Dear NCSY Kollel Parents,

Today was a vintage NCSY Kollel tiyul day.  The NCSYers were presented with diverse and intense options, and each tiyul provided safe fun and an amazing interaction with the beautiful land of Israel.

The setup of today’s tiyul was consistent with our overall philosophy of programming in general and our trip schedule in particular.  We strive to be first rate, and to provide experiences that are authentic and fully engaging – never diluted or insignificant.  If we offer a mountain to climb, it should be a tall one, not a slight incline that satisfies the interests of the lowest common denominator.  If you don’t want a mountain, we will find something you might like more, and offer that option with the same gusto and enthusiasm.

Today there were two primary tracks.  The first almost spoke for itself.  We spent the better part of the day involved with extreme sports:  Mountain Rappeling, Rock Climbing, Zip Lines, and most of all – Bungee Jumping off a bridge high above the Jordan River.  It was unforgettable.  It also fulfilled one of our primary tiyul mandates:  To provide activities that few if any of the NCSYers have done before.

Our second track was altogether different.  With a bus led by Rav Schachter and a second one led by Rav Sobolofsky, we enjoyed a “Food Tour” of the Golan.  The NCSYers visited a spectacular orchard and picked plums, pears and nectarines.  The farmers and Roshei Yeshiva explained the intricacies of the land-dependent mitzvos, and also discussed concepts like berachos and appreciation of food and the agricultural system.  Each bus also toured the always popular De Karina chocolate factory, and again were enlightened about the different ways that chocolate and halacha can intersect.

Meanwhile, our beloved CITs and returning 11^th graders had a tiyul track all for themselves. First they sampled the extreme sports stations.  Then they were treated to an all you can eat festive lunch.  From there it was on to water sports in the Kinneret.

All 5 buses converged on Tzefat in the late afternoon. There, there were options for guided tours, an opportunity to pair off with madrichim or other staffers for more Tzefat exploration, and free time to relax and enjoy dinner.  Most of the buses had an additional special opportunity of meeting and hearing from Rav Shmuel Eliyahu, Chief Rabbi of Tzefat and an inspirational leader of large segments of Israeli society.

Did we mention the water park?  After Tzefat, we ended the day in style, with a few hours at a great water park rented out for NCSY’s exclusive use.  We made that a bit less exclusive by inviting some boys from Chispin to join us.  These boys are mostly the sons of men who have been called up as reserves to join the fighting in the south.  We were honored to host them.  The park was a strong exclamation point on our memorable day.

Tomorrow our group will split, almost exactly down the middle.  Many will join in Chispin for another great Shabbos. Others will have modified free weekend with sign out both on campus in the north and at the OU Israel Center in Yerushalayim (22 Keren HaYesod).  We truly appreciate your quick cooperation in filling out the forms.  Please be in touch if you have any additional questions.

Your sons had a great week of learning, and deserved every minute of meaningful fun they enjoyed today.  We look forward to providing them with even more in the future.

On that note, we continue to pray for peace and security, and prosperity for all of the brave chayalim and for the great nation they are working so hard to protect.

Moshe Benovitz

As the NCSYers are finally settling in to the normal daily schedule, today was another amazing day on NCSY Kollel.

This morning, our incredible staff of Rabbeim once again joined us in Chispin.  All of the Talmidim attended their regular morning Seder and Shiur from their usual Rebbe.  Later in the day, the Rabbeim participated in leagues, making the games more exciting and intense than ever, with many games ending in overtime, and one even ending in triple overtime!!

During the break today, Kollel was presented with a unique Chesed opportunity.  NCSYers and Madrichim helped pack bags and boxes of supplies to send to the soldiers serving on the front lines in Gaza.  Every box contained a variety of items, ranging from toothbrushes and toothpaste to socks and other clothing articles, as well as a handwritten letter from an NCSYer on Kollel expressing their gratitude and other personal messages.  It was a Chesed which allowed everyone a chance to reflect on themselves and to think about the sacrifices of the soldiers and really appreciate all that they do.

After another strong night Seder with amazing Shiurim and Chavrusas, the guys enjoyed another night of leagues under the lights.  Heading to sleep at the end of another successful day, the NCSYers look forward to another great day tomorrow followed by amazing Tiyulim to come on Thursday!

After an incredibly inspiring Shabbos, NCSY Kollel picked up on Sunday morning right where they left off.  With the announcement of the new morning Shiurim being set up, the NCSYers were excited to jump right into their first set Shiur and morning Seder here in Chispin.  Later in the afternoon, leagues were in full swing out on the courts.  Games were more competitive than ever, as in two games simultaneously teams were within one point of each other with under thirty seconds to go!   With pick-up soccer and league games taking place, an amazing mini-Tiyul was offered as well – jeeping through the mountains of the Golan (followed by a brief shopping excursion as well)!!  Guys enjoyed the thrill of jeeping with their friends and having a great time seeing the beauty of the Golan Heights together.

This fantastic day was followed by a fantastic night!  A variety of new night Shiurim were presented to the NCSYers, and they took full advantage of them, making night Seder one of the strongest parts of today.  When all the learning was said and done, the activities of the day rolled-over into the night.  In an unprecedented activity on Kollel, many teams were treated to night league games!  One of the games was a thriller, as the team of “Salt-dried Raisins” came back from an eighteen point deficit at half time to ultimately win the game in overtime!!  While ball took place off in the dark, many NCSYers had an opportunity to partake in night jeeping, an awesome night time expedition through those same mountains!

While aware of the greater issues of at hand, Kollel hopes that the energy of this amazing day will be channeled into an even more incredible week!

Kivi Naiman is spending his third summer on the NCSY Kollel. Kivi first went on the Kollel as an NCSYer after tenth grade, and after being a Madrich last summer Kivi now also works as a Division Head and is in charge of Special Programming.  Kivi’s chabura is made up of some of the finest “bochrim” the Kollel has to offer. Yehuda Alter from Denver, CO, Ezra Cinamon from Cedarhurst, NY, Yoni Apsan from Springfield, NJ, Mikey Konigsberg, from Kivi’s hometown of Hillcrest, NY and Akiva Weiner from Teaneck, NJ. Together they create an awesome dynamic, and his chabura is unstoppable.  Kivi’s Chabura is working together to tackle one of the Torah world’s most serious problems. They are trying to determine all the halachik and philosophical concerns with being a frum superhero. Chaburas are on exciting topics such as “The Importance of an Origin Story”, “With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility”, “Donning the Cape, Mask and Costume”, “Having an Arch- Nemesis” and other superhero related issues. Obviously, they are working to discover what Chazal has to say about these important and relevant issues.

Kivi’s escapades as a Madrich on the Kollel can be followed on Twitter @KivNaiman.

Dear Parents,

This Shabbos was a wonderful, unforgettable and intense experience.

In his remarks at the conclusion of Shabbos, Rabbi Kaminetsky reflected on the uniqueness of the current situation, but also stressed the opportunities that these challenges present. This was the dominant theme of a Shabbos that was upbeat, positive and resolute.

There was a clear upsurge in Ruach and energy, and all of the zemiros and tefilos were emotionally charged and moving. The learning was sharp and productive, and each speaker succeeded in introducing new elements into the group discussion.

The most poignant moments of Shabbos involved our interaction with Alex Yudin. Alex is an NCSY Kollel alumnus currently serving in the IDF. He and his family joined us for Shabbos, in advance of Alex’s return to his unit on the front lines of Gaza. This put a specific human face on the current stages of the conflict, and provided a strong focal point for our prayers and learning.

We made a strong effort for Shabbos to be about moving forward enthusiastically. It certainly felt that we were successful in that regard. We exited Shabbos with renewed commitment and optimism for our next week of learning together.

Shavua Tov,
Moshe Benovitz

After an amazing week filled with fun and excitement, Kollel looks forward to an inspirational, Ruach filled Shabbos here in Chispin.  Have a great Shabbos!!

What an unforgettable day!

Today was our first official Tiyul day of the summer, and it was as amazing as anyone could have hoped for!  The NCSYers had the option to attend one of three amazing Tiyulim: hike through the “Black Canyon” of Nachal Yehudiyah, hike the “El-Al Trail”, or tour the holy city of Teveriyah.

Nachal Yehudiyah was an intense, challenging, incredible hike through the beautiful mountains and canyons of the Golan.  The hike included unbelievable activities such as repelling down a waterfall and jumping thirty feet off a cliff into a body of water. The El-Al hike was a slightly less challenging one on which the hikers also were privileged to see the beauty of this northern portion of Israel. On the tour of Teveriyah, the NCSYers visited a Shofar factory and were given a fascinating tour through the production process of a real Shofar.  They then visited the Kevarim of the Rambam and Rabi Akiva, and were treated to a fun, educational experience at the Maimonides Heritage Foundation.  Later in the day, all three Tiyulim met up at the boardwalk of Teveriyah, next to the Kineret, where they sat down to lunch and were given the opportunity to go banana-boating in the Kineret itself!  The Teveriyah trip then continued to the beach where they enjoyed a relaxing time swimming in the Kineret and playing some ball.

At the end of this jam-packed, exhausting day, everyone returned to Chispin to partake in an incredible Chesed project.  The NCSYers helped tie three-hundred pairs of Tzitzit that were to be delivered to the Chayalim currently serving on the border of Gaza.  This amazing Mitzvah gave each and every person who partook a small feeling of satisfaction in knowing that they had contributed, even if in such a small fashion, to helping the Chayalim, who are in turn helpingto protect us.  The night ended with an awesome late-night Mishmar, full of learning and shwarma!

After an amazing week, we look forward to an exciting day tomorrow in Tzfat and an inspirational Shabbos that is sure to come!

In the words of Rabbi Benovitz, “NCSY Kollel is officially in BEAST MODE.”

After an action packed week of soccer tournaments and shiurim, the Kollel finally returned to normality. Yesterday, the Kollel’s morning Seder Rabbeim left their homes and made the three hour drive up to Chispin to be with their Talmidim. During morning Seder, we exchanged profound words of Torah, as we delved deeper into the Mitzvah (potentially Mitzvot) of Tzitzit. Later in the afternoon, we put our Gemaras away and finally began the highly anticipated league basketball games!! The Rabbeim exchanged their white button-downs for white undershirts; after schooling us in the Beis, it was now time for the Rabbeim to ‘school’ us on the court – or at least try to. The Rabbeim’s presence brought a beautiful blend of structure and informality, focus and energy. Upon arriving in Chispin yesterday, Rabbi Freedman related, “While the Chayalim are doing their part defending Klal Yisrael, we can do our part and learn Torah.” Our Rabbeim brought with them an influx of incredible energy and focus, making yesterday a springboard for what is sure to be an exciting and meaningful summer.