Wednesday night, the Kollel Beis Medrash experienced on of the most memorable nights in NCSY Kollel history!!!

During night Seder, Nachum Segal and his team recorded an unprecedented episode of their renowned show, JM in the AM, from the corner of our Kollel Beis Medrash.  Many Rebbeim, Administrators, and NCSYers were interviewed, and the conversation focused on the experience of Kollel.  The crew was amazed at the Kol Torah of the Beis Medrash and the affect the program was clearly having on so many Jewish teenage boys.

The real excitement of the night, however, took place later in the evening.  After maariv, (and of course, after our regular, mandatory programming came to a close) the Beis Medrash was packed for an incredibly special and moving Torah writing ceremony.  This was the prelude to the traditional Hachnasas Sefer Torah that highlighted Thursday’s Yom NCSY.  That Torah made it’s way to our late night Beis Medrash, and was greeted by the greatest of NCSY Kollel spirit and camaraderie.  This torah holds a special place in our hearts (and will in fact be housed in our Beis Medrash for the duration of the summer).  It is dedicated by Marilyn and David Cutler in memory of David’s parents.Representatives of our Roshei Yeshiva, staff, and NCSYers all wrote letters, along with a young man from TJJ.  It was an unforgettable night, as NCSYers locked arm in arm danced and sang the Torah into and out of the Beit Medrash, a moving scene that will hopefully last a lifetime.

To watch video from this amazing event, check out our YouTube page!

It is true that big things come in small packages, both in the case of material gifts and more spiritual undertakings.  But after a phenomenal first full week on the NCSY Summer Kollel, it might be time to amend the adage a bit.  “Big things also come in small packages.”  Because big things can often be found in some pretty big packages too.

“Big” is an apt theme to apply to the week that was.  It seemed that the vast majority of our major events were supersized.  Our first Shabbos together in Beit Meir was a perfect example of something great made greater by increasing the magnitude and scope.  There was nothing extraordinary on the written schedule, and not much to distinguish our roster of activities from any Shabbos plans anywhere.  Food, some singing, a dvar torah or two and sleep.  But Shabbos on the NCSY Kollel is anything but ordinary.  It is a true celebration of all things holy and good, and the NCSY Kollel exuberance and spirit were on full display.  The energy created from so many people sharing a focus and passion is overwhelming.  It was hard to believe it was only the first Shabbos and the 5^th day we had together.

Sunday was huge as well.  Here the excitement was ramped up due to our night excursion to Yamit 2000- one of Israel’s largest water parks.  The facility was rented for our exclusive use, and it took all of the water park to contain the enthusiasm and liveliness of NCSY Kollel.  Boys will be boys, and about 50 NCSYers remained oblivious to water slides and wave pools while playing on the park’s beautiful full basketball courts and soccer fields.  Regardless of recreation choice, it was an incredible night of fun and bonding.  1200 slices of pizza (150 pies!) enhanced the experience for everyone.  Big time.

It was going to take a strong tiyul effort to stand up to the kind of programming we were becoming used to in Beit Meir.  “Strong” certainly is a good way to describe our Eilat journey.  Early morning was spent scaling the mighty desert mountains in Eilat and at Masada.  There is a certain powerful effect that comes from standing atop the tallest of mountains, all the more so when combined with the satisfaction of having climbed that mountain.  This mindset carried through the time spent on the beautiful and expansive waters of the Red Sea for water sports and swimming.  These tiyulim, and especially the time spent down south with the views and heights, evoke the biggest of thoughts and the most ambitious of dreams.  Our tour schedule is designed with multiple goals in mind.  Without any doubt, they foster an incredible love of the land, and introduce the NCSYers to a perspective of Eretz Yisroel that inspires and empowers.  The trips provide a much needed break from the rigor of our learning schedule and allow the NCSYers to have the kinds of outdoor adventures that have defined summer vacation for teens for ages.  But it is important to remember that some of our tiyul destinations also promote “big” thinking and “big” experiences.

It is hard to describe what Wednesday was like in Beit Meir, but it definitely was a “big” day.  We were the hosts for a variety of groups and delegations throughout the day.  Some of them were large in their own right, and others gave us the opportunity to recognize some of our own greatness and connections to greater wholes.  First, we were a prime destination for the NCSY staff delegation touring Israel and NCSY Summer Programs.  30 NCSY Directors and staffers are visiting all of the programs and were absolutely blown away by the power of NCSY Kollel.  We in turn were reminded of the depth and breadth of the North American Jewish community and our connection to it.  This feeling was reinforced by our first inter-camp experience in hosting two buses of young men from NCSY’s TJJ program.  The TJJers joined us in the Beis Medrash and on the courts (where our hospitality did not extend so far and the NCSY Kollel All-Stars recorded their first “big” win).  Our group is already far and away the biggest program and Israel, but can always grow with a few more guests and friends!

And perhaps this is why we were so excited and moved by the historic recording of Nachum Segal’s JM in the AM radio show, right in the corner of our own Beis Medrash.  Yes, it was “BigTallRadio” (@TallJewishRadio), but it was bigger than that.  The broadcast was a physical expression of what we try to express on a regular basis to our NCSYers.  The torah that we learn projects outward, and an an ever expanding way.  Even before we benefited from the great work of Nachum Segal and his staff, and sans the technical equipment and internet streams, we have been “broadcasting” NCSY Kollel to a wider audience for two decades.

If you have not yet listened to this very unique radio program, please enjoy the following link: http://www.nachumsegal.com/archive-jm-in-the-am/

And we were just getting warmed up.  After maariv, (and of course, after our regular, mandatory programming came to a close) the Beis Medrash was packed for an incredibly special and moving Torah writing ceremony.  This was the prelude to the traditional Hachnasas Sefer Torah that highlighted Thursday’s Yom NCSY.  That Torah made it’s way to our late night Beis Medrash, and was greeted by the greatest of NCSY Kollel spirit and camaraderie.  This torah holds a special place in our hearts (and will in fact be housed in our Beis Medrash for the duration of the summer).  It is dedicated by Marilyn and David Cutler in memory of David’s parents.  David of course is our beloved Director of Summer Programs and someone who is directly responsible for the great accomplishments of NCSY Kollel.  He has been a mainstay in our Beis Medrash for years and this project was exceptionally dear to all of us.  Representatives of our Roshei Yeshiva, staff, and NCSYers all wrote letters, along with a young man from TJJ.  It was an unforgettable night.

There was no let up on Thursday.  It was on to Yom NCSY, the single biggest night of celebration we have all summer.  This year’s festivities were held on the grounds of Bar Ilan University, and hosted over 1200 NCSYers and another 800 guests and friends.  It featured Benny Friedman, Shlomo Katz, Israel’s Minister of Education Naftali Bennet, and Miryam Peretz.  But the real stars of the evening were the NCSYers themselves, who were the main focus and exemplified strength in numbers.  It was an honor to participate and an inspiration to see.  Our NCSYers are great on their own and even greater and bigger when they take the stage with hundreds of their peers.

And here’s something truly special:  We probably have not yet identified what was the real highlight for many of us.  Because the backdrop of all of this was the beginning of our regular schedule.  Learning.  Shiurim.  Ball.  Buzzer Beaters.  Conversations.  Relationships.  The “Big” events never overwhelmed or overshadowed any of this.  They actually facilitate greater focus on the elements of NCSY Kollel that have the greatest meaning and impact.

We are now headed to our first Free Weekend, including an incredible Shabbaton offering at Yeshivat HaKotel in the Old City of Yerushalayim.  The NCSYers have earned a rest, and will be gearing up for another big week to come.

As always, we welcome all feedback and comments.

Wishing you the best of Shabbos

Moshe Benovitz

Although this is Yitzie Scheinman’s first summer as a Madrich on NCSY Kollel, it is his fifth consecutive summer on the program, having come every year since 10^th grade. Yitzie lives in Woodmere, NY, and he attended DRS, Yeshivat Shaalvim for two years, and is set to fully begin YU in the fall after a stint in YU’s Post Pesach Program. Yitzie has enjoyed the program as a camper, CIT, and a staff member, and he is best known for his yearly goalie matchups with his older brother and his devastating triple-overtime championship hockey loss in his 3^rd year. In addition to being a Madrich, he also helps out his brother Dani with running the program’s social media.

Yitzie’s incredible chaburah consists of 5 amazing post-10^th graders: Jesse Felder from Lawrence, NY (DRS); Justin Plotsker from West Hempstead, NY (MTA); Noach Solomson from Silver Spring, MD (Berman HA); Daniel Trapunsky from Hewlett, NY (MAY); and Daniel Weiss from Woodmere, NY (DRS). The different personalities of the Chaburah have blended to create a unique and awesome Chaburah dynamic, and the Chaburah members are quickly getting closer both in and out of Chaburahs.

This summer, Yitzie’s Chaburah is discussing sugyas from the book “Headlines” by Dovid Lichtenstein. The book deals with halachic questions stemming from current events and presents an interesting perspective on how various Gemaras and arguments in the Rishonim and Achronim can be adapted to address modern day issues, such as shooting down hijacked airplanes or downloading programs without permission. When the Chaburah isn’t spending time discussing these riveting topics, they can often be found chilling or competing in games like Heads Up, Pictionary, or the classic Kollel favorite, Face Off.

Yitzie’s Chaburah has shown amazing progress and growth thus far, and they are looking forward to an amazing summer of continued success BE”H.

Tonight, NCSY Kollel experienced a night seder like none it had ever experienced before, as the incredible Nachum Segal Network recorded JM in the AM from our Beis Medrash in Beit Meir.  Nachum Segal and his amazing team set up shop in the corner of the Beis Medrash, and they recorded what will undoubtedly be a very unique edition of their world-famous radio show.

The sound of Kollel’s incomparable night seder learning ringing in the background, Nachum interviewed everyone from Rabbi Benovitz and Rav Sobolofsky to David Cutler and other NCSY executives, and even a few of our very own NCSYers.  The show featured discussions about the amazing experiences of various NCSY Summer Programs like Kollel, Michlelet, and TJJ, and at the end of it all, Nachum and his team got to experience the incredible sight of the staff and NCSYers singing and dancing as the Sefer Torah for Yom NCSY’s Hachnasas Sefer Torah was completed.

We are extremely thankful for the privilege of hosting Nachum and the JM in the AM broadcast, and we can’t wait for it to air tomorrow morning at 6am EST on the Nachum Segal Network, 91.1 FM!

Asher Becker is spending his 9th summer on the NCSY Summer Kollel.  Hailing from Elizabeth, NJ, he attended JEC for high school, followed by two years at Yeshivat Shaalvim, three years at Yeshiva University, and is now in the RIETS Semicha Program at YU. This summer, Asher’s Chaburas is focusing on various issues of contemporary halcha and how they relate to the modern society of the world in which we live.

 

Allen Fagin visited the Kollel today and gave the staff a lecture on responsibility and leadership.

Mr. Allen Fagin (above) leading staff training, and below (R) with his grandson, Madrich Josh Fagin (L)

It was really great to see the expansion of the Kollel to such high numbers, to see the excitement flowing through the beis medrash, and most of all to be able to hear an excellent Chaburah given by my own grandson, Josh.
–Allen Fagin

Mr. Allen Fagin is the Executive Vice President and Chief Professional Officer of the OU. Mr. Fagin has also served as chairman of the OU’s Youth Commission, which supervises the work of NCSY. Prior to that Mr. Fagin served as chairman of the Seif Jewish Learning Initiative on Campuses (JLIC).

Introducing the NCSY Kollel 2016 Basketball League Teams:

What an amazing Tiyul day today was!

Early departures may be hard at times, but they do mean that you will get the most of your day. And that we certainly did.  Tuesday was packed from start to finish. The first trip option, pulling out from Beit Meir at midnight and driving through the night, arrived at Har Shlomo on Israel’s Southern tip when it was still dark. And in the dark we began our 2000 foot ascent to the peak of the mountain.

As we climbed, the difficulty increased and the sky got brighter and brighter. The NCSYers were incredible, bravely climbing and pushing farther and farther up the mountain. We made it to the top just in time for sunrise, enabling us to daven vatikin (the optimal time for davening) as we watched the sun climb over the distant mountains. This breathtaking view of the Red Sea and the Sinai Desert is one of the only vantage points in the world where one can view four countries at once (Israel, of course, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt). Now that the sun was out, and the temperature neared 100 degrees, the descent was even more challenging, but with the help and encouragement of the entire group “no man was left behind”.

Another option was to climb Masada for vatikin. This trip also got an early start to the day so as to make it to the top in time for sunrise. It was a great trek up the mountain and we did in fact make it in time. We toured the various building on top after davening and then hiked back down the snake path.

At the end of the challenging and tiring hikes, there was no better place to relax and cool off than a double-decker boat sailing upon the Red Sea. So off to sea we went.  All of the trips joined together by the port of Eilat where we set sail on and drifted off into the Red Sea.  Each NCSYer was offered the thrilling opportunity to take a ride on a “banana” boat or an “aboov” tube.  Meanwhile other NCSYers took the opportunity to jump off the boat and take a refreshing dip in the beautiful sea. For those who wanted to spend their afternoon relaxing, there was also many options to choose from. Lunch was served inside the cabin, and lounge chairs were available on the decks for relaxing.  The party got going on the upper deck of both boats, where we played an intense game of musical chairs, and danced to some awesome music.  Ultimately, the game came down to a 3-way tie between Yosef Mehlman, Nathan Peyman, and Madrich Judah Cohen.  To settle the tie, the three competed in a “dance-off” in which Nathan Peyman’s moves proved too much for his opponents.

Some of the NCSYers continued their day at a ropes course. The course was over 50 feet in the air and we were challenged to make it through all of the obstacles and make to the end. Ropes, bicycles, and zip lines are some of the things we had to work with while up in the air. After eating dinner in Eilat we all headed back to Kollel after an amazing day.  Exhausted and still buzzing from the excitement of the day, NCSYers got too bed early so as to be refreshed for the rest of the packed week that lies ahead.

Rabbi Reuven Leibowitz joins the Kollel Beis Medrash for the afternoon-seder Chaburahs and is discussing new NCSY opportunities with the Madrichim for this upcoming year.

In the picture: Rabbi Leibowitz (L), Ben Zion Feld and Meir Finkelstein (R).

“The staff at the Kollel really goes above and beyond for each teen. Whether in the Beis or on the courts it really is impressive to see.” — Rabbi Reuven Leibowitz

Rabbi Reuven Leibowitz of Chicago is the Teaneck Director for NCSY. He is currently working hard to broaden the Teaneck NCSY programing to teenagers from all different backgrounds.

Yet another incredible day filled with fun has gone by on NCSY Kollel!!

To begin the day, Kollel continued its morning routine, hearing Halacha Shiur from Rav Schachter, and attending morning Seder and morning Shiur with their Rebbeim.

Following Shiur, NCSYers experienced their first full afternoon schedule.  For the first time, they partook in full length Chaburas, enjoying a full hour with their Madrichim and fellow Chaburah members.  The leagues finally began to take shape on the courts as well.  With both basketball and hockey games on schedule today, the competitive feel of the courts, as well as the immeasurable Middos, were on full display.

But the main excitement of the day came at night.  Following leagues, Kollel enjoyed a night activity at an incredible water park!!! Renting out the entire park just for Kollel, the guys enjoyed amazing water slides, lazy rivers, and pools to chill in with their friends and Madrichim.  For those that weren’t feeling the water, there were even basketball courts and soccer fields where pickup games were played throughout the evening.  Between slides, Kollel was treated to pizza for dinner.  It was an awesome night getting drenched in a water park to cap off an exciting day of learning!

With a packed week ahead, Kollel looks forward to many more exciting activities to come in following days, all leading up to the amazing Yom NCSY on Thursday night.  We can’t wait!!