Wednesday’s break from our usual learning and the walls of the beit medresh was in no way a break from the amazing growth of the NCSY Kollel. If anything, today’s “Yom Chessed” lead to some extraordinary growth and learning in areas not usually explored. Splitting up into six different groups, the NCSY Kollel left its mark all over the country.

One group of NCSYers visited an army base in in Chevron, where they got to meet many soldiers – some American teenagers who volunteered for the army – and learned about what it means to devote your life to the Jewish people.

Another group of NCSYers volunteered in Yad Eliezer where they helped package boxes of food and supplies for families throughout Israel who are struggling financially.  The NCSYers enjoyed the challenge of packing as many boxes as they could in such little time, and felt a sense of accomplishment upon finally completing it.  Similarly,  a separate group of Chaburahs went to a pantry to package food to be sent to people in need.  They enjoyed preparing fruits and vegetables, as well as other foods, and packaging them, knowing that a family in need would be benefitting from their hard work.

A third group visited an organization called Leket Yisrael, an organization dedicated to the Mitzvah of picking fruit grown specifically for the purpose of sending to families in need.  The NCSYers picked around 1,700 lbs of apples, enough to feed over 200 families!  This specific trip this year had more meaning given the fact that it is currently a Shemittah year.  The NCSYers saw what it means to be so dedicated to Torah and Mitzvos that you entire fields lie barren since Rosh Hashanah.  After some words regarding Shemittah from Rabbi Sobolofsky, the NCSYers danced and sang in the fields about the beauty of Shabbos and the year of Shemittah.

The NCSYers that joined project JIVE (Jerusalem Volunteers for the Environment) helped to clean up a community in Jerusalem .  Project JIVE uses cleanups like this in an effort to turn the environmental and social values rooted in the Jewish tradition into the foundational building blocks of Israeli culture and society.

The final group spent their day in Shaare Zedek Hospital where, through singing and clowning, they were able to uplift some of the patients who were going through difficult times by putting a smile on their face.

These trips were deeply inspiring, but perhaps what was most inspiring, or at least equally inspiring, was the way we spent our night. After being out and about all day, many of us engaging in some tiring work, we all came back to Beit Meir for an amazing night seder. After being encouraged by so many different types of Jews all over Israel, and their commitment to Am Yisrael, we too showed our commitment to Am Yisrael in the NCSY Kollel beit medresh through our Torah learning.
Today’s experiences, both on the trips and in the beit medresh, showed us all what a commitment to Am Yisrael, Torat Yisrael, and Eretz Yisrael is all about.

 

Eliezer Feder is returning for his fourth consecutive summer on the NCSY Summer Kollel, and his third as a Madrich. His Chabura is comprised of six members: Akiva Fink from Woodmere, NY (DRS), Dovid Gelbtuch from Lawrence, NY (DRS), Tzvi Koenig from Spring Valley, NY (Heichal HaTorah), Jacob Minkin from West Hempstead, NY (DRS), Benny Persin from Passaic, NJ (Heichal HaTorah), and Tzvi Sabo from Bergenfield, NJ (MTA); all whom have shown tremendous growth and excitement for the learning so far.

Together, they are delving into the 6th Perek of Gemara Brachos, discussing the concept of making Brachos on food in general and different Brachos in particular. Faced with challenging questions and thought-provoking discussions, the Chabura together tackles each Gemara with much enthusiasm. The Chabura is finding the learning to be stimulating and engaging. One member in particular, Jacob Minkin, has risen to the challenge and has been soaking in all of the learning that he can get.

Besides the fun that the Chabura enjoys learning together with Eliezer, they are a mighty unit outside of the Beis Medrash as well. On Wednesday, when the entire camp split up to do different Chessed trips, the crew went with Eliezer to Shaare Zedek Hospital in Yirushalayim to cheer up the patients there. The guys dressed in bright and colorful clothing to make themselves look silly (for example, Benny Persin wore a neon orange t-shirt). They went from room to room turning frowns into smiles!

It was truly a rewarding experience. “I feel like a hundred bucks now!” Tzvi Koenig exclaimed after leaving the final room. Later, Dovid Gelbtuch eloquently explained that “the most precious think in the world is to make someone else smile,” and that is what they did so well today.

Before the trip, some members were hesitant about the idea. One such member, Tzvi Sabo, had such an amazing time that even after the group finished, he wanted to go back to a specific room which they had missed!

When moving through the halls, the Chabura was called into a room where the doctors were about to draw blood from a young boy. The boy’s mother heard the troop and called them in so to distract the boys during the shot. Akiva Fink knew exactly how to distract the boy by engaging him with a funny dance and skit.  The experience was truly an amazing one!

Eliezer is looking forward to an amazing continuation of the summer. It is only the beginning with so much more to come!

After an incredible Tiyul day yesterday, Kollel was right back to a normal, jam-packed schedule today.

As the NCSYers get more and more accustomed to the Kollel schedule, the excitement and fun continues to build.  This morning, the Beit Medrash was as loud as ever, as it was packed with morning Shiurim working hard in learning Gemara Berachot.  The day continued with amazing Chaburas, and the leagues began to pick up some steam.  With twenty four basketball teams and eight hockey teams playing today, the intensity, and more importantly, exceptional Middot, were on display on all six courts throughout the afternoon.

Prior to regular night Seder, each Chaburah had their first Mussar Chaburah of the summer.  Each NCSYer got together with his Madrich for a special fifteen minute Chaburah regarding a variety of Mussar and Machshava related topics.  Night Seder continued with regular NCSYer/Madrich Chavrusot as well as our fantastic lineup of night Shiurim.

Following night Seder, for the first time ever on NCSY Kollel, the pool was opened for a special night swim!

Tomorrow the NCSYers will be partaking in Kollel’s annual Chesed Day, in which Chaburahs embark on a variety of Chesed opportunities and trips.  We look forward to a day filled with a sense of excitement, fulfillment, and appreciation.

Isaac Shulman is spending his 7^th straight summer (3^rd as a madrich) on the NCSY Kollel. He has long been seeking to overthrow Binyamin Kaminetsky and Asher Becker as the longest continuous members the program. From Englewood, NJ, Isaac attended TABC high school, spent a year in Yeshivat Har Etzion, and has been in Yeshiva University for the last 4 years learning under Rav Rosensweig. Isaac’s sports preferences are eclectic, to say the least: his favorites are soccer, tennis, and ping-pong.

In Isaac’s chaburah are David Ivry from Woodmere, NY, Yehuda Shetrit from Long Beach, NY, Adam Zahler from West Hempstead, NY, who all attend DRS high school, Zevi Eisenberg from Lawrence, NY, a proud member of YFR, and, last but certainly not least, Efraim Wiener who hails from Memphis, Tennessee and attends Cooper high school.

Together, Isaac and his Chabura are learning the first Perek of Bava Metzia, exploring the Halakha’s response to cases of disputed possession. They will explore the impact of physical control of objects, the potency of claims made in court, and the function of courts in cases of insufficient evidence, to mention just a few of the factors they will address. Though they hope to gain deep understanding of these specific factors, the primary goals for the chaburah are to kindle interest in a rigorous study of gemara, as well as to mold a specific form of analytic thinking that can apply to the broad spectrum of topics across Halakha.

Isaac’s chaburah is excited to have an amazing summer together as they grow closer as a chaburah and enjoy an amazing six weeks together learning and having fun!

Brandon Lurie is from Los Angeles, California, and while he is currently enrolled in McGill University, will be transferring to NYU this coming fall.  Brandon is excited to be joining NCSY Kollel for his first summer ever!  Brandon can’t wait to learn the ropes to the Kollel as well as have an amazing summer with his Chaburah as a whole.

This summer, Brandon is leading an all-star Chaburah, consisting of Yitzy Nissel from Passaic, NJ (Heichal HaTorah), Tani Finkelstein from Memphis, TN (Cooper Yeshiva High School), Dov Jacobson from Teaneck, NJ (Heichal HaTorah), Yosef Zimmerman from Northbrook, IL (Fasman Yeshiva High School), and Yonah Benscher from Beit Shemesh, Israel (Mitzpeh Yericho).

In Brandon’s Chaburah, their learning will be focused on the reasons for adopted Minhagim of Klal Yisrael.  Some examples include: Why do we say Kidush Levana?  Why do people hand out red strings at the Kotel?  Additionally, Brandon and his Chaburah will focus on some ideas in Machshava from the teachings of Rav Soloveitchick sprinkled throughout the summer.

It’s already looking unbelievable, and Brandon and his Chaburah know that this summer will only continue to get better!

Today was the first official Tiyul day of the summer, and what a Tiyul day it was!  NCSYers were given the option to choose between three amazing all-day trips: hiking through the “Black Canyon” trail of Nachal Yehudiyah, visiting the four holy cities, or enjoying a walk through Nachal Kibbutzim.

Nachal Yehudiyah was an intense, challenging, incredible hike through the beautiful mountains and canyons of the Golan.  The hike included unbelievable activities such as repelling down a waterfall and jumping thirty feet off a cliff into a body of water.  The seven hour hike was certainly not one for the faint of heart!

On the trip to the four holy cities, NCSYers were privileged to see each of the beautiful holy cities of Israel: Chevron, Yerushalayim, Teveria, and Tzfat.  The day began with Shacharit at the Maarat HaMachpeila, followed by some words from Rabbi Sobolofsky about the significance of drawing strength from our Avot.  Overlooking the Old City of Yerushalayim and Har Habayit on the Tayelet, Rav Schachter discussed Kedushat Yerushalayim and its importance to us.  In Teveria, the NCSYers enjoyed some swimming and water activities in the Kineret, and later visited the Kever of Rabbi Akiva.  Rav Schachter spoke about the different Tzadikim buried in the cities of Teveria and Tzfat as they headed to meet up with the other trips for dinner in Tzfat.

The third Tiyul enjoyed a more relaxed trip, as the waded through the waters of the beautiful Nachal Kibbutzim.  Following their enjoyable stroll, they headed to Teveria for water sports and banana boating, and later joined the Tiyulim in Tzfat as well.

It has been a long and invigorating day.  We hope to take that energy and channel it toward a strong week of sports, learning, and continued fun!

(Check back tomorrow for pictures from all of our incredible Tiyulim!)

 

What an amazing first day of leagues!!  To open the basketball season, Kollel was treated to a rematch of last year’s championship game, Andrew Israeli vs. Ben Zion Feld (of which Ben Zion’s team emerged victorious), “reffed” by Rabbi Benovitz.  Every team played their opening game, each one more exciting than the next.  The excitement included a double-overtime game, a few blowouts, and many nail-biting victories that came down to the wire.  Each hockey team played their opening game as well, most of which ended with a mere one-goal differential.  All the games were competitive and exciting, and Kollel can’t wait to continue what is sure to be an amazing season!  Follow our sports updates for more details on standing and game summaries

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Asher Becker is spending his 8th summer on the NCSY Kollel. He began attending his summer after 10th grade and has been there ever since.

Asher’s Chabura is a unique blend of guys, including Asher Stein from Detroit, Michigan, Shai Goldman from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Mordechai Scheinson from Hillside, New Jersey, Josh Beer from Woodmere, New York, and Jonathan Haller from Woodmere, New York.

Asher’s Chabura is focusing on the topic of kodashim and the beis hamikdash, particularly how sacrifices were offered in the Beis Hamikdash, a topic particularly appropriate to the time period in which we find ourselves, leading up to Tisha Biav. The chabura also focuses on the top ten כלי יקר’s and חתם סופר’s on the weekly פרשה, giving added insight and flavor to the פרשה.

Asher and his Chaburah are looking forward to not only building together in, and getting stronger in, their learning, but also building relationships with each other and becoming a cohesive, awesome Chaburah!

After an amazing Shabbos, so many exciting “firsts” took place today on the NCSY Kollel!!!

Following our first regular wake-up and Davening schedule, the NCSYers were eager to begin their first day of full morning Shiur!  They experienced a real Yeshiva atmosphere, as they enjoyed their first morning Seder in the Beit Medrash, in which they were given time to prepare the material for Shiur with a Chavrusa.  The Talmidim were then treated to a fascinating Shiur introducing them to Gemara Berachot and the various topics they will be covering throughout the summer.  The day continued with another exciting first – full Chaburas in their regular time slots!  Each Chabura finally got to sit down and begin learning for the summer, acclimating to the other NCSYers in their Chaburahs, as well as their Madrichim and the daily routine of Chaburahs.

Today also marked the season-opener for Kollel leagues!  Both the basketball league, consisting of twenty five teams, and the hockey league, consisting of eight teams, began, and looked as if they were in mid-season form in terms of intensity, Middot, and fun.  Check out or sports update for more details!

The “firsts” kept on coming with the first night Seder of the summer!!  Each NCSYer was paired up with a Madrich to learn with for one half of night Seder, while attending a shiur from a Rebbe for the other half.  The Beit Medrash was packed, the sounds of learning filling the room throughout the night.  As the NCSYers finished an incredible, jam-packed day, they headed to bed to prepare for the amazing trips that lie ahead tomorrow.  If the first full, scheduled day of Kollel was at all indicative of the rest of the summer, it is certainly going to turn out to be the #BestSummerEver!!!

It is a special joy to be able to share with you reflections on our first few days together on the NCSY Summer Kollel.

It has been a wonderful start.  The early days on the program are designed to acclimate the NCSYers to the program and schedule, and are heavy on special events and off campus programs.  Each of these added to the growing cohesion of the group and created much excitement for the rest of the summer.

It would be hard to choose just one highlight from all that happened.  As I am sure you have been following on our website, there has already been a balance (albeit an atypical one) between great fun, sports, Tiyulim, and incomparable experiences from the Beit Medrash.  In choosing some standout moments, clearly those learning opportunities come to mind first.  Last night we welcomed Rav Herschel Schachter to his spot in the front of the NCSY Kollel.  He briefly addressed the group, and that alone was a snapshot of what makes the program so special.  Rav Tzvi Sobolofsky joined us on one of the group flights, and has already begun our morning Halacha Shiur, staff Shiur, and various learning groups with NCSYers who have sought him out.  Watching these Roshei Yeshiva interact with our sons never gets old and is the fulfillment of some of our most important ambitions.

The Beit Medrash highlights were certainly not limited to a select group of NCSYers or a small number of Rebbeim.  We gradually introduced our morning Rebbeim and Shiurim to the NCSYers, and it was incredible to witness.  The Shiurim will kick into high gear on Sunday, and the relationship building will be further advanced through the welcoming Melava Malka that each Rebbe will be hosting at his home tomorrow night.  (These relationships will likely get a further boost when our sports leagues begin on Sunday – the vast majority of our Rebbe staff are participants in the leagues, many in leading roles).

Naturally, Chaburas were also prominently featured in our early schedule.  The interactive learning was a delight to behold and the energy levels on the first few chaburas were super high.  Our canteen Grand Opening featured a rousing game of Panoply and other Chabura based challenges and competitions.  Here too, the chabura that plays together, learns together, in the inimitable style that NCSY Kollel is renowned for.

But breaking it down even further, it was the simple sight of one on one learning and the cumulative result of an electrified and blissful Beit Medrash that was most gratifying.  Whether in our first morning preparation or at yesterday’s optional late night Mishmar program, the sounds of NCSYers learning together rang true, and presented a powerful image of the program at its best.

All of this was achieved without the benefit of our regular schedule or our full complement of learning options.  Additional great highlights were found in some of the special supplementary programs that were designed to bring the group together and introduce other key elements of NCSY Kollel.

It was a great week to be in the beautiful land of Israel!  One could easily point to our planes’ approaching the Israel shoreline and touching down in Ben Gurion airport as a climactic moment.  Without a doubt, a first night trip to the Kotel for an unforgettable maariv and a stop to reflect on the roof of Yeshivat HaKotel left an indelible impression on the NCSYers.  The beach on the Mediterranean was breathtakingly beautiful and was the first of many views that reveal the land in all its glory.  Friday in Yerushalayim is one of a kind, and it was great that we got to experience the pre Shabbos scene there.  For most, the off campus highlight was Thursday’s  NCSY Kollel Kickoff tiyul and games.  We offered 5 distinct options for all tastes and interests.  There was Softball at Kibbutz Gezer, Soccer on the practice fields of Beitar Jerusalem, Basketball in the gym, Flag Football at Kraft Stadium, a tiyul to the Stalactite Caves and a mountain biking expedition.  These options are typical of the NCSY Kollel philosophy of allowing choices whenever possible.  As a result, each group was a self-selecting and especially excited about the activity.    Moreover, breaking up into smaller groups accelerated the bonding process we have focused on all week.    No doubt this social dimension added to the overwhelmingly positive response to the day’s events.

But for me, none of these were the absolute highlight of the week.  I also do not intend to cop out and claim that all of the great happenings combined to form “one constant thrill”.  There was one moment that rose above the others, and it was at the very start of our adventure.  It was standing in the airport here in Israel and greeting your sons and our staff as they entered the arrivals hall.

I would suggest that there were two reasons why this was such a powerful scene.  First, each young man who walked through the sliding doors represented the actualization of months and months of preparation and expectations.  Names on lists were given three-dimensional form, and theoretical plans came into focus in living color.

But second, and perhaps more unique to this particular summer, this is an incredible group of NCSYers.  Individually they impress, and watching them come together for the first time as a group and community was exhilarating.  We are honored to try and provide them with the program they deserve, and to spend our summer with such a powerful representation of a very bright Jewish future.  They are diverse in many ways, and that makes their common denominators on display this summer all the more remarkable.

So that was my highlight of the week.  It was a moment that filled me with pride in our program and NCSY, and offered no small dose of hope and optimism for the future.  I thank you profusely on behalf of our staff for sharing your most valuable and beloved gifts with us.  We will do our very best with them.

We hope you are keeping up on all of our developments through the various social media.  We also greatly value your feedback, so please do not hesitate to share.

Thank you very much, and it is an honor to wish you a very great Shabbos, from the NCSY Kollel in the hills of Beit Meir, Israel.

 

Moshe Benovitz