As the final day of NCSY Kollel approaches, the end-of-summer festivities began today with a banquet for the entire Kollel at Yehivat Reishit in Beit Shemesh.  After a great morning filled with the enthusiasm of the second to last day of morning shiur and an afternoon of intense playoff games, the entire program boarded the buses and we made our way to Reishit’s beautiful campus.  For over 3 hours, we enjoyed an amazing catered dinner of schwarma, schnitzel, and carved meat.  We got the opportunity to watch the always-nostalgic end-of-the-summer video, and Rabbi Benovitz took some time to express hakaras hatov to many of the Rabbeim and staff members who have done so much for the program with the presentation of a seforim.  The night finally ended with an incredible round of dancing led by none other than Shlomo Katz before making our way back to Beit Meir.

Once back,  Kollel called an audible with night chaburahs, which lasted until nearly 11:00 pm, and that was quickly followed by a host of post-night seder shiurim and chavursas that kept the Beis rocking late into the night.

We are looking forward with both sadness and excitement to our last regular day tomorrow and the final Shabbos that follows!

We are down to the final four in each league after another exhilarating day of Poleyeffs action!!

In the basketball Poleyeffs, the top 3 seeds all made quick work of their opponents en route to spots in the semifinals.  Eye of the Tiger (3) beat Bak at it Again… (6) and The Mehlman (2) beat Ciment Brick Layers (7), both in blowouts, to set up a must-see semifinal matchup.  The Prime Ministers (1) also defeated their opponent, JoSackic (9), with authority, and they will try to dash the hopes of this year’s Cinderella story, Where is Faivish (13), who followed up their first round upset with a win over another higher seed, Wex Marks the Spot (12).

The NIT Tournament is winding down as well, and some may argue that it’s just as intense as the regular Poleyeff bracket.  Day 2 saw a couple of upsets and the stirrings of a good old-fashioned NIT Cinderella run with the advancement of Wounded Warriors (30) over Persins of the Book (22).  They’ll attempt to continue their magical run when they face Golden Horns (23), winners of their game against The Benchwarmers (31).  Yerushalayim, Senter of the World (21) continued their dominance with a victory over The Danish Pastry Shop (29), and they’re set to face Berlin Bralers (24), who knocked out top-seeded Gold-man Saks (17), for a spot in the NIT Championship.

The excitement and intensity of the hockey Poleyeffs was tangible throughout the camp today after two of the four games went to sudden-death overtime, and three of the four games were won by only a goal.  Josh Fagin and Dude (3) took out Loofa (6) 1-0 in OT, and  Jakey Friedman’s Soap Rack (5) fell to Sink (4) 2-0.  Squeegee (2) just got by Commissioner Poleyeff and Tub (10), and the longest game of the day ended in a double-OT 1-0 victory for Shower (1) against Curtain (9).  With all of the top 4 seeds advancing to the semifinals, some of the league’s best talent is sure to be on display tomorrow.

The intensity will certainly be upped tomorrow as teams try to book their spots in the championship games, and stay tuned as we will finally crown a winner for the advanced bracket of the 3-on-3 Tournament!!

Elliot Tanzman, Director of NCSY Summer recruitment and former member of the Kollel himself, visits the Kollel Beis Medrash following his trip with NCSY Euro Ice, schmoozes with many of the Madrichim about their summer and the upcoming plans for NCSY Kollel.

Elliot Tanzman (right) talks with Madrich Shimmy Keller (middle) and CIT Mordechai Abittan (left).

“Exactly 10 years since my Best.Summer.Ever and the Kollel feels the same, smells the same, and inspires the same. To see 224 unique Torah hungry Jews makes all the work and travel we do completely worth it.” – Elliot Tanzman

With the finale of the summer almost in sight, Kollel enjoyed three final amazing full-day tiyuls today.

The first (and earliest to wake-up) was one of the most famous Kollel tiyulim, and a true favorite of the program – Darja.  NCSYers left in the early hours of the morning and experienced one of the hardest and most thrilling hikes of the summer, spanning over 5 hours.

The second trip, known only as the “Food” option, contained just that.  The day began with outings to a cheese factory, where NCSYers made cheese from scratch, and a bread factory to make hot pretzels.  The most exciting part of that tiyul, however, came when the NCSYers got to learn the halachos of shechita firsthand.  They were able to witness the live shechita of a lamb, including the entire process of making it into kosher meat, and they ended by eating the meat fresh off the grill.

The final tiyul option took NCSYers to a variety of places.  The day started at Ben and Jerry’s and moved on to another fan favorite, the Blind Museum.  After that incredible experience, the group split up to go to two different go-karting locations, and they all met up at Halo Teiman for a schwarma dinner.

The day was an incredible way to end off the outstanding line of tiyulim this summer, and it certainly energized us for the final stretch!!

 

Playoffs?!?!  Playoffs?!?!  That’s right, it’s Poleyeff time (named after our Commish, Tzvika Poleyeff) on NCSY Kollel!!  Both the basketball and hockey playoffs are off to an exciting start, with quarterfinal games being played tomorrow.

With the increase in league size to 32 teams this year for basketball, the poleyeff field was expanded to include the top 16 seeds, with the NIT Tournament including the remaining 16.  The first round proved to be an exciting one as 3 higher seeds were upset, including both the 4 and 5 seeds.  The Prime Ministers (1) showed why they’re the top seed in their defeat of Kops and Burglers (16), setting up a second round matchup with JoSackic (9) after their upset of Hirschey Flavored Tabako (8).  The Mehlman (2) beat Jed-Eiz (15) convincingly, and they’re slated to play Ciment Brick Layers (7), who took down Frisch Rabbis (10).  Eye of the Tiger (3) were tested by Shooting Blanks (14), but they ultimately pulled out the victory by 2 points.  They’ll see DOBO (Director of Basketball Operations) Yisroel Benovitz and Bak at it Again… (6), owners of by far the most convincing first round victory, an 82-40 defeat of MiLobCity (11).  The two biggest upsets of the day both came in down-to-the-wire thrillers.  The first saw a blown 13-point lead, a late game-tying 3, and two clutch free throws by Leo Rubin in the final seconds that put Where is Faivish (13) into the next round over Kermit the Fish (4).  The other upset came down to the final moments as Efraim Saks’ halfcourt shot rimmed out at the buzzer to see Wex Marks the Spot (12) advance over Young Wild and Free (5).  The combination of those upsets ensures that there will be a double-digit seed in the semifinals, as the 12 and the 13 will meet in the quarters.

The NIT Tournament also saw its share of first round excitement.  Wounded Warriors (30) beat Sephardi Party (19) in an instant NIT Classic, a 50-49 OT victory, and The Benchwarmers (31) provided the day’s biggest upset in their win over Bennie Sanders (18).  The biggest story of the day however, was Yerushalayim, Senter of the World (21), led by Rabbi Lebowitz, and their 12-point victory over Florida Fishmen (28), despite being down a player and playing the entire game 4 on 5.  Elsewhere in the bracket, The Danish Pastry Shop (29) defeated Two Much Wain (20), and Persins of the Book (22) beat Fied Me Bergers (27) to advance.  Gold-man Saks (17) and Berlin Bralers (24) set up a second round meeting with their victories over “Louk, I am Your Father” (32) and String of Fine Pearls (25), respectively, and Golden Horns (23) beat Blooming Greens (26) to move on.

Finally, the hockey Poleyeffs began with two tight play-in games for the final two quarterfinal spots.  After the first 6 seeds received automatic byes to the Final 8, the bottom 4 teams played for their chance to join the main bracket.  Commish Tzvika Poleyeff and Tub (10) squeezed out a 2-1 win over Hook (7) to set up a matchup with 2-time champion Sam Gelman and Squeegee (2).  Meanwhile, Chaim Portal scored 4 minutes into OT to push Curtain (9) past Drain (8) 1-0 and set up their matchup with the top-seeded Shower (1).  Dude (3) and Loofa (6) will also face off, with Sink (4) and Soap Rack (5) rounding out the field of 8.

Everyone is gearing up for an exciting second round as we get closer to naming league champions!!

Binyamin Kaminetsky is returning for his staggering ninth consecutive summer as an official member of the NCSY Kollel. After two years as an NCSYer, he subsequently served as a member of the Sports Staff and as a Jr. Madrich, before spending five years as a Madrich, including two as a Division Head, and this year filling the role of Assistant Head Madrich. Binyamin is from Woodmere and attended DRS for high school, followed by a two-year stint in Shaalvim and a third year learning in Mir Yeshiva. He then returned to YU and graduated this year with a BA in Computer Science.

 

The guys in BK’s Bura are Josh Beer (Woodmere, DRS), Binyamin Buchbinder (Teaneck, MTA), Jon Gibber (Teaneck, MTA), Meir Jacoby (Teaneck, Heichal HaTorah), Chaim Kazlow (Teaneck, MTA), and Roni Kupchik (West Hempstead, DRS), all returnees looking for even more in their second summer on Kollel. Shortly after the summer began, they welcomed the addition of point-forward Caleb Milobsky (Denver, Cooper) to the crew, which put to rest all challenges to their self-proclaimed title of “best ball Chabura” on Kollel, and immediately livened up the Chabura WhatsApp group.

 

It’s not only on the basketball court that Binyamin’s Chabura excels. These guys don’t play any games in the Beis Medrash either. You can find them every afternoon in the old cubby-room enclave, debating the intricacies of the Sugyos in the 8th Perek of Sanhedrin, including Rodeif and Ba BaMachteres. When learning the Gemaras and Rishonim, much of the emphasis is placed on learning to ask the right questions, and how to use both those questions and some of their answers to flesh out the deeper underpinnings of the Sugya. Often, when one of the guys understands a point or comes up with an answer before the others, he will be the one to explain it to the rest of the Chabura, encouraging a true group learning dynamic. More than just learning what to do, these Gemaras can teach valuable lessons about the value of a life, the severity of committing sins, and how to strike the appropriate balance when the two values come in conflict. On Thursdays, the guys get a taste of BK’s trademark Machshava Chaburas, which pool from an eclectic array of sources to bring out different ways to look at life and oneself a little more deeply. And finally, on Shabbos, the Chabura focuses on Tefillah, specifically on understanding the Shmoneh Esrei. The same model of asking questions and using them to uncover a deeper understanding is used to gain a greater appreciation for this all-important prayer.

 

Binyamin and the boys are have had a rocking summer so far, with even bigger and better things on the horizon as we enter the final stretch of an unbelievable summer.

 

Yesterday, NCSY Kollel experienced Tisha B’av in a way that only they can.  The words of Rabbi Lebowitz and the singing of Rabbi Kaminetsky set the tone as the sun set on an uplifting Shabbos Chazon and the fast began.  The night contained inspirational, Tisha B’av themed optional activities, like a seder on the gemarah of Kamtza and Bar Kamtza and an amazing pitch-black Kumzitz in the annex Beis Medrash.

The morning provided an incredible Kinnos experience, as every Kinnah was introduced by a Rebbe or madrich, giving us the opportunity to truly connect to what we were saying.  Following optional themed movies in the afternoon, the entire Kollel made its way to the Kotel for the “Kumzitz of the World”.  Over a thousand Jews of every background gathered around us as we sang our hearts out right in front of the spot where the Beis Hamikdash once stood.  The kumzitz can only truly be described as inspirational, and the sight was truly one to behold.

Hopefully the inspiration and spiritual uplift that we took from Tisha B’av will propel us through our final week of learning, and we can’t wait to spend next Tisha B’av together in a rebuilt Yerushalayim, b’meheira v’yameinu amen.

Join us this Sunday at the conclusion of Tisha B’Av, as we live-stream from the Kotel NCSY Kollel’s

“Kumzits of the World”

The live-video will begin at approximately 12:00 PM EST
(7:00 PM in Israel)

Follow this link to join us for this amazing event: https://kollel.ncsy.org/live-stream/

It may seem odd, but we are more sure about what our program is, then we are about what our program is called.

Let’s start from the beginning.  The back of our Yom NCSY t-shirts and the heading of our webpage identify us simply as “Kollel.”  But that is clearly shorthand for the critical addition of NCSY to our name.  We are, meaningfully, NCSY Kollel, and that is also likely our most common moniker.  In previous years and earlier correspondence, we have addressed how the NCSY ethos defines our mission and our agenda.

Now, we are clearly a “Kollel” like no other, and that’s where the next potential description comes in.  It’s not just NCSY Kollel, but NCSY Summer Kollel.  This too goes beyond semantics or marketing.  Summer implies a wider array of activities and pursuits, and also accurately indicates an inclination to a less formal style of learning.

So we move purposefully from “Kollel” to “NCSY Kollel” to “NCSY Summer Kollel.”  But we can’t stop there.  Eagle-eyed observers will note our predilection towards using a definite article in announcing the program.  While Michlelet is Michelet and Sulam is Sulam, we are often (mostly self-refrentially) The NCSY Summer Kollel.  Here, it is harder to explain either the evolution or the significance of this word usage, but it might be a nod towards the uniqueness and importance that we attribute to what we aim to provide.

But there is one final potential nomenclature variation.  And like the others, it connects to the heart of our identity and our educational aspirations.  Not just a Kollel, not just NCSY, and not only a Best Summer.  But decidedly, “The NCSY Summer Kollel…In Israel.”

Logistical arrangements would be far simpler in the Catskills, Poconos, or even the Rockies.  Costs would be more affordable in any number of locales in North America.  Travel would be less onerous and creature comforts more readily available if we were closer to home and on more familiar terrain.  And a further discussion point must be considered:  How much of what we do is really Israel dependent at all?  Rabbeim and Roshei Yeshiva are in abundance around the world.  Our Beis Medrash could be replicated and situated on a different campus anywhere.  Is there really a shortage of basketball or hockey courts on campsites in the United States?

Perhaps not.  But when considered as a whole, it is clear that so much of what we do is built around our being in Israel, and that NCSY Summer Kollel in Israel would hardly be the same anywhere else on earth.

It is a top priority of ours to communicate this to the NCSYers and it is a focal point of our education.  But, appreciably, this message is communicated in a variety of ways.  It is not limited to a particular lesson in the classroom, rather it is built into more experiential learning and more comprehensive instruction.

This was the main theme of the week that was.  While there were many individual highlights and special events, there was a clear emphasis on our connection with Israel and love for the land.  It wasn’t a coincidence that these activities were planned for the 9 days leading up to Tisha B’Av, as they served as an excellent preparation for the weekend ahead.

The primary example for all of this was our main tiyul of the week.  The nature of the 9 Days required us to forego water parks and beaches, and instead give attention to different aspects of this beautiful land.  There were four main tiyul options, three centered in Yerushalayim and one journeying to Sederot.

The Sederot trip was very special.  It was the first time we visited Sederot in 4 years.  It is a remarkable city, and the Hesder Yeshiva that served as our host on the trip is a truly inspiring Torah center.  It is unlike any other place we will visit this summer.  Each stop on the tour provided another layer of insight into the heroism and commitment of modern Israeli society.  The NCSYers in Sederot will not soon forget the images of fortified playgrounds, bus stop bomb shelters, Menorahs and Mezzuza Cases made of missile shrapnel, and, above all (literally), building cranes all over the city.  There was nary a hint of panic or despair in all of our interactions, but there was an abundance of love for fellow Jews and the great land.

While more familiar to most of the NCSYers, each of the Yerushalayim trips also provided a wonderful perspective on life in Israel.  The Old City tiyul connected the group to the glorious history of the city in interactive and memorable ways.  We enjoyed guided tours through the mesmerizing Kotel Tunnels, City of David, and the Machon HaMikdash.  Each of these offered meaningful connection to topics and places that are sometimes harder to relate and grasp.

In the newer sections of the city there was plenty of positive activity as well.  We had a fascinating behind the scenes tour of the Knesset, stops in various modern and restored shuls, and a riveting visit to Ammunition Hill.  Here, the emphasis was on present day Israel, and the realities of future life in the Jewish homeland.

The final option was one of our longest recurring trips, and an absolute NCSY Kollel classic.  Rabbi Moshe Gordon led his “History of Torah in Yerushalayim” tour, through the streets and alleys of the new city, Meah Shearim, and the surrounding neighborhoods.  The tiyul combined visits with key leaders and rabbis, and stops at historical places and points of interest.  From Rav Kook’s house to the palatial Belz world headquarters, and from the Mirrer roshei yeshiva to Rav Tzvi Meir Zilberberg, there was a steady stream of uplifting Torah and thought provoking interactions.  This was Israel as the source of Torah scholarship and learning, and evoked a deep appreciation for the Torah accomplishments of modern Israel.

Each and every one of these tours were consistent with the “daily tiyuls” we have been on since arriving here.  Both in Beit Meir and on our frequent trips, there is a constant emphasis on the land and its allure.   This immersion is critical, as there is no single event or lecture that can adequately provide the connection and understanding that we look to provide over six weeks of varied and moving experiences.

The same approach is utilized in the more regular curriculum.  On Thursday night we enjoyed a world class Leil Iyun/Night of Learning, with choices from among 11 different shiurim on the topic of Tisha B’Av and the Land of Israel.  While these classes were outstanding, their efficacy was greatly enhanced by the context in which they were delivered. The ideas discussed were not presented in a vacuum or in contrast to the educational offerings of the rest of the summer.  They were entirely consistent, and of one thread, with virtually every shiur and discussion.  We are often asked how we succeed in programming such moving Tisha B’Av events.  The truthful response is that it is more a product of this context and consistency than it is the power of any isolated presentation.  To hear Rav Sobolofsky introduce some of the Kinnos is to hear from a Rebbe who has given over a worldview and feelings for the land for 5 weeks.  It makes a difference.

We are extremely proud of the quality and level of participation at the Leil Iyun.  There were three themed slots of shiurim, with multiple offerings in each.  The first dealt with the relationship between Torah and the destruction of the Beis haMikdash, the second was focused on the world of social interaction and brotherhood, and the third was about love for the land and anticipation of redemption.  Most of these are available on our website and on YU Torah, and you too can enjoy what was one of the learning highlights of the summer.

While this all was valuable in its own right, it also served as preparation for our Shabbos Chazon together in Beit Meir and for our plans for Tisha B’Av on campus and at the Kotel.

There were other noteworthy elements to our week.  The sports courts were electric day after day, with the continuation of the thrilling 3 on 3 tournament, conclusion of our regular season leagues in basketball and hockey, and back to back intercamp games with Sulam and NCSY JOLT.  These intercamps are NCSY Kollel style – they are multifaceted interactions, with learning, sports and bonding.  This year’s games were particularly thrilling.  We came up short in the basketball contests against Sulam, but found more success in soccer and in an incredible performance by our all star hockey squad.  JOLT also gave us plenty of good competition, extending the NCSY Kollel stars to a third overtime.  The steady and confident NCSY Kollel team thrilled the crowd by pulling away at the end.  There was bonus game of Kollel-JOLT NCSYers against Kollel-JOLT staff.  The game had extra importance placed on it because of the number of JOLT staffers who are Kollel alumni, and the number of brothers playing against each other on the two teams.  It was most appropriate for a day and week that was so taken up with the notion of fraternity.

But it really all came back to reflections and deepening relationship with the land.  This was the week when we identified most strongly with our roots and national destiny, and spent the time to allow the many lessons of the summer to form a basis of ideas and priorities.  There was extra attention paid to the example of our Rebbe staff (the overhwleming majority of whom are North American olim), the breathtaking views of the Beit Meir campus, and the contributions of the brave soldiers serving in the IDF.

Each Shabbos we spend together is special.  But the combined ingredients of a point of holiness in time (Shabbos) with a focus on holiness in space (Israel) should create something extraordinary.

So it is that we wish you an uplifting Shabbos and a meaningful fast, from all of us here at The NCSY Summer Kollel…in Israel.

Moshe Benovitz

Moshe Spirn is from Lawrence, New York. He just finished attending Yeshivat Shaalvim in Israel for the past two years after attending DRS for high school. Next year, he will be attending Yeshiva University. This is Moshe’s fifth summer on NCSY Kollel, but his first summer as a Madrich. He is enjoying his new role and to having an amazing summer with his Chaburah thusfar.

Moshe’s Chaburah is comprised of six members: Benyamin Bortz from Woodmere, NY (DRS), Levi Boshnack from Brooklyn, NY (Mesivta Tiferes Yisroel), Dubi Fischman from Woodmere, NY (DRS), Daniel Friedman from Cedarhurst, NY (HAFTR), Gadi Polster from Beachwood, OH (Fuchs Mizrachi School), and Etan Winograd from Boca Raton, FL (YHS); all whom have shown tremendous growth and excitement for the learning so far.

In Moshe’s Chaburah, their learning will be built off the second משנה in פרקי אבות, the idea that the world stands on three things: תורה, עבודה, and גמילות חסדים. The last two weeks they have spent time learning סוגיות related to תורה such as some reasons that we learn תורה, the nature of ברכות התורה, and what type of students do we teach תורה to. The next two weeks will be spent on learning סוגיות that have to do with תפילה. Finally, the last two weeks they will learn סוגיות that have to do with בין אדם לחבירו relationships.

The Chabura has already developed into a warm, tight knit unit, has developed a strong sense of camaraderie, and is aiming to grow as a team through both physical and spiritual experiences this summer. It’s already looking unbelievable, and Moshe and his Chaburah know that this summer will only continue to get better!