R’ Simon Taylor, director of TJJ bus six, came to spend an afternoon at the Kollel. He led his Ncsyers in a game against the Kollel all-stars, followed by a staff training session for the Kollel staff.

“At Ncsy kollel, they learn hard and play hard. But above all, the Kol Torah is booming.” — Simon Taylor

Ben Zion is enjoying his sixth summer on NCSY Kollel, and his second as a Madrich. He is from Teaneck, New Jersey and attended MTA. After High School, Ben Zion spent two years in Kerem B’Yavneh and just completed his first year in YU.

The Chaburah consists of six awesome NCSYers: Zeve Kornwasser and Jonathan Felman are both from Teaneck, NJ and attend MTA. Jonah Tripp is the Chaburah’s “out-of-towner” hailing from Miami while attending Weinbaum Yeshiva. Yoni Sapadin is from Englewood, NJ and will be attending TABC next after year, spending his first two years of High School in SAR. Last but not least are the two Five Towns, NY representatives from DRS, Avi Greenberg and Daniel Goldstein. There is really great camaraderie amongst these six NCSYers and the friendships that have already been built are really very special. Together, the Chaburah gels as a unit in growing in learning, as well as growing as a Chevra.

Ben Zion’s Chaburah is focused on learning different Sugyos throughout Gemara on a more “in-depth” level, with a focus on Mitzvos that appear daily. Additionally, the Chaburah usually spends the first 10-15 minutes engaged in the study of the first Perek of Pirkei Avos. They have spent time on the Halacha and Hashkafa behind Mitzvos such as Tefillah, Tefilin, Tzitzis, and Shabbos. Better understanding of these mitzvos that they perform so often will hopefully enrich the religious lives of all of the members of the Chaburah. Ben Zion and his NCSYers are looking forward to continued growth together through the remainder of the summer and cannot wait for the amazing times that lie ahead.

Check out some highlights of the last week on NCSY Kollel in this recap video!!!

There are many elements that contribute to the wonderful experience of NCSY Kollel.  Certainly the programming, both in and out of the Beis Medrash, provides a never ending string of highs and generates energy and productivity.  There are peer relationships and bonding opportunities that have identified successful summer programs for generations.  The land of Israel is more than a backdrop and inspiring vista.  It is central to everything we do over the summer and woven into all aspects of the program.  Of course, the learning itself activates real religious growth, and makes an indelible impression on the NCSYers.

But above all, NCSY Kollel is about role models.  Our program has always been madrich-centric, and designed to allow these outstanding collegiates maximum exposure and occasions to influence NCSYers through the example that they set.  This is a constant for us.  It is a defining feature of our davening and learning, and carries through from basketball to hockey and from the dorm to the chader ochel to the most distant tiyulim.

It also is manifested in layers of staffing and varieties of access to the modeling.  It really begins at the very top, and this week was a showcase of those particular opportunities.  Wednesday was another day for the NCSY Kollel annals.   Through a remarkable alignment of schedules, we were blessed with the presence and teaching of four Roshei Yeshiva, fully invested and focused on our NCSYers.  Rav Sobolofsky was as steady as ever and in the middle of his six way stay.  It was Rav Schachter’s last day with us and also Rav Mayer Twersky’s first.  And it was the second of a 2 day scholar in residency for Rav Yonasan Sacks.  While each offered a full complement of shiurim and guidance, there was not any sense of redundancy or anything superfluous.  It was just a greater incidence of esteemed leadership and outstanding teaching.

To be sure, the NCSYers respond to the Roshei Yeshiva in very different ways.  Some are probably hardly aware that they are sharing a Beis Medrash with us, and there might be some who would struggle to idenitfy who is who.  Many others have significant direct interaction with the Roshei Yeshiva, in shiurim, while asking questions, and in small groups of chavrusas.   In all cases, the impact is high.  The Roshei Yeshiva set a tone and set the ultimate example for our NCSYers and staff.  They guide the administration of the program, and raise the level of our Beis Medrash each and every day.

It cannot be overstated how important their role is.  Morning halacha shiur is a good example.  This 5 minute post-Shacharis talk is our first formal learning of the day.  Whether or not an NCSYer can quote chapter and verse from these shiurim, they are affected by the experience of joining as a single program and listening to the explanations and direction of true Jewish leaders.

The special two days with Rav Sacks was a first time addition for us.  He worked with NCSYers and staff almost around the clock during his visit.  He delivered carefully focused shiurim to groups of NCSYers in shiur and chabura, and also addressed the staff multiple times.  Perhaps most gratifying was his time spent on Tuesday night. Different night chavrusas (almost always staff and NCSYer duos) spent a few minutes at a time with Rav Sacks in an informal but unforgettable way.  It was a prime example of how the NCSY Kollel learning is designed to escape any bubble or limitations and connect to a greater world of mesorah and scholarship.

Most of our summer we “make do” with only two Roshei Yeshiva.  But the opportunity to learn with four on Wednesday served to highlight their role on the program and helped impress on the NCSYers the world class opportunity they are being afforded.

So it was most appropriate that on Wednesday we ran our first of two special night learning programs of the summer.  This first “Leil Iyun” was actually dedicated to the theme of “The Why and How of the Rebbe-Talmid Relationship.”  The program consisted of two concurrent panel discussions.  The first, moderated and introduced by Rabbi Yisroel Kaminetsky, was a reprise of successful efforts in years past, and had quickly evolved into another NCSY Kollel classic.  It featured Rav Mendel Blachman and Rav Moshe Taragin in conversation and working to answer a series of questions on the evening’s theme.  Their erudition and rapport was phenomenal.  Meanwhile, a second panel was presented with Rav Yosef Bronfeld and Rav Mordechai Burg.  This discussion was more interactive and approachable, but dealt with similar topics.  The panels addressed issues such as the importance of having a rebbe, the need for some degree of independence and critical thinking when interacting with rabbinic leadership, and the criteria by which we determine a true rebbe on both the personal and communal levels.  The discussions were lively and enlightening, but the alignment of theme and delivery system was probably most inspiring.  Here were Rabbeim describing the need for mentors and guidance while serving as mentors and guides in the most remarkable of ways.  It’s hard to remember a bigger buzz and sense of excitement in the Beis Medrash than there was before this event.  NCSYers arrived early and crowded the dais, looking for “courtside” seats as if they were at the Super Bowl or a movie premier.  Again, it was a manifestation of the power in the Rebbe-Talmid relationship while discussing the Rebbe-Talmid relationship.

One of the unique features of the evening was the time devoted to personal reflections from the speakers on their own experiences with their Rabbeim. These memories and descriptions made the discussion more vivid and relevant to the NCSYers.

The program concluded with parting remarks from Rav Schachter.  His powerful and emotional presentation provided a perfect climax to both the evening’s learning and to Rav Schachter’s own stay on the NCSY Kollel.

We were then granted the opportunity to continue one of the grand traditions of our summers.  Rav Schachter was slowly danced out of the Beis Medrash surrounded by throngs of NCSYers.  It is hard to describe this scene and how well it represents so much of the education we endeavor to provide.

But a case can be made that even more significant role modeling takes place with our madrichim and other staffers.  They themselves are given every resource and training to allow them to be as positive influence as possible.  This summer we have invested even more time and energy into our staff training program, which now includes sessions, on average, four days a week.  This week alone our staff heard from Rav Sacks, Rav Kaminetsky, International Director of NCSY Rav Micah Greenland, and Rabbi Ari Rockoff (NCSY Director of Professional Development).  The result of these efforts is a team of accomplished and prepared leaders, poised to achieve great educational results in the summer and beyond.

The advisors consistently inspire the NCSYers.  Naturally, they do this with words and formal (or informal) teaching, but even more so in action and in deed.  NCSYers emulate their madrichim when they play ball and when they bentsch.  They learn how to speak and how to interact with others. They follow an example and see not only how to both enjoy blessing and opportunity but how to deal with adversity and frustration too.  And luckily, these learning chances continue long after we head home at summer’s end.

While these interactions were the dominant theme of our week, there were numerous other highlights as well.  We experienced a meaningful fast on 17 Tamuz.  There was an option to join in a special interaction with some TJJ NCSYers on the roof of Aish HaTorah in the Old City at the end of the fast, and a slew of night activity choices for later that night as well.  Both our mini-tiyul schedule and our popular sports leagues really hit a higher gear this week and provided thrills and excitement.  And we are nearing the end of the weekly review without really mentioning the 3 day tiyul to the north that we are in the middle of enjoying.  It has been an incredible trip so far, with typical variety of activities and incredible programming.

We are now gearing up for the Shabbos component of that tiyul in the holy and enchanting city of Tzefat.  This should be another chance to broaden perspective and to reach the NCSYers in a meaningful way.  We can’t wait for it to begin.

While Tzefat sits atop a tall mountain, towering over the surrounding areas, it is safe to say that this Shabbos we will continue to look up.  It’s the nature of the program, and the goal of what we do.

Wishing you an uplifting Shabbos

Moshe Benovitz

Rabbi Derek Gorman Assiciate Director West Coast NCSY, TJJ Bus #7 Head comes to Kollel for an inspiring night in which Kollel and TJJ joined together to complete the writing of a Sefer Torah.

Rabbi Derek Gorman dances along with Kollel and TJJ as a member of TJJ writes one of the final letters of the Sefer Torah.

On walking into the Kollel Bais Midrash: “There’s a kol Torah. There are smiles. As a poshiter yid that’s what I want to see.” — Rabbi Derek Gorman

In an unprecedented and amazing turn of events, Kollel had the incredible zechus of hosting four different Roshei Yeshiva today as we continued our stretch of regularly-scheduled days.

After another strong morning of learning and shiur, the staff had the privilege of participating in a lunchtime staff training with HaRav Yonasan Sacks shlita, the Rosh Yeshiva of Landers College for Men.  Many morning shiurim and chaburahs also got the chance to hear from Rav Sacks, and the entire Kollel thanks him for an inspirational day of learning and growth.

Another exciting sports day culminated in one of the most exciting night seders of the summer, our first Leil Iyun.  NCSYers got the unique opportunity to choose from panels made up of Rav Blachman and Rav Taragin or Rav Burg and Rav Bronfeld to hear discussions on the topic of “The Rebbe-Talmid Relationship”.  At the end of it all, Kollel heard closing remarks from HaRav Schachter shlita and joined together to dance him out of the Beis Medrash as we bid him farewell.  We have incredible Hakaras Hatov for the weeks that Rav Schachter spent on the Kollel inspiring us, learning with us, and devoting his time to us, and we wish him a Tzeischem L’shalom as he travels home to America.

Despite Rav Schachter’s departure, however, the Kollel was thrilled today to welcome another amazing Rosh Yeshiva in HaRav Mayer Twersky shlita, another Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshiva University.  Rav Twersky will iy”h be joining us for the rest of the summer, and we can’t wait to experience all of the Torah, inspiration, and growth that he has to offer.

We are hoping to use this amazing day of inspiration as a springboard into what will be an unbelievable 3-day shabbaton in Tzfat starting bright and early at 4 am tomorrow!

Yehuda Avner is a rookie currently in his first year on NCSY Kollel. Yehuda comes to Kollel from Teaneck, NJ, having attended TABC and then Yeshiva Netiv Aryeh for two years. He is now entering his third semester in YU’s Sy Syms School of Business.

The chaburah that Yehuda has the privilege of teaching for an hour a day is compiled of yeshiva league all stars. The chabura contains Jonathan Mehlman (Woodmere), Noah Rosenblum (Beachwood), Simon Kleinman (Valley Stream), Eliyahu Finkelstein (Brooklyn), Daniel Libesman (Merion Station) and Yehuda Neuhoff (Brooklyn).
The Chaburah has already formed a nice bond during the chaburah’s learning hours, but also, more importantly, outside the learning time as well.

Yehuda has had the great opportunity to spend one on one time with everyone in the Chaburah and maintains a connection with each individual. Thusfar, he has found it very enjoyably getting to know each person individually and then watching all of their different personalities blend so well when they are all together.

This summer in Chaburahs, Yehuda’s group is planning to learn about different topics in the category of growth; more specifically, growth through mitzvoth. They will be taking a look at the mitzvoth that we do everyday, seeing why we do them and how we can grow from them. Some of the mitzvoth they have already seen and plan to see include tzizit, teffilfin, why do we daven, gratitude, and respecting our parents. The Chaburah also spends time “chilling” and having Q and A sessions, which Yehuda believes to be equally as important as learning from inside a text.

So far, they have really enjoyed the chaburah time, and hope to continue to have a successful, incredible summer together.

While normal, full-schedule days are hard to come by on Kollel, thanks to the many exciting special activities always taking place, they are certainly some of the most enjoyable, successful days of the summer.

Today was one such day, and it was nothing short of amazing. As everyone is finally settled in to the summer, the NCSYers have gotten into an incredible routine consisting of high level learning and growing as well as exciting sports and activities. After a meaningful fast day yesterday, one might assume the attitude this morning would be one of tiredness and a lack of enthusiasm.  However, the atmosphere on Kollel today proved to be exactly the opposite.  The learning during the morning Seder and Shiurim was second to none. The Chaburahs and Halacha Shiur were informative, fun, and inspirational. The league games were full of competitive intensity, but more importantly, Middos and respect.

Night Seder on Kollel has been getting particularly stronger as the summer progresses.  The Beit Medrash has been thriving late at night, despite the intense heat and the exhaustion one might think it would bring. The number of post-Maariv Chavrusas has been steadily increasing, and the full Beit Medrash at such a late hour is truly a sight to behold.

While there are certainly plenty of special activities still to come before the summer’s end, we can’t wait to simply enjoy the regular days when they present themselves, and hope the success seen in them continues throughout – and beyond – the summer.