Thursday was just another sensational day on the Kollel- with awesome highs both in the Beis Medrash and on the court.

We were proud to welcome Camp Morasha’s Sulam program for an afternoon of learning and ball.  The NCSY Kollel hosts once again lived up to their reputation by turning back all challenges in winning all 4 of the inter-camp contests.  The hockey game ended 3-0 Kollel, and all 3 of the basketball games were lopsided wins for the hometeam.  Yosef Naor and Joe Kestenbaum led the charge in hockey, while Moshe Willner was the MVP of one of the basketball  games.  Abba Szydlo also contributed a great shooting performance.  Ari Bar Shain and Gaby Barishansky carried the Kollel in the next game, and our post 11^th grade stars closed out the afternoon with a thrashing of the Sulam staff.

The Sulam games were only the introduction to the intensity of Day 2 of the 3 on 3 tournament.  In the intermediate division, we crowned a champion, as the team of Elliot Heller, Jon Hurwitz and Ezra Hagler won the title.  The advanced bracket witnessed some of the most intense down to the wire thrillers in the history of the competition, as they worked down to a spectacular Final Four.

And this wild week ended in the best way possible:  In the Beit Medrash for a packed Mishmar program.  No fewer than 7 optional shiurim filled the late night schedule, and chulent with potato kugel fortified the many NCSYers learning well after midnight.

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The non-stop action of the week continued with Wednesday’s mega tiyul day.  The diversity of options offered was staggering.  For the bravest and strongest, Nachal Darja provided a stiff challenge.  Darja is the most challenging of our master level hikes, and provided a full day of thrills and excitement.  For those seeking another unique NCSY Kollel tiyul option, Rabbi Gordon’s History of Torah in Yerushalalyim Tour was just the ticket.  The tour traces the unmatched wealth of significant Torah hotspots in Yerushalayim, including visits with some of the city’s most illustrious Torah leaders.  And somewhere in the middle was the option of experiencing Masada at daybreak, the wonder of the Dead Sea and the breathtaking beauty of Nachal Ein Gedi.

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Great learning on Tuesday was complemented by the sports highlight of the summer:  our annual 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament and Festival.  For the festival, there was an unbeatable atmosphere of fun and congeniality.  Even after a loss, the courts were the place to be.  Thanks to generous sponsorships for the event, there were giveaways (water bottles, t-shirts, balls, and more) and loads of free refreshments (drinks, ices, popcorn, cotton candy, and slushies).  Music and contests were all around the games.  And right in the middle of everything was our Dodgeball extravaganza.  This annual game is the single event with the highest level of participation all summer.  It pits the entire staff against the entire contingent of NCSYers in a battle royale not soon to be forgotten.  After a spirited battle, the NCSYers used their quantitative advantage to take the crown for the second straight year.

And we haven’t even touched on the basketball yet!  Somewhere in all the hoopla were dozens of the most competitive, intense, leave-it-on-the-court-exhausting-yet-exhilirating sports contests of the summer.  Two different skill divisions were created, and an enormous field of competitors was slowly whittled down over the course of the afternoon.

http://www.ncsysummer.com/gallery/trip/kollel 

Monday we got up.  With Tisha B’Av providing a new sense of focus and commitment, the regular NCSY Kollel schedule was attacked with vigor and gusto.  Morning shiurim, chaburas, and an afternoon of sports were more than enough to charge up and refresh everyone.

But Monday’s best was saved for last.  Yom NCSY was every bit the spectacular event it was advertised.  From the Papagaio’s BBQ buffet, to the late night fireworks, to moving orations, to multimedia, to the backdrop of Mini Israel, to the crowds well over 1000 strong, it was a night to remember.

All of the attractions merely set the stage for the most important element of the celebration:  Joining in with so many others to be part of a greater whole.  There was a palpable sense of community and belonging, and a strong identification with NCSY’s mission.  And the energy!  There were many moments where it seemed like the sound and commotion would carry over the Atlantic even without the benefit of the live feed on the internet.  It was an incredible night and a great way to transition from Tisha B’Av to the days beyond.

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It always seems somewhat improper to refer to Tisha B’Av as a highlight of the summer.  So it is important to clarify that we don’t mean to suggest that we look forward to or enjoy the day in any regular sense.  Nevertheless, Tisha B’Av always provides a depth and quality of experience that is unsurpassed in anything else we do all summer.

The night program has a particularly unique feel, including kinnot, singing, and a variety of shiurim and discussions providing insight into the day.  For the long morning session, there were two tracks this year.  In the Beit Medrash, each kinah was preceded by words from Rabbeim, Roshei Yeshiva, and senior Madrichim.  These narrations were extremely meaningful themselves, and certainly gave the kinnot a very strong boost.  Outside the Beit Medrash, there was a group saying fewer kinnot with more explanation.  Their morning included some video presentations and time for open discussion and reflections from NCSYers.

Of course, for most, Tisha B’Av 5772 will be long remembered for the last hour of the fast.  It was then that we reached the plaza of the Kotel and sat and sang until the sun set.  As always, the kumsitz drew crowds of spectators and participants numbering in the many hundreds.  It was truly momentous, and allowed our NCSYers to fully appreciate the places we spend our summer.

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While this Shabbat was marked by a unique tone appropriate for the moments before Tisha B’Av, Shabat Chazon still carried all of the hallmarks of the incredible Shabbat experience on NCSY Kollel.  If anything, the Tisha B’Av influence served to focus the amazing Ruach, and make to something even more conducive for introspection and growth.

Our Shabbat was greatly enhanced by the opportunity to hear words of chizuk from many NCSYers, Rabbi Lebowitz, Rabbi Kaminetsky, and Rabbi Gordon (who was our “Scholar in Residence” for the weekend).  There were also special chaburas shortly before the onset of the fast that further helped to set the proper mood.  But the Shabbat was largely built on a final opportunity to learn from Rav Schachter.  Rav Schachter led a lively and enlightening question and answer session, joined some shiurim for a more personal interaction at the seuda, and was the honoree at a special Kiddush dedicated to his continued health and leadership.

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Today’s Chabura spotlight is on Moshe Watson’s chabura. Watson is spending his 3^rd summer on NCSY Kollel, all as staff. Moshe started on the Kollel in the prestigious capacity as the office guy and it is his second summer as a madrich. He is originally from Teaneck, NJ, and his family currently resides in Beit Shemesh.

The NCSYers in Moshe’s chabura are Gaby Barishansky (Teaneck, NJ), Shalom Goldscheider (Mt Kisco, NY), Sammy Rauch (Lawrence, NY), Sammy Schultz (Los Angeles, CA) and Eli Stahler (Lawrence, NY).

Moshe’s chaburas are focusing on variety of topics. In the last few weeks the chabura focused on the causes of the destruction of the Batei Mikdash in Jerusalem. Prior to that, Moshe’s chabura spent timre focusing on the development and history of Torah Shebaal Peeh, our oral tradition.

Additionally, at the beginning of each chabura, Moshe begins with a “Random Rambam.” The “Random Rambam” is truly random. Each day begins with well known teachings of The Rambam from his magna opus, The Mishna Torah.