Menachum Pollack is the Director of Catchphrases and Enthusiasm

1.       What are your responsibilities on Kollel?

First and foremost, I see myself as a Madrich. I love hanging out with my guys, giving chaburas once a day, playing ball, developing relationships, and growing together. I am also involved with the head staff, which gives me the opportunity to have a role in technical issues, chinuch issues, and everything in between.

2.       What do you think is the most important trait for a Kollel staff member to have?

Good question. I think it comes down to caring. You have to care about the kids. You have to care about the campus, you have to care about what we are doing here. Because if you care enough about anything, everything you need to accomplish the job will come.

3.       Which Staff Member is the most efficient at making you laugh?

[laughs] Considering how much time I spend with him, [fellow head staff member] Daniel Goldstein has my vote for the most laughs per minute.

Today was the first full-length tiyul day on NCSY Kollel and, oh boy, did it deliver. NCSY Kollel organized three seperate trips to the southern beach-town of Eilat.

The trips ranged from extreme to chill to somewhere in between, and departure times ranged from 6:00 AM to as early as 11:30 PM last night.  That departure belonged to the extreme hikers of the Harei Eilat Tiyul, who drove all the way down to Eilat through the night to begin an intense hike up Eilat’s mountains in the early hours of the morning and daven shacharis at sunrise atop the mountain.  The second option, the Masada tiyul, left at 2:30 AM to do the same on Israel’s most famous mountain, climbing up and davening with the sunrise.  The final tiyul, fondly known as the “Ezra Teichman Tiyul” (paying homage to the creator of the tiyul option) was the most relaxed, leaving at 6:00 AM to go straight to Eilat and meet the other tiyulim for the second part of the tiyul day, after a visit to Eilat’s aquarium.

The buses made a quick stop in Dimona to spend some time in the mall before all three tiyulim made the trek back to Beit Meir, where they were greeted with Maariv and a BBQ dinner.

An amazing tiyul day capped off an incredible summer of tiyulim, and we are ready to take advantage of the rest of this week as we finish off a summer we will never forget!

Morning seder is the longest and most formal learning period of the day. Campers are placed in one of 17 shiurim given by a Rebbe.

The Rebbeim are world-renowned educators, and most are the top Rebbeim at American post-High School Yeshivot, such as Reishit, Shaalvim, Hakotel, Yishrei Lev, Mevaseret, and more.

The typical Shiur runs from 9:30-12:30, with an hour of chavruta amongst themselves. This gives the campers an opportunity to learn from each other and develop reading skills in addition to the Torah they hear from their Rebbeim.

Many of the Rebbeim play in our basketball and hockey leagues furthering their connection to the campers.

“The Morning Seder in Kollel is very unique in that, on one hand, you have the laughs that go with camp, and with the turning of a page of Gemara, you have the intense discussions that are the heartbeat of learning and of Judaism in general” – Rabbi Avi Schneider

“Morning Shiur is my favorite part of the day because I get to shiur from Rabbi Sobolvsky who is a huge Talmid Chacham and has made a large impact on my learning”– Oren Neuwirth

It’s finally here! The first full day of learning and sports on NCSY Kollel! The day began with the first Morning Seder as the campers learnt b’chavruta and heard shiur from Rebbeim. At 12 o’clock the Night Seder schedule was released and the NCSYers were introduced to the Staff member who was selected to learn with them at night, as well as the shiur they would be attending then.

After lunch, mincha and the first full length chaburas, the first day of leagues was under way. All of the 40 basketball teams and 16 hockey teams hit the courts over 4 periods of intense action. There was also a mini-tiyul, which took campers on a hike to the historical places around Beit Meir. Additionally, the pool was open for the first time from 4-6 in the afternoon.

After dinner, Kollel began its long-awaited Night Seder program. Campers attended one of 16 different shiur options and learnt, one-on-one or in small groups with our amazing staff. The Beit Medrash was filled with an amazing kol torah until maariv at 10.

As the week progresses we look forward to our trip to Eilat on Tuesday. Check back into the Kollel Sumer Blog for the latest news and photos from Summer 2018

Yis Richter is an 11th-grader from Monsey, NY who attends Yeshivat Frisch

“My experience on NCSY Kollel has changed my life. The environment and guys here make it so easy to grow as a Ben Torah and have a growth-oriented summer. You have the top Roshei Yeshiva, the best chevra and the Madrichim who are just the greatest, and who are always there to talk.

The highlight of my week every summer are the Kollel tisches. I get so hyped up and I can really get myself and my friends going wild.

NCSY Kollel is the perfect place for any Yid who values Torah and wants to be inspired. The inspiration is not just for the summer but forms the values which will guide you through the rest of your life.”

Jonathan Hurewitz is spending his seventh summer on the NCSY Kollel, his third summer as a Madrich on the program. Hailing from Baltimore, Maryland, he attended Beth Tfiloh Dahan Community Day School, spent two years in Yeshivat Shalaavim in Israel, and is currently a student at Yeshiva University. His Chaburah is diving into the complexity of some of the most intriguing topics in Jewish Law.

Jonothan’s Chabura consists of Shloime Bleiberg from Cedarhurst NY; Akiva Sturm from the Bronx, NY; Yosef Yaakov Arnall from Beverly Hills, CA; Yosef Teitlebaum from Teaneck, NJ; and Yisrael Wiener from Memphis, TN. The Chaburah plans to work as a unit both inside the Beis Medrash and out to create a powerhouse of Torah.

The Chaburah hopes to continue to be intense and focused in order to try to understand the Torah they learn, as well as further develop the relationships in the Chaburah.

Shabbos on Kollel is legendary for its electric ruach, inspiring speeches, and awesome learning. The first Shabbos on NCSY Kollel was no exception. From Kaballat Shabbat through Havdalah, Moshav Beit Meir was hit with a wave of holiness and unity. The Kollel came together to celebrate Shabbos together the way it is supposed to be celebrated.

We were joined this weekend by Rav Mordechai Burg, who spoke at the Friday night Tisch to a massive crowd, and by Rabbi Aryeh Lightstone, Senior Adviser to Ambassador to Israel, David Friedman. Rabbi Lightstone spoke to the staff about Israel advocacy and how to best support our true homeland.

After Shabbos the 10th graders visited the homes of their Rebbeim for pizza and Melave Malka,while the 11th graders went to Kraft Stadium to play football and eat shwarma.

Looking forward, this week we are moving toward our regular daily schedule as this awesome summer progresses.