Mayer Simchha is spending his sixth summer on NCSY Kollel. He attended the Kollel as an NCSYer after 10th and 11th grade. He has worked in the kollel in multiple capacities including sports staff, Junior Madrich, and Madrich. This summer, in addition to his madrich responisbilities, he is also assisting Rabbi Lebowitz with special programming.

Mayer Simcha has the great privilege to be learning and spending time with an all-star lineup which includes Yoni Friedman (West Hempstead, NY), Aaron Kingsbury (Thornhill, ON), Ilan Steinmetz (Teaneck, NJ) Judah Wagner (Woodmere, NY) and Yosef Wildes (New York, NY) each day.

The Chabura has been analyzing and studying different mitzvot that fall under the general category of בין אדם לחבירו, interpersonal relationships. Some of the mitzvot they have thus far discussed are כיבוד אב ואם (to honor one’s parents) and ביקור חולים (to visit the sick). One of the goals of the chabura is to understand and analyze the texts and sources on a conceptual level and to translate the newly learned lessons into actions. We stress the importance of learning and acting, as Pirkei Avos teaches ללמוד על מנת לעשות, “to learn in order to do.”

Another goal of the chabura that Mayer Simcha continues to stress is the relevance of the Mishnayot and Gemarot they learn. He shows the NCSYers how texts dating back hundreds of years have practical applications in the 21st century. He wants them to come away with a sense of accomplishment in their learning and the realization that Torah is fun, exciting, and for everyone.

Rabbi Moshe Benovitz – “Freedom! The Case for Boundaries and Limitations in our Religious Life” from our leil iyun.

Shabbos in the Old City of Yerushalayim is always guaranteed to be exciting and beautiful. Add a third ingredient to the mix – Shabbos in Yerushaliam on NCSY Kollel – and the excitement and beauty is taken to a whole new level. From start to finish there were so many amazing opportunities and experiences to take part in.

After a short drasha from Rabbi Tani Cohen about the connection between Shabbos and Yerushalayim, the entire Kollel danced down from Yeshivat HaKotel to the Kotel for davening. Our high energy Kabbalat Shabbat was filled with song and dance. The energy continued during the meal with zemirot and eventually made its way back to the Kotel for a beautiful post-meal kumzits. While the specialness of the memorable Tisha BaAv Kumzits was a result of the many different, and different types of, Jews who joined us in our singing, the specialness of this Friday night Kumzits was a result of just the opposite. By this point in the night the Kotel was completely empty. This created an intimate, and therefore special, opportunity for the Kollel to come together and sing to Hashem.

The night continued with even more exciting options. For those who chose to continue singing, Rabbi Kamentsky lead an amazing tisch back in Yeshivat Hakotel. Those looking to visit some usually unvisited sites in the Jewish Quarter of the Old City joined Rav Gordon for his famous “Magical Mystery Tour.” And those looking to take part in the unique experience of a Chassidishe Tisch, trekked with madrich Zev Kahane to Meah She’arim and visited the tisches of Slonim, Tolne, and Stachin.

After Shacharis we all found a spot in the Old City with our madrichim where we learned together as a chabura. In the afternoon we came together to hear some inspirational words from one of Aish HaTorah’s most thrilling and captivating speakers, Rabbi Gav Friedman. Rabbi Gordon and Rabbi Horn led  walking tours of the Old City. Visiting historical shuls and houses where Jews have been living and learning for thousands of years gave us the opportunity to connect with Eretz Yisrael in a very real way.

The beautiful song and divrei Torah which with we greeted shabbat, continued throughout the day, and increased during seudah shlishit as the special day began to depart. We were privileged to hear from Rabbi Avi Schneider to close out the incredible Shabbos.

Shabbos in Yerushalayim with NCSY Kollel certainly was exciting and beautiful.

Rabbi Ari Cutler – “The ‘I’ of the Storm: Balancing Self Esteem and Self-Centeredness”

Below are the links to recordings from our incredible leil iyun that took place last night. (More links will be added later.)

“The ‘I’ of the Storm: Balancing Self Esteem and Self-Centeredness”
– Rav Ari Cutler

“The Mighty Mouth: How our Speech Defines Us”
– Rav Yisroel Kaminetsky

“The Plain Truth: Honesty and Dishonesty in Every Day Life”
– Rav Tanchum Cohen

“Freedom! The Case for Boundaries and Limitations in our Religious Life”
– Rav Moshe Benovitz

“Autonomy and Allegiance: The Parameters of Daas Torah”
– Rav Zvi Sobolofsky

“Music from the Depths of the Soul”
– Rav Yisroel Kaminetsky and Shlomo Katz

Sichat Mussar from Madrich Kivi Naiman

Rav Zvi Sobolofsy – Autonomy and Allegiance: The Parameters of Daas Torah from our leil iyun

Rabbi Tani Cohen – The Plain Truth: Honesty and Dishonesty in Every Day Life from our Leil Iyun

An amazing kumzits with Rabbi Kaminetsky and Shlomo Katz to end off our incredible leil iyun.