Eitan Warburg is very much enjoying his fifth summer on NCSY Kollel, his third as a madrich. Hailing from Teaneck, NJ, Eitan has attended MTA for high school, Sha’alvim for two years, and is now in Yeshiva University. 

Annnnnnnd now…The Starting lineup for your World Champion, Outta Town Bnei Torah!! 

At Forward, from SCY High (San Diego), standing at 5’10, the one and only Nadav Aron! The Man in the Middle, from Farber Academy (Detroit), at 6’1, Shmuel Schottenstein! All the way from Cooper (Memphis), at guard, 5’8, Rafi Goldkin! At 5’7, from Farber Academy (Detroit), bringing the energy, Gideon “cheers” Lopatin! 

This summer, Eitan’s chabura is focusing on how to infuse תורה in our daily life activities with the goal of becoming true בני תורה. We are learning a variety of topics including תפילה, halachik aspects to different sports scenarios and the beauty of שבת along with many other halachik and hashkafik topics relating to one’s daily life. In addition, we entered the world of certain thought provoking sugyos such as אדם מועד לעולם, שואל שלא ברשות and שומר חנם. 

In addition to the regular chabura slot, the chevra decided that it was time to add another limud. The chabura decided to learn Mishna Yoma, with the hope of connecting more to the churban, relating more to the Yom Kippur davening and having a limud that continues beyond the summer bez”H! 

It has been incredible to see how much the chevra has grown so far in both their knowledge of תורה and their מידות with even bigger and better things just around the corner as we enter the final week of an extraordinary summer. We are looking forward to our continued success in Beit Meir and beyond!

Benzion Rotblat is having a great time on his second summer on NCSY Kollel. He attended TABC and Sha’alvim and is planning on attending YU next year. This is Benzion’s first year as a Madrich. 

Benzion’s Chabura contains likely the top 5 guys on Kollel. All hailing from the Teaneck/Bergenfield area, the local connection helps create great chemistry amongst the guys. The MTA element, made up of Isaac Kantowitz, a stud baseball player who brings great questions to chaburahs every day, and Shua Ratzker, a natural leader with a real desire to grow in his Avodas Hashem. Judah Melzer, the Frisch Cougar of the group, is an incredible Ben Torah who continues to wow the rest of the chaburah with his humor and his encyclopedic knowledge of Nach, Aggadeta, and Civil War history. Dovid Saks, with his incredible patience and easy-going personality, and Yonatan Halstuch, a real Masmid who really pushes the chaburahs to another level, make up the TABC guys in the Chabura. 

The Chabura is learning sugyos of the Sheva Mitzvos Bnei Noach and related sugyos with a hope of observing the contrast to Dinei Yisroel in order to gain a greater appreciation for our Kedushas Yisroel. It’s crazy how fast the summer has gone by and the guys are excited to finish strong!

Zecharia Lebowitz the Rosh Chabura of this amazing group went to DRS for high school, followed by an almost 2 year stint in Yeshivat Reishit Yerushalayim, which was followed by a short lived 2.5 months in Ner Yisroel, next year Zecharia will be attending Yeshiva University, where he is absolutely thrilled to be continuing his education. This is Zecharia’s second summer on Kollel and first as a madrich. 

The chabura is made up of some of the 6 best guys around, who are true mevakshim seeking to gain a deeper relationship with Hashem and the Torah. First off we have the DRS duo of Shua Lasky from North Woodmere, who excels on the courts and in the studio (check him out on the new DRS music video) and Yitzchack Galler from Woodmere, always giving his all in chaburas, and who’s always positive personality uplift the group tremendously. Next we got the big 3 from Heichal; Dovi Weiss from Monsey, who has yet to miss a 3 point shot this summer, always bringing great energy to the Chabura room, Moshe Levy from Teaneck, never seen without a smile, always has a good Shaila or Haarah keeping Zecharia on his toes, and of course Tzvi Buchen from Passaic NJ, joining the Chabura late but fitting in like a glove right away. Tzvi’s desire to learn and grow truly inspires the rest of the group. Last but not least we got Eliezer Spirgel hailing from Woodmere NY, (MAY) who has shaped the Chabura with his insightful comments, and true desire to soak up every word of Torah. 

The Chabura is learning Sugyas connected to Bein Adam Lechaveiro, not only learning big Shas Sugyas but also working on being better overall people and better friends. Together the Chabura has come together beautifully as a group and are excited to continue to grow together in the next few weeks.

Yaakov Schwartz is currently enjoying his second total, and first year as a Madrich on NCSY Kollel. Yaakov went to MTA for high school before learning two years in the Gush at Yeshivat Har Etzion. Last year, Yaakov continued his learning at Yeshiva University, where he is also majoring in psychology with a minor in music. 

Yaakov Schwartz’s vibrant Chabura thrives on the diverse strengths that each member brings, fostering an environment of growth and camaraderie. Yehuda Lubetski, a dedicated student of Orot Yehuda in Efrat, Israel, lends his insightful perspective, enriching the learning experience. Simcha Levitt, representing Silver Spring, MD, and a scholar at Berman Hebrew Academy, stands as a technical cornerstone, skillfully guiding our reading sessions and enhancing our understanding with his solid grasp of Torah fundamentals. From Kohelet Yeshiva in Cherry Hill, NJ, Ayden Lubin enlivens our debates with his perceptive questions, while Gavi Pollack, hailing from White Plains, NY, and attending SAR High School, keeps the momentum flowing with his thought-provoking inquiries that illuminate our exploration. Charlie Shapiro, joining from the Bronx, NY, and also a student at SAR, infuses our sessions with a contagious energy for learning that radiates throughout the group, ensuring that our Chabura is a dynamic hub of growth and shared wisdom. Each voice brings a distinctive resonance, harmonizing into a symphony of learning that defines our collective journey. 

Yaakov’s Chabura embarks on a journey through pivotal Sugyot relating to the experience of Talmud Torah as they grow as Ovdei Hashem. Starting with Lumdishe Sugyot that explore the nature of Talmud Torah Berabim and the significance of Shenayim Mikra Ve’echad Targum, and continuing with topics relating to the Haftara, the Chabura has embarked on a collective quest to unravel the layers of the various institutions of Torah study. Over the course of the summer, they have also delved into other diverse topics and intriguing discussions, like their exploration of Birkat Me’orei Ha’esh after Shabbos with Rav Schachter in the heart of the Old City of Yerushalayim.

With each Sugya, this Chabura deepens their connection to Limud Hatorah, fostering personal growth that resonates through their interactions within the group and extends to the broader community of Kelal Yisra’el. As they grapple with the nuanced teachings of the Torah, they find themselves drawing closer to one another and, more profoundly, to Kudsha Berikh Hu Himself. The Chabura this summer aims to be a transformative journey that shapes their identities as individuals, Jews, and Ovdei Hashem. Through their collective exploration of these timeless teachings, they embrace the boundless potential of Torah to guide their lives, enrich their relationships, and make a lasting impact on the world around them. In this way, they weave themselves into the tapestry of Klal Yisra’el, contributing to its vibrant fabric one step at a time. 

This summer has been great so far and it should only get better from here!

Tani Konig is enjoying his second summer as a madrich at NCSY Kollel. Hailing from Woodmere, NY, Tani is an alumnus of DRS Yeshiva HS and enriched his yeshiva journey with two additional years at Yeshivat Reishit Yerushalayim. Tani recently concluded his debut year at ישיבת רבינו יצחק אלחנן and is poised to continue his studies there in the forthcoming Zman.

The Chaburah consists of five legends: David Ellis (San Diego, Scy High), Ezra Epstein (Riverdale, TABC), Yoni Lamet (Miami, Ohr HaTorah), Noah Kurlansky (Hollywood, FL, Ohr HaTorah), and Benny Dalfin (Miami, Yeshiva Toras Chaim). These outstanding NCSYers display their brilliance within their respective circles throughout the school year, and this summer, they’ve come together to form an extraordinary collective, both within and beyond the chaburah setting (you can find some of the chaburah members at @kollel.boyz on TikTok). Despite their recent introduction, their interactions and rapport are profoundly inspiring as they navigate the intricate sugyas introduced by Tani.

The focus of our summer Limmud was to cultivate a deeper self-awareness and enhance our devotion in עבודת ה׳. Right from the start, the boys were enthusiastically engaging with the sugyas, and Tani quickly recognized the need to elevate the Limmud to greater depths. Initially, they delved into the complexities of the sugya concerning the עבד עברי (Hebrew slave) and the importance of understanding that sometimes encountering difficulties and challenges in life is crucial to avoid becoming an עבדו לעולם.

Subsequently, they explored concepts aimed at fortifying their אמונה in ה׳, delving into the reason behind the juxtaposition of the mitzvah of שבת and the mitzvah of contributing donations to the Mishkan in Parshat Vayakhel. This exploration revealed a shared underpinning theme of אמונה that intricately connects both commandments. Furthermore, they delved into the concept of authentic inner strength, exploring the mishna from Pirkei Avot that asks, “איזהו גיבור? הכובש את יצרו.” In conjunction with this, the chaburah engaged in a screen time challenge, demonstrating how they could effectively utilize their time

As the summer draws to a close, their fervor for learning continues to intensify. The upcoming sugyas of “sports and the greatest of battles” and “establishing an insurance policy for the neshama” have ignited the chevre’s enthusiasm, fostering both a sense of unity and the creation of lasting memories among these young men.

Yosef Tischler, or “Tisch” is currently spending his first summer as a Madrich on NCSY Kollel and is having an absolute blast! He attended Heichal Hatorah for high school, and just finished his Shana Bet at Mevaseret.  

Yosef’s chabura is made up of some of the most quality guys around. Yedidya Shienson from Hillside (JEC), Aaron Botvinik from Highland Park (MTA), Eli Weinberger from Philly (Go Eagles!, Mesivta) and Yaakov Katz from Cincinnati (Chafetz Chaim). 

This summer, Yosef’s Chaburah will be going through some of the deepest and most intriguing Aggadata in Shas. They will be taking and learning from these Gemaras how to improve their Medos, how to have a more meaningful connection to Teffilah, and how to build a much more personal and authentic relationship with Hashem. 

This summer has been off to a fantastic start so far, and we can’t wait to see where it goes from here. 

Eitan Dukas is enjoying his third summer on NCSY Kollel. A member of Teaneck and Bergenfield (house is on the border) Eitan attended Frisch, then Shaalvim for 2 years, and is currently entering into his second year at YU. 

Eitan’s chaburah has representation from all across the globe. Coming in from the west coast, we have one of YULA’s finest, Barak Kaplan. Representing the east coast, we have some of MTAs best guys. Elisha Gamms, Dovi Rosman, and Dov Klar all hail from Bergenfield, while Chaim Simon holds down the fort in Teaneck. And finally, from the Holy Land itself, one of Yashlatz’s best Chaim Turetsky. 

This summer the chaburah has been learning all about Mitzvos Bein Adam L’chaveiro. They have learned an array of topics, which include sugyos in lomdus, halacha, and machshava. These include learning about all the different opinions on how to fulfill the mitzvah of V’ehavta L’reacha Kamocha, how to fulfill the mitzvah of bikkur cholim, why it’s so bad to judge other people, and so much more. 

This chaburah has already learned and grown so much and can’t wait to finish out the summer strong!

Ezra Baron is currently enjoying his third year on NCSY Kollel, where he is serving as a Madrich for his second year in a row. Ezra attended TABC for two years, before taking his talents to the Ayalon Valley and Yeshivat Sha’alvim for two years. Last year, he started YU with hopes of majoring in Accounting. 

Ezra’s chabura has great guys from all different schools. Coming all the way from Silver Spring, MD is Mayer Frenkel (Berman) who is always the first guy to answer questions. Reuben Kaminetzky (TABC) is from New Milford and his consistency in the Chaburah is unmatched. Repping Spring Valley, NY is Ben Sicherman (MTA) who always knows the answers before there is even a question. Last but not least is Yehuda Nissani (Rambam) from Queens, NY who always gets the chabura going with his hilarious comments. Despite hailing from different backgrounds, the guys have meshed really well together, providing for great conversations both in and out of the chabura. 

Ezra’s chabura have started off by learning deep lessons about the Mesorah and about being part of something great. Going forward, they hope to learn different sugyot about Bein Adam l’Chavero with a specific aim on improving how they interact with others in their own lives. Some topics they hope to cover include V’ahavta L’reicha Kamocha, Nosei B’ol Im Chaveiro and Lo Tachamod. The guys are always bouncing sharp ideas off each other, and trying to understand how they can use the Torah to improve their lives and their relationships with the world around them. Through these topics and discussions, the chabura hopes to make an impact not only on ourselves, but on all of Klal Yisrael, one person at a time. 

Ezra is super excited for the rest of the summer and for the chabura to keep reaching new heights, both this summer, and beyond.

Chaim Davidowitz, AKA  “Dovid” or “CD” is having a blast being a Madrich on Kollel for the first time. Hailing from Bergenfield, New Jersey, Chaim went to MTA for High School and then spent two years learning in Yeshivat Sha’alvim. Chaim is excited to continue his learning at YU in Rav Mayer Twersky’s Shiur this fall. 

Chaim’s Chabura(nicknamed “The Bruh”) is filled with a group of the 4 best guys imaginable. In no particular order, these superstars are: the Panini-loving Yisroel Shaffren from Bergenfield (Heichal), the 3-point Sharpshooter Eitan Kahn from the 5-Towns (DRS), the “Jewish Jokic” Ezra Schwartz from Chicago (Fasman), and golf-obsessed Rami Shaw from Pittsburgh (Fasman). The Chabura loves to laugh and is filled with camaraderie and bitting around between the guys.

The Limud of the Chabura is a focus on the Daily Avodah and how Kedusha is able to be grabbed from all around . This includes going through the things that are done every single day through the Lens of Halacha, Machshava, and some Lomdus. The learning and connection has been great so far and should only get better from here on out, and hopefully continue well beyond the summer!

This is Akiva’s second summer on Kollel, and his first time being a Madrich. Growing up in Boca Raton and then Riverdale, Akiva attended Katz Yeshiva High School for two years and then completed his last two years at SAR High School. He spent two years in Yeshivat Sha’alvim and is heading to Yeshiva University this fall.

Akiva has the true pleasure of having an excellent group of thoughtful, fun, and energetic guys. Josh Pachter (YULA) and Yaakov Rbibo (YULA) represent the West Coast in the Chabura. From the Five Towns: Yoel Loloi (MAY), Zach Brand (DRS), and Moshe Brazil (DRS) complete the dynamic chevra. 

The Chabura is focused on learning sugyas through the Rambam in Lumdus and Machshava (with a healthy amount of chilling, too). Whether it be examining the mitzvah of loving Hashem, developing a new definition of “happiness,” or gleaning different ideas about why we wear tzitzis, the chabura tries to cover a wide variety of topics filled with filled with substance and beautiful ideas. The goal of the chabura is to develop a deeper appreciation and connection to learning Torah, and hopefully connect to some of the profound ideas behind each and every mitzvah. 

Akiva and the guys are having such an enjoyable and special summer filled with lots of chilling, learning, and thoughtful conversations and are so excited for much more!