Chabura Spotlight: Moshe Watson
Today’s Chabura spotlight is on Moshe Watson’s chabura. Watson is spending his 3rd summer on NCSY Kollel, all as staff. Moshe started on the Kollel in the prestigious capacity as the office guy and it is his second summer as a madrich. He is originally from Teaneck, NJ, and his family currently resides in Beit Shemesh.
The NCSYers in Moshe’s chabura are Gaby Barishansky (Teaneck, NJ), Shalom Goldscheider (Mt Kisco, NY), Sammy Rauch (Lawrence, NY), Sammy Schultz (Los Angeles, CA) and Eli Stahler (Lawrence, NY).
Moshe’s chaburas are focusing on variety of topics. In the last few weeks the chabura focused on the causes of the destruction of the Batei Mikdash in Jerusalem. Prior to that, Moshe’s chabura spent timre focusing on the development and history of Torah Shebaal Peeh, our oral tradition.
Additionally, at the beginning of each chabura, Moshe begins with a “Random Rambam.” The “Random Rambam” is truly random. Each day begins with well known teachings of The Rambam from his magna opus, The Mishna Torah.
Chabura Spotlight: Noach Goldstein
Today’s Chabura spotlight is on Noach Goldstein’s chabura.
Noach is spending his 3rd summer on NCSY Kollel. He attended as an NCSYer in 2005 and returned last summer as a madrich. He hails from Teaneck, NJ.
The NCSYers in Noach’s chabura are Yair Adler (Edison, NJ), Ari Bar-Shain (University Heights, OH), Dovi Leiter (Passaic, NJ), Ruby Marriot (London, UK), and Dovid Ort (New Milford, NJ).
Noach’s chaburas are focusing on halachic topics relating to davening. Usually they focus on investigating the concepts underlying certain halachot of tefilla with an emphasis both on analytical tools and on how the results can lead to a deeper understanding and more meaningful experience of the tefillot we say daily. The chabura is also exploring the concluding coda of each volume of the Rambam’s Yad Hachazaka, which encapsulate central themes of his perspective on proper understanding of Torah ideas.
Highlights from Tisha B’Av at the Kotel
Listen to our Leil Iyun: “דרכיה דרכי נועם” – Beauty & Pleasantness in the Path of Torah
Thursday, July 26
An intense week of learning and Tisha B’Av preparation reached a crescendo with Thursday’s events.
Many of the regular shiurim, including the first night of the new night shiurim, focused on Tisha B’Av and how we can best relate to the mourning for the Beit HaMikdash. In addition, there was a most appropriate mini-tiyul option that toured the moving Har Herzl- Israel’s official military cemetery. There is no better place to understand recent Jewish history and to reflect on the sacrifices and trials that dot our past.
Our weekly Thursday night mishmar was particularly well attended and impactful. It was highlighted by a siyum made by a group of NCSYers under the direction of Josh Weinberg who have been studying Masechet Tamid since the start of the summer. While this has been the summer of the siyum on NCSY Kollel, this one was extra special as it celebrated an accomplishment achieved entirely on the program itself.
http://www.ncsysummer.com/gallery/trip/kollel/
Wednesday, July 25
What are the odds? No 5-Overtime games in 19 years of NCSY Kollel leagues, and then 2 in a span of 3 days! This was an absolute thriller, as Lone Silver Axe narrowly prevailed after 5 extra sessions.
Wednesday was also the final day of the first session of night shiurim. Many of the first half options will be continuing due to popular demand, with some new choices rounding out the slate. The night shiurim have been a great thus far, and should continue to be a huge lift to the entire program.
Sushi night at Yummy’s was hit, and the canteen proved to be a hot spot for fun and bonding, even without meat offerings.
We were privileged to host Rabbi Yitzchak Etshalom for a late night optional shiur. Rabbi Etshalom is a renowned expert in Tanach and wowed a large crowd of NCSYers with a fantastic shiur and analysis.
http://www.ncsysummer.com/gallery/trip/kollel/
Tuesday, July 24
Tuesday was trip day. Of course, with the various restrictions of the 9 Days, and also with the sharp educational focus we try to maintain throughout this week, it wasn’t going to be an ordinary NCSY Kollel tiyul. This week’s outings focused on chessed, and tried to combine experiential volunteering activities with some fun and excitement. As usual, our busses headed in all different direction to provide a wide range of opportunities. There were groups working in Jerusalem soup kitchens, and others working in the fields to pick onions for Project Leket. We visited army bases and delivered ices to soldiers laboring in the summer heat. There was an interactive program with some Israeli teens from the north and an effort to clean up some littered beaches near Acco. A small group was directed in the art of medical clowning, and spent some time bringing cheer to patients at Shaarei Tzedek hospital. This last group was so successful that we have already booked more slots for the rest of the summer to accommodate the high number of NCSYers interested in giving it a try.
That was only one half of a fantastic day. Back on campus in Beit Meir we enjoyed our annual Leil Iyun- an night of learning dedicated to a particular timely theme. This year’s shiurim dealt with the beauty of Torah and the ways that Torah makes our lives and behavior more beautiful. Links to many of the shiurim will be available on the blog, and a more detailed description will be included in the weekly e-mail report.
http://www.ncsysummer.com/gallery/trip/kollel
Monday, July 23
There were some incredible highs on Monday, both in learning and on the courts.
Our basketball and hockey intramurals roared into the heart of the schedule, and intense battles for playoff positioning have begun. The leagues have been extremely competitive, with the vast majority of teams hovering somewhere near the middle of the pack. That healthy parity was most clearly on display in an NCSY Kollel instant classic between Mivakshei HaShem and Shnitzel Klippings (I don’t name them, I just report on them). Mivakshei entered the game with an undefeated record, while Shnitzel was only a step behind at the top of the standings. The game was fiercely contended and it took 5 (!) overtimes for Mivakshei to prevail- on a buzzer beater no less! This was the longest game in NCSY Kollel history, but only tied for the longest game this week (see Wednesday’s post).
In addition to the robust lineup of regular shiurim, Monday was the first in a strong series of optional late night learning opportunities. Rav Doni Marcus offered in optional shiur to a standing room only crowd. It was hard to determine which was more inspiring- the sight of so many NCSYers learning late at night during their free time, or Rav Doni’s words themselves.
And while the mind was treated to a great talk, the body was feasting on a special canteen delivery of Pizza Hut. It was one of the busiest nights of the year at Yummy’s as the allure of such a world renowned brand was hard to resist.
Sunday, July 22
Sunday kicked off the middle week of the summer. It was also the first day back from the 2nd and final free weekend, including a fantastic shabbaton option at Yeshivat Har Etzion.
Sunday was also our third and last day of hosting our friends from TJJ Ambassadors. That program was capped off with stirring words from one of their head madrichim, Rabbi Michael Hoenig. We also heard an update on the current political scene from Dr. David Luchins.
The sports break was enhanced by some special new tournaments, and there was also a mini-Tiyul option to the kever of Shmuel HaNavi and the Jerusalem neighborhood of Ramot. During the 9 days, with swimming not an option, we try to supplement with additional mini-tiyulim and non-league sports options.
All of this was a backdrop to the increased preparation and awareness for the 9 days and Tisha B’Av. Even with plenty of exciting diversions, there was an unmistakable shift in tone and atmosphere, in accordance with the laws and spirit of the time period.