Click here to listen to Rav Lebowitz’s Shiur

Click here to listen to Rav Twersky’s shiur

Click here to listen to Rav Kaminetsky’s shiur

An intense week of learning and Tisha B’Av preparation reached a crescendo with Thursday’s events.

Many of the regular shiurim, including the first night of the new night shiurim, focused on Tisha B’Av and how we can best relate to the mourning for the Beit HaMikdash.  In addition, there was a most appropriate mini-tiyul option that toured the moving Har Herzl- Israel’s official military cemetery.  There is no better place to understand recent Jewish history and to reflect on the sacrifices and trials that dot our past.

Our weekly Thursday night mishmar was particularly well attended and impactful.  It was highlighted by a siyum made by a group of NCSYers under the direction of Josh Weinberg who have been studying Masechet Tamid since the start of the summer.  While this has been the summer of the siyum on NCSY Kollel, this one was extra special as it celebrated an accomplishment achieved entirely on the program itself.

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

What are the odds?  No 5-Overtime games in 19 years of NCSY Kollel leagues, and then 2 in a span of 3 days!  This was an absolute thriller, as Lone Silver Axe narrowly prevailed after 5 extra sessions.

Wednesday was also the final day of the first session of night shiurim.  Many of the first half options will be continuing due to popular demand, with some new choices rounding out the slate.  The night shiurim have been a great thus far, and should continue to be a huge lift to the entire program.

Sushi night at Yummy’s was hit, and the canteen proved to be a hot spot for fun and bonding, even without meat offerings.

We were privileged to host Rabbi Yitzchak Etshalom for a late night optional shiur.  Rabbi Etshalom is a renowned expert in Tanach and wowed a large crowd of NCSYers with a fantastic shiur and analysis.

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

Tuesday was trip day.  Of course, with the various restrictions of the 9 Days, and also with the sharp educational focus we try to maintain throughout this week, it wasn’t going to be an ordinary NCSY Kollel tiyul.  This week’s outings focused on chessed, and tried to combine experiential volunteering activities with some fun and excitement.  As usual, our busses headed in all different direction to provide a wide range of opportunities.  There were groups working in Jerusalem soup kitchens, and others working in the fields to pick onions for Project Leket.  We visited army bases and delivered ices to soldiers laboring in the summer heat.  There was an interactive program with some Israeli teens from the north and an effort to clean up some littered beaches near Acco.  A small group was directed in the art of medical clowning, and spent some time bringing cheer to patients at Shaarei Tzedek hospital.  This last group was so successful that we have already booked more slots for the rest of the summer to accommodate the high number of NCSYers interested in giving it a try.

That was only one half of a fantastic day.  Back on campus in Beit Meir we enjoyed our annual Leil Iyun- an night of learning dedicated to a particular timely theme.  This year’s shiurim dealt with the beauty of Torah and the ways that Torah makes our lives and behavior more beautiful.  Links to many of the shiurim will be available on the blog, and a more detailed description will be included in the weekly e-mail report.

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

There were some incredible highs on Monday, both in learning and on the courts.

Our basketball and hockey intramurals roared into the heart of the schedule, and intense battles for playoff positioning have begun.  The leagues have been extremely competitive, with the vast majority of teams hovering somewhere near the middle of the pack.  That healthy parity was most clearly on display in an NCSY Kollel instant classic between Mivakshei HaShem and Shnitzel Klippings (I don’t name them, I just report on them).  Mivakshei entered the game with an undefeated record, while Shnitzel was only a step behind at the top of the standings.  The game was fiercely contended and it took 5 (!) overtimes for Mivakshei to prevail- on a buzzer beater no less!  This was the longest game in NCSY Kollel history, but only tied for the longest game this week (see Wednesday’s post).

In addition to the robust lineup of regular shiurim, Monday was the first in a strong series of optional late night learning opportunities.  Rav Doni Marcus offered in optional shiur to a standing room only crowd.  It was hard to determine which was more inspiring- the sight of so many NCSYers learning late at night during their free time, or Rav Doni’s words themselves.

And while the mind was treated to a great talk, the body was feasting on a special canteen delivery of Pizza Hut.  It was one of the busiest nights of the year at Yummy’s as the allure of such a world renowned brand was hard to resist.

Sunday kicked off the middle week of the summer.  It was also the first day back from the 2^nd and final free weekend, including a fantastic shabbaton option at Yeshivat Har Etzion.

Sunday was also our third and last day of hosting our friends from TJJ Ambassadors. That program was capped off with stirring words from one of their head madrichim, Rabbi Michael Hoenig.  We also heard an update on the current political scene from Dr. David Luchins.

The sports break was enhanced by some special new tournaments, and there was also a mini-Tiyul option to the kever of Shmuel HaNavi and the Jerusalem neighborhood of Ramot.  During the 9 days, with swimming not an option, we try to supplement with additional mini-tiyulim and non-league sports options.

All of this was a backdrop to the increased preparation and awareness for the 9 days and Tisha B’Av.  Even with plenty of exciting diversions, there was an unmistakable shift in tone and atmosphere, in accordance with the laws and spirit of the time period.

Today’s Chabura spotlight is on Mayer Simcha Stromer’s chabura.

Mayer Simcha is spending his 5th summer on NCSY Kollel. He was previously on Kollel as an NCSYer in 2008 and 2009 and has been on staff in previous summers as a jr. madrich and on sports staff.  He is from Teacneck, NJ.
The NCSYers in Stromer’s chabura are Abba Szydlo(Suffern, NY), Shimmy Savitsky(Woodmere, NY), Alex Kupchik(West Hempstead, NY), Avi Weingarten(Woodmere, NY), Aleck Zimbalist(Merion Station, PA), and Shlomo Stark(Rannan, Israel).
Mayer Simcha’s chaburas are focusing this week on interpersonal relationships. He tries to teach his NCSYers how to analyze the texts of the classic commentaries and the practical application of halacha. As opposed to just going through the source sheets, Mayer Simcha helps his NCSYers in personal growth both within the realm of learning Torah and everyday life.

Every one of Mayer Simcha’s chaburas starts with the NCSYers analyzing a sports quote for a quick minute or two. The first one of the summer was “Treat a person as he is, and he will remain as he is. Treat him as he could be, and he will become what he should be.” – Jimmy Johnson (“ex-football coach of the Dallas Cowboys” Alex exclaimed in chaburas).

Today’s Chabura spotlight is on ­­­Alex Gipsman’s chabura.

Alex is spending his 1^st summer on NCSY Kollel. He previously worked at Camp Heller and Camp Morasha. He is from San Diego, CA.

The NCSYers in Alex’s chabura are Shaya Kestenbaum(Bergenfield,NJ),  EJ Ehrlich(Staten Island, NY), Shmuel Sheinfil(Teacneck, NJ), Menachem Rozner(Suffern, NY), and Jeremy Tabak(North Woodmere, NY).

Alex’s chaburas are focusing on halachic topics such as treating other people with proper respect and speaking nicely to others. The first 50 minutes of each chabura focus on the halachic aspects of each mitzvah, and the last 20 minutes are dedicated to discussing each mitzvah on a more philosophical/mussar level.

As a side note, this chabura ranks towards the top in terms of basketball talent; they are ready to take on any other chabura in Kollel!