a regular lecturer by video-conference for Ner L'Elef Rabbinic Training Program in Jerusalem, and has been a guest speaker in communities and campuses across the country and beyond. Rabbi Shoshan also proudly serves the greater community as a volunteer chaplain for the Scottsdale Police Department and the United States Secret Service.
RABBI PINCHAS ALLOUCHE
Rabbi Pinchas Allouche is the founding Rabbi of Congregation Beth Tefillah in Scottsdale, Arizona, where he
resides with his wife, Esther, and nine children. He is a respected rabbinic figure, a renowned lecturer, and a
prominent author of many essays on the Jewish faith, mysticism, and social-criticism.
Besides his academic pedigree, Rabbi Allouche is richly-cultural, having lived in France, where he was born,
South Africa and Israel. He is also fluent in English, Hebrew, French and Italian. Rabbi Allouche is a member of
AIPAC's National Council, and a member of the Vaad Harabanim, the Orthodox Rabbinic Council of Arizona.
Rabbi Allouche's wise, profound, and sensitive perspective on the world and its people, on life and living, is highly regarded and sought-after by communities and individuals of all backgrounds. Rabbi Allouche is also tremendously involved in the Jewish community of Greater Phoenix, and he teaches middle-school Judaics at the local Jewish Day School.
Rabbi Allouche is also a blogger for many online publications including the Huffington Post, and The Times of Israel. Rabbi Allouche was listed in the Jewish Daily Forward as one of America's 36 Most Inspiring Rabbis, who are "shaping 21st Century Judaism."
CINDY LANDESMAN
Cindy has a master’s degree in speech therapy from the University of North Texas and is a graduate of Michlala
College for Women. She earned her Certificate in Clinical Competence by working at a pediatric speech clinic
in the Scottsdale area, and then moved on to Boswell Hospital in Sun City. Eventually, Cindy’s passion for
community involvement took over and she left her position at Boswell to assume the position as the
Director of Women’s Education for the Kollel.
Cindy has expanded the educational and social programming available for women to now include day and
evening classes, lunch-and-learns, semi-annual luncheons, Rosh Chodesh groups and one on one learning. A highlight of the women’s division is Phoenix Conference for Jewish Women which each year draws women from all over the valley.
ROBIN MEYERSON
Founding director of Project Inspire Arizona, strategic planner and life coach for the Machon HaAdam
HaShalem and volunteer as the West Coast Director for NASCK. She runs Peacefulreturn.org assisting
families in end-of-life decisions. Robin holds a bachelor’s degree in Marketing from Arizona State University
and a master’s Degree in International Management from Thunderbird Graduate School of Business.
She has 25 years sales and marketing experience at both profit and nonprofit organizations, including:
Communications Director for Avnet Inc., a Fortune 200 company, publisher of Jewish Spirit Magazine, and
adjunct business faculty at Scottsdale Community College.
An award winning author and public speaker, Robin has entertained and educated 100,000 people around the country with her after life miracle stories through radio and television appearances. She runs Shabbos Project Arizona and served on the Jewish Tuition Organization, Shearim Torah High School for Girls and National Jewish Education Foundation. Robin is happily married 30 years and a mom to 5 beautiful children ages 23 to 8 and 2 grandsons.
TZIVIA ZIMMERMAN
Tzvia, is a graduate of Neve Yerushalayim and Skokie Yeshiva’s Teachers Institute, holding a bachelor’s degree in
Judaic studies with minors in English and psychology.
She also teaches piano and guitar. Her husband, Rabbi Chaim Zimmerman is the Gabbai and administrator of
Ahavas Torah in Scottsdale. The couple have three daughters and a son.
SUNNY ARIELLA LEVI
Mother of six and a 7th-degree black belt Taekwondo Master, Sunny Levi, also a personal fitness trainer,
teaches and coaches women and children in martial arts, self defense, strength training, yoga, and kickboxing.
She recently created the Rising Sun Transformation Academy, where she blends fitness, nutrition, emunah,
and empowerment with life coaching, to help teens and women reach their goals and overcome challenges.
She is the winner of many awards at midwest, state, national and international martial arts competitions.
Her inspirational articles have appeared in Chabad.org, Breslov.co.il and In Fashion magazine.
Sunny is passionate about eating and drinking green, hiking, and hitbodidut. She and her family recently moved from Chicago to Scottsdale, Arizona.
AMY TYRE
Amy believes we all have the power to transform our lives and that true healing comes from within.
The practice of yoga , accessible to everyone, is ultimately about quieting the mind, allowing ourselves to
come closer to our true selves.
Her focus is on proper alignment and breath, building strength, flexibility, and balance while providing an
overall sense of well-being. Steeped in yogic wisdom, Amy helps discover our yeud/dharma, our unique
purpose, so we can live a life bursting with vitality and joy. Amy is a gifted teacher and coach, who guides to
uncover our best selves.
