Reuvi Kupchik is back for his third summer on Kollel, and his first summer as a Madrich! Reuvi has bounced around over his career, starting in West Hempstead where he attended DRS. He then took his talents to the Midwest to the Skokie Yeshiva in Chicago, and finally returned to his roots as he recently moved back to the 5 Towns. Reuvi spent two and a half years in Nof Ayalon at Yeshivat Sha’alvim and is currently representing Landers, having just finished his first semester there.

Reuvi’s chabura is comprised of a group of diverse and dynamic post-11th graders representing various communities throughout the US. First off, we have our sole representative from the Tri-State area, Yoel Gellman from Bergenfield, who goes to TABC and consistently adds quiet but impactful comments to the chabura. Then, heading south, we have Michael Mitchell from Katz Yeshiva High School in Boca Raton, Florida, whose passion for growth in learning is tangible throughout the chabura. Next, we have Jojo Ardestani, with his sharp and intellectual questions keeping his madrich on his toes, representing Cooper Yeshiva in Memphis. Moving to the Midwest, Ezra Smith from Cleveland, attending Fuchs Mizrachi, always has a joke or story up his sleeve to make the chevra laugh. Finally, we have Chaim Goldman from Philly, attending Kohelet, whose smile and sharp answers always uplift the chevra.

This summer, Reuvi and his chabura are learning “famous” and life-changing pieces of Torah ranging from Halacha to Hashkafa. So far, they’ve covered massive ideas like finding simcha in learning, connecting to our mesorah, and “נעשה ונשמע” (which is 24/7!). They hope to continue covering topics like how tefillah works and the importance of Eretz Yisrael in our everyday lives.

The learning so far has been unbelievable, as it has been both lively and productive (along with some good hock, of course). They hope to continue having a summer full of much more growth!

Caleb Breda is currently enjoying his second summer on NCSY Kollel. After an incredible high school career at Yeshivat Frisch, he spent two invaluable years at Yeshivat Mevaseret, and is God-willing starting Yeshiva University this coming year! This is Caleb’s first year as a Madrich.

Caleb’s Chabura includes some of the best guys around! While it is an even split between Frisch and Fuchs Mizrachi, it could not be a better combination, B”H! Each guy adds something special and essential to the Chabura – and they have fostered a real GOC!

Leading off is Netanel Rudolph from University Heights, Ohio (Fuchs Mizrachi)! Netanel always has a clever line and/or interesting point up his sleeve – and boy does he make the Chabura think! Batting second: Ari Rosenfeld from Stamford, Connecticut (Frisch)! Although Ari tries to stay under the radar, his occasional insights light up the sugyas and open new doors to the conversation. A silent sniper, Ari is always on his toes and ready to go! In the #3 hole in the lineup is Kasriel Levine from University Heights, Ohio (Fuchs Mizrachi)! The resident Chabadnik in the Chabura, “Kas” is reliable for bringing jokes and simcha every day. His personality and simchas hachaim uplift the chevra everywhere he goes, and kal vachomer the Chabura! At cleanup… the Big Man… Jakey Gecovich from Beachwood, Ohio (Fuchs Mizrachi)! Jakey’s incredible attention to detail keeps everyone in check, and his questions, whether humorous or insightful, add a ton to the Chabura! His presence and care are appreciated and couldn’t be filled by anyone else! Fifth in the lineup is Elie Sasson from Manhattan, NY (Frisch)! Although he may be the youngest in the Chabura, Elie makes up for it with his fun and unique personality. He makes sure to bring the Sfaradi-party aspect each day, and we are happy to have him along! Batting last, but definitely not least, is Mordechai Schwarz from Teaneck, NJ (Frisch)! As the in-towner of the Chabura, Mordechai naturally leads the hock each afternoon. His ability to make connections and recall past sources and events is remarkable, a real aspiration for the rest of the guys!

This summer, Caleb’s Chabura is focusing on sefarim and topics in all aspects of Talmud Torah and Judaism. This includes sugyas in Tanach, Gemara, iyun, halacha, hashkafa, mussar, machshava, and more! The goal of the Chabura is to gain a love for learning all Torah, with an emphasis on finding one’s more specific chelek in Torah! But above all, the Chabura is a growth-oriented chevra focused on helping each other grow to be their best selves, for others, for Hashem, and for themselves!

The summer has been great so far, and God-willing it should only get better from here! Excited :)

Sam Ashendorf is currently living it up on NCSY Kollel. As a presence on campus, Sam comes from a high school career at TABC, followed by two unbelievable years at Shraga. Next year, he is heading to YU and is excited to continue his path of learning and growth there. This is Sam’s first summer as a madrich and on Kollel as a whole.

Sam’s chabura is a great group of guys! Ethan Wasserstrom from Hollywood, Florida (KYHS) may have started off the summer on the IR with a tough virus, but he has made a strong comeback since! Ethan brings chill vibes to the chabura, and he is a great addition to every conversation. Ariel Pollock, also from Hollywood, Florida (KYHS), has brought the energy from the start! His excitement and enthusiasm add life to the chabura, keeping everyone awake and on their toes! Noah Silverberg from Teaneck, NJ (MTA) is the all-around athlete of the group. The tall man of the chabura, he keeps everyone in check and makes sure to keep things interesting! Solly Treuhaft from Bergenfield, NJ (MTA) is most definitely the insightful player in the game. His confidence and bold opinions are never to be missed, and the chabura would not be the same without him! Ikey Markovich from Hollywood, Florida (KYHS) represents the “baller” of the group. Constantly busy with a million different things in order to maximize his time on the program, his ability to take advantage and get involved is an inspiration to the other guys!

This summer, the “Burah Gang” is taking time to talk about real life. Each day they discuss a different middah to work on and how it affects relationships with others, with Hashem, and with themselves. With great stories and mashalim, they try to finish each day with practical tips to grow and get better every single day. With so much already accomplished, Sam and his chabura are looking forward to continuing an amazing summer of growth and learning!

This summer, Ezra Schechter has returned to NCSY Kollel with boundless enthusiasm, now as a madrich after excelling as an NCSYer and junior madrich. Hailing from Bergenfield, Ezra has attended RYNJ and MTA (during the Rabbi Kahn era) and has been learning in Nof Ayalon at Yeshivat Sha’alvim, where he developed a deep passion for Torah and leadership. Next year, Ezra plans to return to Sha’alvim—um, wait checks notes sorry—the Heights while attending YU. Ezra is privileged to lead a remarkable chabura of high schoolers from around the world who came to NCSY Kollel to learn, grow, and have an awesome time.

Shimmy David from Teaneck, repping TABC, kicks us off with his unwavering dedication to learning and approachable nature. Joining him is Jonathan Kaplan, also from TABC in Teaneck, whose lively presence and inclusive nature create a welcoming vibe in every session. From the same TABC and Teaneck crew comes Daniel Kurz, who brings humor and joy to everything and sparks lively debates with his hot takes. Then there’s Ezra Schachter, who moved from Teaneck to Efrat (yes, Ezra Schachter is in Ezra Schechter’s chabura—Hashem works in funny ways), known for his witty remarks and ability to keep our discussions engaging. Last but not least, Ezra Stein from Atlanta rounds out our group. With a knack for making astute points and knowing just how to inject fun into our learning sessions, EStein is an invaluable addition. Lastly, we have Ezra Stein from— you guessed it—Atlanta! Ezra Stein joins Ezra Schechter as not only having the same first name but also as being the only guys in the chabura who did not go to Yeshivat Noam for elementary school. EStein is a wonderful, much-needed member of the chabura who makes smart, thoughtful points during learning but also knows when and how to have a good time. The chabura has meshed super well together, despite being from different places, and has created the perfect environment to learn and grow together.

This chabura is focusing on iyun sugyas on questions in different areas of avodas Hashem that come up on an everyday basis, with the goal of infusing deeper meaning into them and helping us add depth to our relationship with HaKadosh Baruch Hu. Ever wondered how we can be commanded to have an emotion of loving Hashem? Or if there is a Jewish value in having fun? What about what we do if we have a bad memory or are not good at learning Torah? And if tefillah is an obligation or an opportunity? Plus, if a shliach puts on tefillin for us? These are just a few examples of important topics the chabura is learning about. The chabura is not just searching for answers; they’re committed to deepening their connection with Hashem. With intense discussions and serious Talmud Torah, this chabura is really growing in remarkable ways.

Led by Ezra Schechter, EStein, Shaq, Shimmy, Kurz, and JonKap are all part of this team, each bringing unique contributions that have earned them the reputation of being the powerhouse chabura of the summer—a chabura so strong, they’re reminiscent of the legendary 2016 73-9 Warriors (but this chabura actually finishes in the postseason).     

Ezra Landa grew up in Bergenfield, New Jersey, and had the great privilege of attending Yeshiva University’s High School for Boys, also known as MTA. He is currently between his second and third years at Yeshivat Sha’alvim, where he has had a wonderful experience thus far. Ezra has been remarkably fortunate to spend three summers here on NCSY Kollel, with each year getting better and better.

This summer, he is lucky to have a tremendous group in his chabura, which he sincerely appreciates learning and hanging out with. First off, we have Aaron Korrori hailing from Roslyn Heights, New York, who attends DRS. Next, we have Alex Perl coming from the Windy City of Chicago, Illinois, and attending Fasman Yeshiva High School. In addition, we have Dovid Sweet, also from Chicago, who goes to the Yeshiva. We also have the privilege of learning with Ezra Cohen (not a kohen), who is from Chicago and attends Fasman. Last but certainly not least, Max Herman from Oceanside, New York, attends DRS.

The chabura is learning a variety of beautiful sugyas with a focus on the fundamentals of religious life, aiming to grow together as bnei Torah and enjoy their limmud haTorah.

It has been an unbelievable summer thus far, with so much more to look forward to!

Residing in Beit Shemesh, Moshe Loew has returned to NCSY Kollel for his fifth summer (two as an NCSYer, and three as a madrich). After attending MTA for high school, Moshe went to KBY, where he has just finished his fourth year. Next year, he will be teaching at Yeshivat Ohr Moshe, learning at Lev, and attending Azrieli online.

Moshe’s chabura is already famous for the dynamic personalities of all five guys who are learning the first perek of Makkos together. Dovid Feldhamer and Shlomo Berkowitz (DRS) deepen the chabura’s understanding of the sugyas with insightful comments and questions. Ami Forman and Shabsi Stein (Heichal) join the DRS duo, adding a seriousness to the learning and a sense of humor to the chill, which really makes this chabura stand out. Last, but certainly not least, is Etiel Knoll (TABC), who, with his trademark smile and energy, brings out the passion of the entire chabura in everything they do.

This unique chabura focuses on developing analytical skills when reading Gemara and deepening their conceptual understanding of the different shitahs of Rishonim. They are already surpassing all expectations as they continue diving deeper into the sugyas of “Keitzad Haeidim,” which discuss Eidim Zomemim. Additionally, this chabura pays special attention to “opening their eyes” to the wonders of Hashem, His Torah, and Eretz Yisroel, learning life lessons from Makkos, the tiyulim, spikeball, and more.

As the summer continues to fly by, these five guys, with the help of their madrich, hope to open their eyes a little wider and pay closer attention to the unbelievable world and the sweet and wondrous Torah contained inside each and every one of them.

Yehuda Wiener, from Teaneck (and technically now Israel), is in his second summer on NCSY Kollel and his first as a Madrich. He attended TABC for high school and went to learn at Sha’alvim for yeshiva, where he looks forward to continuing for a third year. Yehuda’s Chaburas focus on different topics in Avodas Hashem, aiming to generate discussions of everyday situations and hearing everyone’s thoughts on the ideas presented within the Sugyas. Yehuda is very fortunate to have a Chabura that is “stacked” with awesome guys who know how to learn, ball, chill, and have a great time.

Yoni Bodoff (Teaneck, TABC) carries the chabura with his outstanding answers on all topics, though he’ll only speak if he’s really, really needed to give others a chance. Gavriel Saks (Bergenfield, TABC) is always ready to throw in a one-liner or back up Yoni in a machlokes with the Boca guys, helping to keep the chabura on track. Moshe Moskowitz (Boca, TTB [Tiferes Torah of Boca]) is a consistent presence, always engaged in the chabura, and can be counted on to answer questions, give opinions, or share perspectives. Aharon Hochman (Boca, TTB) is a strong force day in and day out in the chabura, with his ability to settle down others, provide strong takes on different topics, and remember the ideas discussed in the chabura. Eytan Greenfield (Boca, TTB) is a leader in engaging each person in the chabura, sharing different insights, and always keeping things interesting. Finally, Akiva Ravin (YGW, Silverspring) is a huge piece to round out the chabura, bringing everyone together in the dynamic and adding extra spirit in and out of chaburas.

All this incredible camaraderie has already created an amazing dynamic for an amazing summer, with even more great things to come!

Trying to keep the diversity of Madrichim from different yeshivas, Uri Ostrin is back for his fourth summer on NCSY Kollel (we have already asked and, B”H, there is no mid-life crisis… Uri just loves the Holy Yidden on NCSY Kollel). Uri grew up in a tiny town in central New Jersey called Highland Park. If you haven’t heard of it before, it’s near TopGolf. Uri attended Rabbi Pesach Raymon Yeshiva (RPRY) for his early schooling years. After RPRY, Uri took out his passport and left for the Holy Land—Teaneck, New Jersey—and attended Torah Academy of Bergen County (TABC) for four wonderful years. From there, Uri took his talents to Yeshivat Shaarei Mevaseret Tzion (Mevaseret) for two transformative years. Uri has since been learning in Specters (aka Rabbeinu Yitzchak Elchanan Theological Seminary, aka RIETS, aka Yeshiva University, aka YU), and will IYH be there for the next bunch of years (we spoke to Uri’s parents and they told us that’s his plan… Uri chose to plead the 5th). Uri plans on completing and receiving his degree. After fully completing his parents’ wishes for a degree, Uri would like to explore s’micha and pursue a meaningful life in chinuch, inspiring the next generation of Klal Yisroel.

Uri’s chaburah, inspired by Uri’s WhatsApp group chat, “Ignite YOUR Flame” (feel free to join), is always a fun and interactive experience for the chevra. The “Starting 5,” starring the inseparable three musketeers: Binyamin (the Center) Dombeck (JEC), Elie (Rav XBOX) Krause (JEC), and Josh (aka Paul’s friend) Singfer, as well as a huge pickup from Boca Raton, Florida: David (The Shluffer) Lunski (Katz HS), and the true rebbe in the group, with arguably an incredible Sefirah beard, Ari Eisen (Heichal HaTorah). The chaburah is no short of heavy hitters to crush expectations. The growth over the course of the first few very, very short weeks of the summer has been mind-blowing. The “Starting 5” have allowed all the lessons of Hashem’s sweet Torah to penetrate their funky hairdos and into their pure and holy neshamos.

Uri’s chaburah has been laser-focused on what we are doing in Judaism. Through meditations and intense conversations, the chevra have been able to start unlocking their true inner selves and latent potential within. Uri’s main goal is focused on what a normal day looks like. As it says in Pirkei Avos 1:1, ״והעמידו תלמידים הרבה״, “You should ‘stand up’ your talmidim.” This is a very strange language to use… The Tosfos Yom Tov explains that this means that the students need to know how to stand on their own when they come across a situation in life. Uri’s belief is that it all starts with the basics! What are we saying when we make a bracha? What is the in-depth meaning behind each of the words? What should we be thinking about? With Siyata Dishmaya, Uri hopes to be able to instill within each member of the “Starting 5” a true sense of meaning and purpose in our everyday lives! With this sense of meaning, Uri hopes to highlight the undeniable truth that greatness lies within. Each and every single Yid is created with this greatness! Uri hopes that the boys realize this and allow it to come flowing out of their neshamos.

Coming from Bergenfield, NJ, for his second year on NCSY Kollel, Yehuda Emerson is now a first-time madrich. After graduating from MTA and spending two years at Shaalvim, Yehuda will be returning next year for a third year in Nof Ayalon. Yehuda is leading an epic chaburah of the “older guys” who really set the tone for what NCSY Kollel is supposed to be.

Noah (Noey) Troy, from Silver Spring, Maryland, attends Berman Academy. He is returning for a second year on NCSY Kollel and is firing on all cylinders on and off the court. Another returning member for his second year on NCSY Kollel is Nadav Aron from San Diego, California, who attends SCY High and never stops hocking with anyone he sees. Moshe Razi, from Los Angeles, California, attends YULA and is also a returning member of Kollel. He can already only be found in the beis. Zev Ostriecher, from Lawrence, New York, attends YFR and is an excellent addition to the chaburah, especially with his hat and jacket. Aryeh Barenbaum, from MAY, is already showing off his skills and destroying everyone in rock-paper-scissors. Lastly, we have Menachem Grossman from RBS, who attends Mesivta during the year and ensures the chaburah gets rid of those smartphones.

This summer, Yehuda’s chaburah is focusing on Shabbos as a whole, from the machshava aspect to finding a love for Shabbos, while also going through sugyas of everyday cases we face each week. The chaburah emphasizes taking home the main ideas and summarizing at the end to ensure they understand the essence of what Shabbos is. Hopefully, this will change how they see Shabbos and how they experience the once-a-week gift Hashem gives us.

Even though it is early, the guys are gelling together and making the chaburah an environment that is conducive to growth in Torah, middos, and ahavas Hashem. Hopefully, we will continue what has already been an incredible summer!

Nathan Ginsburg is enthusiastic to be back for his fourth summer on NCSY Kollel and his first summer as a Madrich. Nathan, from Potomac, Maryland, attended Winston Churchill High School before heading to HaKotel for two transformative years. This upcoming fall, Nathan will be starting his first year at YU.

Nathan’s chabura includes some of the most motivated guys from across America. Starting on the East Coast, we have Yonah Stiber from Baltimore (Pikesville for the locals). Stiber attends The Jemicy School. Next up, 960 miles west, is Yonah Snellen from California, Missouri. Snellen goes to California High School. For the third stop on the road trip, 780 miles south, is Daniel Kirshner from Houston, Texas. Kirshner attends Bellaire High School. Our final stop, a whopping 1500 miles away, is Stav Malka from Las Vegas. Malka attends The Advanced Technologies Academy.

This summer, Nathan’s chabura will be focusing on understanding the deeper meaning of the major aspects of Judaism. They will be learning about a variety of topics, including ממלכת כהנים וגוי קדוש, Modeh Ani, davening, tzitzis, tefillin, tzedakah, and much, much more. The goal of the learning is to add meaning to their Judaism and become closer to Hashem by doing so.

All of this has combined for what continues to be an incredible summer!