Orthodox Union

Participant Reviews

"I was totally overwhelmed and extremely happily surprised at what a wonderful event and weekend I had. I will most definitely recommend it to all of my friends and colleagues who want to improve their marriage and make it into a beautiful and safe haven that I and my wife both wonderfully share bli ayin hara."
-Suri and Samuel Hershkowitz


"I was very impressed with the retreat. There was a great diversity of people who helped enhance the weekend. I was also very impressed with the Orthodox Union in that your organization had the openness and vision to run this type of retreat."
-Nechama and Moshe Kessler


"The most interesting part of this weekend was the ability to hear from frum psychologists. It was very interesting – informative to see/hear about perspectives on marriage from both a psychological/scientific standpoint and a Jewish/haskafic standpoint."
-Anonymous Rav

TOPICS COVERED WILL BE:

• How to Make a Good Marriage Great
• Communication Strategies that Really Work
• Power and Control Issues in Marriage
• Telling Your Spouse You’re Really Angry in a Non-Combative Manner
• Successful Remarriage and Blended Families
• Navigating Dating and Shidduchim For Your Children
• Expressing Appreciation and Love Without a Lexus
• Five Alive: Five Qualities of a Vibrant Marriage
  
  

POSITIVE JEWISH MARRIAGES

• FOCUSES on the positive aspects of marriage, highlighting characteristics found in happy couples. Participants
  are provided with opportunities to interact with each other through group discussion and activities led by marriage professionals.
• ENCOURAGES couples to learn about themselves and how they individually contribute, both positively and negatively, to the relationship.
• ENHANCES the marriage relationship by teaching and exploring new communications skills, respect, intimacy and closeness.
• TEACHES participants how to enjoy sharing their lives with each other and how to make time for each other.
• HELPS parents serve as role models in a happy loving relationship; one of the best gifts that can be given to children.
• TEACHES the skills to allow couples to enrich their marriage and emotionally reconnect.
• HELPS couples identify areas of potential differences and suggests strategies for effective resolution.
• PRESENTS techniques and skills to successfully meet the challenges of everyday life as a couple.
  

Let our marriage experts help strengthen your marriage commitment.This weekend is geared for happily married couples who want to communicate and relate on an even deeper emotional level. The weekend, for adults only, is free from daily distractions and routines, allowing couples to concentrate on one another.

SPEAKERS THIS YEAR INCLUDE:

Dr. Alex Bailey
Dr. Norman Blumenthal
Dr. Mordechai Glick and Nina Glick
Dr. Evan Kroll
Drs. Marcy and Sylvan Schaffer
Mrs. Rochelle Harary, M.S.

MARRIAGE RETREAT FACULTY:

Alex Bailey, Psy.D, is a licensed clinical psychologist in private practice in Teaneck, N.J., Dr. Bailey focuses on families, parents, adults and adolescents and specializes in communication and issues of child development. His work with families and parents centers on communication, negotiation, and setting expectations among parents and between parents and children.

Dr. Norman Blumenthal is a Licensed clinical psychologist and Director of Bereavement and Crisis Intervention for Chai Lifeline. In addition to a private practice in Lawrence, New York, he is Educational Director at RIETS/YU and coordinator of Group Therapy Training at North Shore Long Island Jewish Health System. Dr. Blumenthal is Founder and chairman of the Board of Education CAHAL and a consultant to TOVA.

Rabbi Dr. Mordechai Glick is a clinical psychologist in private practice in Montreal, Rabbi of Montreal’s Congregation Ahavat Yisroel, and Professor of Psychology at Champlain College in Montreal. He has given many presentations on various aspects of marriage, including an audiotape series on marital enhancement. Dr. Glick is former president of NEFESH, International Association of Orthodox Mental Health Professionals.

Nina Glick is an accomplished speaker, relationship expert, and counselor with many years of community activism and involvement. She is a highly regarded speaker on marriage enhancement and serves as a facilitator for presentations by her husband of 43 years, Rabbi Dr. Mordechai Glick. Nina is also the President and a founder of Maison Shalom (a nonprofit organization serving developmentally disabled Jewish adults in Montreal) and has served for many years as the Montreal Director of Yachad (OU/NCSCY).

Rochelle Harary, M.S., is a licensed School Psychologist and Mental Health Counselor with specialized training in family and marital therapy. Rochelle has presented on parenting for the Orthodox Union as well as on marriage and family matters for various organizations throughout the United States. Mrs. Harary writes for the Image Magazine on Parenting and Marriage and has also held the position as Ombudsman for National Council for Synagogue Youth.

Rabbi Dr. Evan Kroll is a licensed psychologist working with children, teens, and families; as well as adults with relationship issues. Dr. Kroll has offices in Teaneck, NJ, and Spring Valley NY and has lectured in a wide range of settings about marriage, relationships, parenting, and child development.

Dr. Marcy P. Schaffer maintains a private practice in clinical psychology, specializing in individual and family therapy, including premarital and marital counseling. She is Director of a multilingual evaluation agency called Quality Evaluation & Consulting Services, and is the founder of Positive Beginnings, a special education pre-school in Queens.

Dr. Sylvan J. Schaffer is both a clinical psychologist and an attorney. He is engaged in the private practice of clinical psychology, specializing in individual, family and marital psychotherapy, and practices law with the national law firm Jackson Lewis. He is a member of the faculty at N.Y.U. School of Medicine and Albert Einstein College of Medicine, and is an adjunct faculty member at Hofstra Law School, where he teaches psychiatry and law. He has published articles and chapters on psychology and law and the interaction of halacha and psychology.

PRELIMINARY PROGRAM SCHEDULE:

Please note that there is no eruv on the hotel grounds.

3:00 pm
Hotel Check-in

3:30-4:30
Women’s swim

4:30-5:30
Men’s swim

3:30-5:30
Hospitality Reception

6:45
Mincha followed by Kabbalat Shabbat and Maariv
Welcome- Emanuel J. Adler
Chairman, Community Services

7:00
Candle Lighting

7:50
Seudat Shabbat

9:15
a. What Every Married Person Needs to Know About Marriage… But
Probably Was Never Told
Rabbi Dr. Mordechai Glick

b. Three Things Your Spouse Wants From You, But Won’t Tell You
Dr. Evan Kroll

c. The “Anti-Kvetch” Principle:
How to Express Your Needs So That Your Spouse Will Listen
Alex Bailey, Ph.D

10:30
Gala Oneg Shabbat Reception


7:30 am
Daf Yomi- Mesechet Sotah 49
Emanuel J. Adler

8:15-9:30
Continental Breakfast

8:30
Shacharit/Musaf
Dvar Torah

10:45
Kiddush

11:15-12:30
a. How to Continuously Express Your Appreciation
and Love for Your Spouse…and Not With a Lexus
Dr. Alex Bailey

b. Five Alive – Five Qualities of a Vibrant Marriage
Dr. Evan Kroll

c. You Are Not The Boss of Me: Power and Control Issues in Marriage
Dr. Marcy Schaffer; Sylvan Schaffer, J.D., Ph.D

12:40-2:00
Shabbat Lunch

2:15-3:30
a. Enhancing Communication and Dispute Resolution
Skills Through PREP: A Hands-On Skills Training Session
Dr. Marcy Schaffer and Dr. Sylvan Schaffer

b. Now What?...The Kids Are Grown Up, Out of the House,
and Are We Together or Alone?
Rochelle Harary, M.S.

c. The Orthodox Bermuda Triangle – Navigating Your Children
Through the Dating and Shidduch Process
Dr. Norman Blumenthal

3:45-5:15
a. Issues of Intimacy-Session for Men Only
Dr. Norman Blumenthal

b. Issues of Intimacy-Session for Women Only
Rochelle Harary, M.S.

5:15 -6:30
Shabbat Menucha

6:30
Mincha

6:50
Seudat Shlisheet

7:45-9:00
a. Meeting The Unique Challenges of Remarriage and Blended Families
Dr. Norman Blumenthal

b. Sharing Insights and Best Practices of What Has Worked
in Your Marriage
Rabbi Dr. Mordechai and Nina Glick

c. The Marriage Legacy--How Your Marriage Effects Your Children
Dr. Evan Kroll

9:25
Maariv and Havdallah

10:30
Dairy Buffet Melava Malka
Be a contestant on the hilarious
“Not The Newlywed Game….Or How Well Do You REALLY Know Your Spouse After All These Years”


Room Checkout is no later than 12:00 pm.

6:00-7:00 am
Men’s Swim

7:15-8:15
Women’s Swim

7:00
Daf Yomi- Mesechet Gitin 2
Rabbi Isaiah Koenigsberg

7:45
Shacharit

8:15-9:00
Breakfast

9:15-10:30
a. 1 + 1 = 1 1/2: Merging Two Different Personalities Into One Couple
Dr. Marcy Schaffer; Sylvan Schaffer, J.D,. Ph.D

b. Did You Hear What I Said? Enhancing the Art of Listening
Rochelle Harary, M.S.

10:45-11:45
a. Redefining Our Roles in Marriage: Who’s Doing the Wash Now?
Dr. Alex Bailey, Ph.D

b. Romancing Your Marriage: How To Make a Good Marriage Great
Rabbi Mordechai Glick, Ph.D

12:00-1:00
Farewell Luncheon

1:00 pm
Have a Safe Trip Home! Thank You for Coming!