TURN YOUR GOOD MARRIAGE INTO A GREAT MARRIAGE: ORTHODOX UNION ANNOUNCES PROGRAM AND DISTINGUISHED EXPERTS FOR MARRIAGE ENRICHMENT RETREAT, JULY 15-17
The Orthodox Union’s Department of Community Services | Jewish Community Programs has just released an exciting program and list of presenters for its sixth annual “Positive Jewish Marriage Retreat” at the Woodcliff Lake Hilton in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey, the weekend of July 15-17, Shabbat Parshat Pinchas. As one of the most successful and in-demand OU programs, space is limited and is already almost sold out.
OU Executive Vice President Rabbi Steven Weil, and his wife, Yael, have been added to the retreat’s all-star team of mental health professionals who will offer practical ideas for marriages in order to better strengthen and enhance them, within the context of Torah and Halacha.
Rabbi and Mrs. Weil will collaborate during a seudat shlishit presentation of “Men are From Mars, Women are From Venus: The Jewish Version.” Rabbi Weil will speak during Shabbat morning services on, “The State of the Marriage Address” — a discussion and analysis of the OU survey of 5,200 Orthodox Jews regarding the challenges and issues in their marriages. Mrs. Weil will discuss “How Perfect Must a Woman Be? In Search of the Perfect Aishet Chayil” Friday night from 9:30-10:30 p.m.
The weekend is part of the OU’s outstanding efforts addressing timely and relevant issues to strengthen Orthodox Jewish families, programs known as “Positive Jewish Parenting” and “Positive Jewish Marriage.”
A couple from last year’s weekend declared, “Rather than just going through daily motions, this retreat opened up the lines of communications to allow us to discuss real issues and address them, as opposed to just overlooking them or dismissing them as unimportant to the success of our marriage.”
Frank Buchweitz, OU National Director of Community Services and Special Projects, and creator of the Marriage Enrichment Weekend declared, “The most successful marriages are ones in which both partners continually work to nurture their relationship. A fulfilling marriage allows couples to grow with each other, not apart, communicate in a positive manner, and successfully resolve differences as they arise. It should be noted that couples who serve as role models in a happy, loving marriage represent one of the best gifts that can be given to children.”
He continued, “The retreat aims to enhance the marriage relationship by focusing on the positive aspects of marriage, highlighting characteristics found in happy couples. Participants will be provided with opportunities to interact with each other through group discussion and activities led by a faculty of mental health professionals with a specialization in marriage.”
Another couple noted, “We especially appreciated that topics provided a platform for us to discuss some of nitty gritty that are part of day-in and day-out living.”
A general consensus from last year’s retreat indicated there was plenty of time to be with one’s spouse and to enjoy meeting the other couples. In addition, the positive environment was conducive for happy couples to improve themselves and their marriages.
The program and distinguished experts joining the 2011 retreat include:
FRIDAY NIGHT CONCURRENT WORKSHOPS 9:30-10:30 p.m.:
• How Perfect Must a Woman Be? In Search of the Perfect Aishet Chayil
Yael Weil
• How to Speak So Your Spouse Will Listen and How to Listen So Your Spouse will Speak
David Pelcovitz, Ph.D.
• You are not my Boss: Power and Control Issues in Marriage
Sylvan Schaffer, J.D., Ph.D. and Marcy Schaffer, Ph.D.
SHABBAT MORNING CONCURRENT WORKSHOPS 11:30-12:30 p.m.:
• Psycho-Spiritually Satisfying Intimacy: Strengthening Your Marriage Bond
Lauren Roth, LSW
• Issues of Basic Communication: Me vs. We and Fighting Fair Constructive vs. Destructive Conflict
Alex Bailey, Ph.D.
• Managing Time and Expectations
David Pelcovitz, Ph.D.
SHABBAT AFTERNOON CONCURRENT WORKSHOPS 2:15-3:15 p.m.:
• A Tale of Two Hearts: A “Tachlitic” Prescription on How to Be A More Considerate and Sensitive Partner
Frank Buchweitz, M.A. ED., S.A.S.
• Enhancing Communication and Dispute Resolution Skills
Marcy Schaffer, Ph.D. and Sylvan Schaffer, Ph.D.
• The Seven Habits of Highly Successful Spouses
Rabbi Mordechai Glick, Ph.D. and Nina Glick, B.S.A.P.S.
SHABBAT AFTERNOON CONCURRENT WORKSHOPS 3:30-4:30 p.m.:
• Plenary Q & A on Medical Aspects of Intimacy (Women Only)
Scott Chudnoff, M.D.
• Guy’s Night Out: Maintaining Your Identity Within a Happy Marriage
Alex Bailey, Ph.D.
• Coping with Financial Distress
David Pelcovitz, Ph.D.
SHABBAT AFTERNOON CONCURRENT WORKSHOPS 4:45-5:45 p.m.:
• Five Stages of Married Life- Tasks, Goals and Rewards of Each Phase
Rachel Pill, L.C.S.W.
• What Can We Learn from Each Other?
Rabbi Mordechai Glick, Ph.D. and Nina Glick, B.S.A.P.S.
• How to Fall in Love with Your Spouse for Life: All the Practical Strategies You’ll Ever Need for a Fulfilling Marriage.
Lauren Roth, LSW
SHABBAT AFTERNOON CONCURRENT WORKSHOPS 5:50-6:30 p.m.:
• Plenary Q & A on Medical Aspects of Intimacy (Men Only)
Scott Chudnoff, M.D.
• The Intimate Relationship: What Happens During the Day Affects What Does or Doesn’t Happen at Night
Rachel Pill, L.C.S.W.
SEUDAT SHLISHIT
• Men are From Mars, Women are From Venus: The Jewish Version
Rabbi Steven and Yael Weil
SATURDAY NIGHT CONCURRENT WORKSHOPS 8:15-9:15 p.m.:
• Intergenerational Impact on Marriage: Its Effect of and on In-laws and Children
Marcy Schaffer, Ph.D. and Sylvan Schaffer, Ph.D.
• After the Honeymoon: Displaying Affection Throughout the Marriage
Alex Bailey, Ph.D.
• How to Be the Perfect In-Law
Rachel Pill, L.C.S.W.
SATURDAY NIGHT ACTIVITY
• The fun-filled and hilarious game: “Not the Newlywed Game… Or How Well Do You REALLY Know Your Spouse After All These Years?”
SUNDAY MORNING CONCURRENT WORKSHOPS 9:15-10:30 a.m.:
• Action Principles for Making your Spouse into your Best Friend
Lauren Roth, LSW
• How to Stop the Current Trend of Divorce
Martin Friedlander, Esq,. Marital Counselor
• GPS for Marriage…….“Recalculating”
Rabbi Eliezer Zwickler, LSW
SUNDAY MORNING CONCURRENT WORKSHOPS 10:45-11:30 a.m.:
• From Martial Arts to the Art of Marriage: An Interactive Session Exploring Tools to Argue Without Fighting
Joshua Kohl, Certified PAIRS Marital Instructor
• Dating and Courting Never Stops… How to Keep the Marriage Young “As Times Go By”
Toby Jungreis, Marital Counselor
• Learning from the Living Torah to Give Our Marriages a Lift
Rabbi Eliezer Zwickler, LSW
SUNDAY MORNING CONCLUDING PRESENTATION 11:45-12:45 p.m.:
• Turn Your Good Marriage into a Great Marriage
Mordechai Glick, Ph.D. and Nina Glick, B.S.A.P.S.
The weekend will feature marriage enrichment skills workshops, gourmet meals from New Star Caterers, excellent Hilton Hotel accommodations, including accessibility to a full-service spa, as well as with separate pool hours.
The cost of Friday-Sunday has been held at $350 per person, double occupancy – the same cost as last summer.
For more information and to register, visit www.oucommunity.org or call 212.613.8188.
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