Jared Mark is loving his first summer as a Madrich here on NCSY Kollel. Jared comes all the way from Woodmere, NY, and is an alumnus of DRS Yeshiva High School. After graduating, he took his talents to Yeshivat Sha’alvim for two more years of learning. Jared has just finished his debut year at Yeshiva University and is poised to continue his studies there in the upcoming zman.

The chaburah consists of five of the best guys on the Kollel: Gavriel Aharon (Woodmere, DRS), Avraham Albala (Brooklyn, Chofetz Chaim), Daniel Malek (Cedarhurst, MAY), Yehuda Cohen (North Woodmere, DRS), and Moshe Hirsch (Cedarhurst, MAY). These outstanding NCSYers shine within their respective circles throughout the school year, and this summer, they’ve come together to form a truly extraordinary chevra. Not only within the chaburah setting but throughout the Kollel at large (as seen by our esteemed “mopball” commissioner Gavriel Aharon, @kollel_mopball_2024 on Instagram). The boys have really come together to show their skills and love for learning through the sugyas prepared by Jared.

This summer, they learned many of the classic sugyas on tefillah. Starting with just the Gemaras and allowing the guys’ incredible analytical skills to shine by asking the questions of the Rishonim and Acharonim. From the outset, the guys showed extraordinary interest in these sugyas and the machshava that flows from them. Jared spends a good amount of time not just learning the Gemara and Rishonim but also working to build their respective connections to Hashem through tefillah. The chaburah as a whole benefited most from Rebbe Nachman’s idea of learning to talk with Hashem outside the confines of a beis keneses, truly building a lifelong bond with our Creator.

As the summer progresses, their love for learning and davening only continues to intensify. They should continue to see growth throughout the summer and beyond!

Judah Schanzer returns to NCSY Kollel, for his third time, after having participated in the Kollel in the summer of 2018 as a camper and last summer as a madrich. Judah lives in New Rochelle, NY, and attended SAR for both Elementary and High School. After graduating in 2020 he went to Yeshivat Torat Shraga for two years through May 2022 and then spent June 2022 at Birchas Hatorah. This past year he was learning in Yeshiva University while studying Business. 

Judah’s Chabura could be the greatest group of guys ever assembled in Beit Meir. Each member of this holy Chabura bring something special to the table while all having one thing in common, great middos. 

The Chabura includes Noah Rancman, Yehuda Leib Lowenbraun and Betzalel Pleeter. Noah Rancman (Cleveland, Fuchs Mizrachi) is a young leader searching for opportunities to grow and has found what he is looking for on NCSY Kollel. He is a great contributor, who stands for what he believes is right, but can also have everyone in tears laughing with one of his jokes. Yehuda Leib Lowenbraun, (Baltimore, TA) is a man who is constantly growing and striving to improve which earns the respect of all he encounters (especially his madrich), which is due in part to his understanding that growth is a challenge which requires discipline and hard work. Betzalel Pleeter (Baltimore, TA), despite being physically intimidating, could be one of least intimidating people once you speak to him as he has a gentle soul and is a high-character individual. With his positivity, he is constantly searching for growth opportunities and trying to make others happy. Similar to his Chabura last year, the guys who the Kollel have assigned to the Judah Schanzer Chabura have outshined him, leading to them being the front-runners for “Chabura of the Year”. 

This year, the Chabura’s main focus is learning the beautiful pieces of the Nesivos Shalom on Shabbos. Through learning his magnificent words and understanding the deeper meaning of Shabbos, the Chabura has appreciating Shabbos more, strived to maximize the opportunity the holy day of Shabbos provides. We even call ourselves Chasidim of the Slonimer Rav zt’’l. As the chabura comes towards the end of the summer, similar to last Summer, the Chaburah recognizes that collectively we have grown to extraordinary heights, which come with its pros and cons. On the one hand, we have gained an appreciation that if we focus on our growth, we can achieve great things, especially when working together. On the other hand, we have come to appreciate how much more we have to work and grow to fulfill the incredible potential within each of us.

Hey. I hear its bulk season, so get working on those lats and pull up to Adam Zahler’s bura with da bois. Last name ever first name greatest, like a sprained ankle this bura ain’t nothing to play with. Adam Zahler, the faithful madrich (who has way too much power being able to write whatever he wants here) has been on kollel for five summers (3rd as a madrich). He had stops at Drs, Gush, and YU undergrad on his journey, and he is currently in YU Semicha. 

Now, let him introduce you to our seriously stunning scholars. Dishing out great takes like Steph Curry puts up threes, we got Avi Rabhan from Miami Beach, Florida. Taking Drake’s advice and deciding to bless us with his presence at Yeshiva we got Justin Schloss from Brooklyn, NY. With insights so bright he makes the sun want to get some Ray Bans, we got Ariel Schwartz from Newton, Massachusetts. With a thirst so great for the waters of Torah he’s got the fish looking on in jealousy, we’ve got Aviel Shabbat-Koplin from Florida. Equipped with quips and jokes for days, with a unique ability to brighten the darkest of rooms we got Shlomo Shyrokov from Great Neck, NY. Always ready for a good time, while being equally ready to learn something new we got Yoni Zaslavsky from Potomac, Maryland. They say real g’s move in silence like lasagna, and Brandon Hachey despite only coming from TJJ Canada for the last two weeks of the summer, was able to make a huge impact on the chabura with his quiet, friendly and inquisitive demeanor. 

Torah is a song that we are all each called on to sing throughout our lives. Adam’s chabura has spent time analyzing many songs, with a special focus on the lyrical masterpieces of one of the up-and-coming artists of our times, L’chaim OG. They spend their time analyzing his hit singles Kiss the Mezuzah and Shabbos Juice, with scintillating lyrics such as “Mesh tzitzis, yeah I like to feel the breeze. Summer time, pop out to Ashdod and hit the beach,” and “if I’m in Raanana then I hit the early minyan. Man, that Yemenite davening is something different.” They began by delving into music’s endless potential to help us: express ourselves, heal, connect to G-d, and even travel through time. From Bnei Yisroel at the Yam Suf, to Dovid Hamelech, to The Script, AJR, 21 Pilots, NF, Eminem, and Kendrick Lamar they really explored the full gamut of musical experience to arrive at their spiritually uplifting conclusions. Along the way, they made sure to spend time focusing on and developing their connections with the Mesorah: past, present, and future through Rav Soloveitchik’s famous pidyon haben speech, his discussion of his relationship with the Rambam in “And From There You Shall Seek,” Rav Sack’s “Letter in the Scroll,” as well as some key gemaras (i.e. Menachot 29b with Rebbe Akiva and Moshe, as well as Yevamot 97a discussing how the Torah of Tzaddikim helps them live on beyond themselves). They discussed the importance of creating our own legacy, writing our own song, while ensuring that we are sampling the songs of our ancestors (see Tupac’s quote- “my murderous lyrics equipped with the spirit of thugs before me”), as well as ensuring that the song of our life is worthy enough and geared towards ensuring the continuity of the Jewish future through us (see Kendrick’s quote- “When the lights shut off and it’s my turn to settle down, my main concern, promise that you will sing about me”). They also learned about important Mitzvot that we do every day (i.e shema, davening…) 

Just a really great group of guys learning together, chilling together, growing together, and having the best time ever, while diving headfirst into the waters of eternity, which serves to create a bond between them that is rooted in the eternal and therefore not easily broken.

Henry Mann went to SAR High School, attended Aish Gesher for 2 years and begins Ner Yisrael after Kollel ends. This is his first year as a madrich and in fact, on kollel as a whole.

Eli Moshe Goel is from the Valley in LA and goes to YULA for high school. Moshe Razi is also from LA and goes to YULA High School. Yair Zelle goes to Frisch and lives in Teaneck Akiva Rotenberg also goes to Frisch and lives in Teaneck. Jeremy Shindel is from Baltimore and attends Beth Tfiloh High School. 

In Chabura they are taking a journey through our incredible Mesorah and rich Jewish history. Starting with the last of the Zugos, Hillel and Shamai and the tannic age, taking stops at the Rambam and Arizal and all sorts of other important links in the chain up until today. The chabura is framing our rich history using exciting aggadic (story style) Gemara, historical anecdotes and Torah produced by the ‘Gadol’ (Tanna, Rishon or Acharon) of interest in order to best frame the life of each unique and essential individual. 

The summer has been a growth filled yet a blast of a summer and it should continue to be experiential proof of learning, ball, and fun going hand and hand. 

Ari Kaminetzky is having an amazing time in his fourth summer on NCSY Kollel, and second as a Madrich. Ari, from Teaneck NJ, went to TABC for high school before heading to Sha’alvim for two transformative years. Ari will be going into his second year of YU this upcoming fall.

To the outside eye, Ari’s Chabura might look pretty standard but if one got to know each guy it is obvious that they’re each extremely unique. Starting with the Chef, on the court and in the kitchen as well, from Efrat, we got Ariel Bender (Orot Yehuda). No matter what the topic at hand is, Ariel’s drive to find the Emes is an inspiration to the rest of the Chabura. Next, from the Yeshivishe city of Toronto, we got Jack/Zusha/Sydney Rosenblum (Darchei). Jack’s ability to know how to “bit” around while still being a serious Masmid is something that the rest of the Chevra truly looks up to. Rounding out the squad we got the three Tabc Buchrim. Starting with Ezra Noam Becker (Teaneck) whose passion and humor always has the Bura in store for a treat. Next, we got the MVP and more importantly the NIT Champ Aiden Rauzman (Teaneck). Aiden’s ability to know how to chill but also when to lock has been a huge tone setter for the Bura. Finally the Baal Minagen himself (check out his song Ana Hashem), we got Yosef Shell (Bergenfield) who is always looking for different ways to connect to HKBH. 

This summer the Bura’s Limud has been focused on Teffilah. Starting from day one with the first Mishna in the 5th Perek of Brachos which set the tone for what Tefilah is really about. Other topics that have been discussed is Birchas HaTorah, Birchas Hashachar, and of course Shema and Shemoneh Esrei. 

The Bura has had an amazing Summer thus far and is looking forward to building off this energy and keeping in touch for years to come!!

Shalom Aleichem!! Eitan Pfeiffer is spending his 4th summer on NCSY Kollel, 3rd summer as a madrich. He loves loves loves being on the kollel. There are so many opportunities for growth for everyone on the kollel. The kollel really is just heaven in 6 weeks that everyone looks back at and wishes they can be back to their summer on the kollel. 

His Chabura this year is Azarya Tiger (TABC), Yissocher Zauderer (HEICHAL), Yoel Gellman (TABC), Dani Needle (TABC), and Akiva Fried (HEICHAL). It was so special for Eitan to learn with such an unbelievable chevra. He could go on for paragraphs and say why these guys are so special but the Chabura spotlight would be too long. 

This summer Eitan’s Chabura learned a lot of different sugyos in Halacha and Hashkafa. They learned mostly sugyas in Ohr Hachaim, like sugyos in Talmud Torah, tefilla, brachos, Shabbos and more. The hashkafa was mainly from the mashgiach, Harav Wolbe zt’l, including other things as well. The learning was sweet and enjoyable, with chavrusa time and interaction throughout. 

CHASDEI HASHEM YISBARACH TORAHHHHH IS ORAH!!

Binny Freundlich is currently enjoying his fourth summer on NCSY Kollel. He attended Hebrew Academy of Montreal followed by Shaalvim and is currently learning in YU. This is Binny’s third year as a Madrich. 

Binny has the best group of post 11th graders in the bura this summer! Hailing from Teaneck is the most famous rapper in the New Jersey area, someone who lives his entire life in the world of olam habbah, R’ Micah Cyrulnik (TABC). The Florida contingent in the Chaburah is very strong, with Eitan Goldsmith jamming out from North Miami Beach, and will create a song (while wearing his sun glasses) before you can even blink (Ohr Hatorah). Right there with him is none other then Binyamin Fish, swimming in from Miami Beach, always smiling and shteiging and adding great energy to the chaburah (Ohr Hatorah). Next up is Doniel Austein, all the way from Woodmere, NY. Doniel is often compared to legends like R’ Yisroel Kaminetzky along with R’ Saquon Barkley, and it is a great honor to have such a presence in the bura (DRS). Coming in at a whopping 6 foot 6 is Eli Eisenberg from North Woodmere. Eli adds more than just height to the chaburah, with his extra large logos, he really is the one who threads the needle, keeping us all together (DRS). Last but certainly not least, Ariel Mayer coming from Queens, NY. Ariel embodies the statement that there ain’t nothing like the last minute. Despite his late arrival, Ariel has already made a tremendous impact on the chaburah (DRS). 

Together, the chaburah studied rigorously, and have analyzed many important sugyas in depth. They have really delved into the world of Mamarei Chazal such as “the ceiling is the roof” and “what goes around, goes around”. 

The Chabura have really had an פרי׳ מורי׳ time, and they can’t wait to finish the summer strong!!

Moshe Tzvi (MT) Shapiro is originally from Hamilton, Canada, though now he lives in Yerushalayim. He went to Skokie Yeshiva, and then Yeshivat Hakotel/the Golani Brigade for the past 4 years. Next year he’ll be studying in Machon Lev. This is his first summer on NCSY Kollel. 

Ezra Shmuel is from Edison, NJ and goes to MTA. Shlomo Golubchik is from Highland Park, NJ and goes to Heichal. Eli Fogel is from Edison, NJ and goes to MTA. Binyamin Neimark is from Highland Park, NJ and goes to Heichal. Jake Levine is from Highland Park, NJ and goes to JEC. 

This summer, the Chabura is learning about Tefila. Some of the topics we’re covering are: the goal of davening, its importance, what it means to daven properly and how to prepare for Tefila. They have discussed some of the challenges of tefila, what makes it so hard to daven with kavana, and tips and tools to daven with kavana and tap into the emotions of tefila. They have also talked about the big themes of tefila, and some amazing insights and themes of individual tefilos. Additionally the chabura has learnt some of the halachos of davening and the deeper reasons behind those halachos. As well, every week they hae touched upon a fundamental concept in tefila that comes from the parsha of that week. 

The summer’s been awesome so far and we’re sad it’s coming to a close, but we’re looking forward to keep on learning and growing throughout the year!

Eli Rockoff grew up in West Hempstead, NY and attended DRS for high school and then most recently spent two years learning at Yeshivat Hakotel. After the summer, he plans to continue his studies at YU. 

Eli feels incredibly fortunate to be back at NCSY Kollel, serving as a madrich. Having been an NCSYer on Kollel himself, Eli deeply appreciates the impact that dedicated advisors can have on the campers’ lives and is eager to give back to the NCSYers in the same way they did for him. 

One of Eli’s primary focuses this summer is to build a strong and cohesive camaraderie within his chabura. He is thrilled to be leading a group of truly exceptional guys including: Chanoch Book from Monsey (Ohavei Torah); Gavriel Cohen from Fairlawn (TABC); Akiva Fox from Teaneck (MTA); Aryeh Schimel from Clifton (Heichal Hatorah) and Mayer Schwartz from Teaneck (MTA). The summer has already been fantastic and in just a short time, the chabura has already fostered strong connections and friendships. 

The learning focus of Eli’s chabura is to delve into fundamental and thought-provoking sugyas in machshava, exploring the essence of Jewish identity and the reasons that underlie our actions as Jews. The NCSYers are engaging in stimulating discussions, addressing questions like “Who are we?”, “What do we do?”, and “Why do we do it?”. The topics covered, such as the purpose of creation, bechiras am yisrael, ta’amei hamitzvos, and talmud torah k’neged kulam, are profound and provide the NCSYers with a deeper understanding of their Jewish identity and values. 

As the summer progresses, we are looking forward to continuing to grow together and are excited to build lasting memories and bonds that will extend well beyond our time at NCSY Kollel.

Gabe Kurlander is enjoying his very first summer on NCSY Kollel. He attended HAFTR and Sha’alvim and is planning on going to YU next year for his first year.

Gabe’s Chabura includes some of the best guys around: Yoni Posner from Woodmere (DRS), Yosef Razi from Great Neck (DRS), Netanel Schechter from Bergenfield (MTA), and Ezra Weiss from Staten Island (Heichal).

This summer, Gabe’s Chabura will be focusing on a mixture of Lumdus, Halacha, Machshava, and Chassidus. Some of the sugyas include the Kavana in Tefilla, Simcha in Talmud Torah, the importance of every Jew, the Kedusha of Shabbos, the Chiyuv of a Ben Torah outside the walls of the Beis Medresh, cool paradoxes in Halacha, and much much more. The goal of the learning is to gain Yediyus Hatorah while at the same time cultivating middos and an ability to see the world through Torah Lenses. 

Baruch Hashem, Gabe’s Chabura have clicked instantly and have been enjoying their Gishmak Morning Seder, post-Chabura rikud, and their chills outside the beis. All of this has combined for what continues to be an incredible summer! Chasdei HaShem!!