KU Chabad hosted a wellness retreat last month at the Circle S Ranch outside of Lawrence, Kansas, for dozens of students.
The retreat was intended to teach practical strategies for emotional health and strengthen friendships in a supportive environment.
The day began with a barbecue lunch around a bonfire, where students roasted marshmallows. Following the meal, participants joined a series of workshops focused on stress management and Jewish meditation. These sessions were led by KU Chabad directors Rabbi Zalman and Nechama Tiechtel, joined by mental health professionals. Together, they guided students through mindfulness techniques, tools for handling anxiety and the Jewish spiritual approach to inner calm.
In the afternoon, students hiked along wooded trails, went boating and fishing on the lake, fed animals, and rode a hayride and four-wheelers.
Later, everyone gathered for a panel on healthy relationships, where students could ask questions and share openly about navigating friendships, dating and the challenges of balancing personal and academic life. The retreat closed with a circle of reflection, where participants shared what they had taken away from the experience and how they hoped to bring it back with them into the semester.
“This retreat gave me a chance to pause and breathe,” said Alyson Weinberg, a KU junior from St. Louis, Missouri. “Between schoolwork and everything happening in the world, I didn’t realize how much I needed this space until I was here.”
“This is my second year going on the retreat, and I benefited from the relaxation ten times more this year; the calm group and the time kayaking on the water were a perfect break from the hustle and bustle of my usually busy daily life,” said Shai Luger, a KU junior from Overland Park, Kansas.
KU Chabad leaders said the retreat reflects their ongoing mission to support students spiritually, socially and emotionally.
“No student should ever feel they are alone,” co-director Nechama Tiechtel said. “This retreat gave them a community to lean on and the tools to face challenges with resilience.”
This retreat was part of KU Chabad’s “ReJOYvination” program, providing mental health support and safety-net services for Jewish students at KU with support from the Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City.
