Summer 2015

What a way to end what was certainly one of the Best.Weeks.Ever!!!

On Wednesday morning, following Halacha Shiur in the morning, Chaburahs met in place of morning Shiur.  After a brief Chaburah, each NCSYer would be spending a significant portion of the day together with their Madrichim.  Together, all of the Chaburahs headed to Jerusalem for an amazing scavenger hunt within the Machane Yehuda/Ben Yehuda areas.  Put together by Shlomo Stark, the scavenger hunt tested Chaburahs’ creativity, knowledge, and social skills through an number of hilarious, educational, and difficult challenges.  Challenges ranged from a wide variety of categories, including some such as: finding a random person named David and taking a Chaburah selfie with him; giving an educational tour outside the house of Rav Aryeh Levin/Rav Avraham Yitzchak Kook; asking a random person for walking directions from Jerusalem to Bnei Brak; and finding and taking a picture with a man with the longest beard your Chaburah could find.  The competition was a tremendous amount of fun, and the NCSYers and Madrichim enjoyed the “hunting” together immensely.

Following the scavenger hunt, each Chaburah enjoyed a Chaburah trip, during which NCSYers and their respective Madrichim could spend the afternoon however they pleased.  Each Chaburah spent the afternoon in their own unique way, whether it be enjoying lunch and relaxing at Cafe Rimon, having a Madden: NFL tournament at GameZone, or having a frisbee game in the park and going for ice cream.  The day spent with their Chaburahs outside of the Beit Medrash setting was a great experience for NCSYers, and strengthened the bonds that will IY’H last a lifetime.

After returning to Beit Meir for a condensed night Seder, Kollel headed out again for an amazing night activity at iJump!  At iJump, a massive trampoline-filled complex, with basketball hoops, foam pits, and dodge balls, Kollel bounced the night away.  While many NCSYers flipped into the foam, others partook in a Slam-Dunk competition (won by Aaron Heideman, with his amazing through-the-legs slam), and many just enjoyed jumping to the music.  Kollel returned to Beit Meir, wiped from all the amazing energy expended at iJump, and the incredible day they enjoyed.

Thursday was 3-on-3 day on NCSY Kollel!  Prior to the festivities, Kollel welcomed Sulam to the Beit Medrash and the courts.  After a joint Shiur with Rav Doni Marcus in the morning, Kollel faced off against Sulam on the hockey and basketball courts.  While Sulam ended taking both of the nail-biting basketball games, the hockey game had a drastically different outcome.  Tied after the three regulation periods, Kollel and Sulam pushed through overtime after overtime, yet the score remained deadlocked.  Finally, during the fifth(!) overtime period, Eitan Drazin faked out the goalie to bury the winning goal in the back of the net, for a Kollel 3-2 victory.  The epic game will certainly go down as one of the most amazing games in Kollel history!

One of the most anticipated activities of the summer, the annual 3-on-3 Tournament began after the inter-camp games with Sulam.  Intense, exciting, and fast-paced games took place on all eight courts throughout the entire afternoon, as the number of teams remaining continued to dwindle down as the rounds progressed.  Team shirts of all different colors – provided by the 3-on-3 Tournament’s generous sponsor, Yeshiva University – scattered the courts as teams faced off against one another in this adrenaline-pumping version of 3-on-3 basketball.  With so many games having been played by so many teams, only a portion of the Tournament was completed, and it will resume beginning next Sunday.

Heading back to the Beit Medrash, NCSYers continued learning into our weekly late Thursday night Mishamar, despite all the tiring, incredible activities experienced over the last few days.  It was amazing to see just how many NCSYers chose to end their amazing week with a strong night of learning Torah.

With the second free weekend already upon us, Kollel can’t wait to return refreshed for the final week of the Best.Summer.Ever!

What an amazing day to start off what is sure to be an amazing half-week on Kollel!

Following a regular morning, consisting of Shiur, Seder, and Chaburahs, a new twist was added into the sports schedule.  After the first period of leagues, the annual “Chaburah Lineup Tournament” and “Madrichim vs. NCSYers Dodgeball” games were held on the basketball courts.  The lineup tournament was exhilarating, basketballs flying back and forth as each member of the Chaburahs swapped in and out of the line.  In the end, it was the CITs that won, as Eli Goldberg knocked out Rookie Rosenberg in the final round.  In an intense game of dodgeball, just as the number of players remaining in the game began dwindling on both sides, the NCSYers scored the “money basket,” allowing all of the NCSYers back into the game.  This pivotal turning point in the game ended up being the determining factor, as the NCSYers ultimately eliminated all of the Madrichim and won the game.  It was an incredibly fun afternoon, but unbeknownst to the NCSYers, would not even be the most exciting activity of the day.

After Maariv, when the NCSYers believed they were beginning a special night Seder program, filled with a variety of speakers and Shiurim, they were informed that instead they would be partaking in an amazing surprise concert by the band “Simply Tzfat!”  Kollel danced for hours as Simply Tzfat rocked the house, and an amazing time was had by all.

But this day of fun was only the beginning; with exciting activities planned for the rest of the week, including an amazing scavenger hunt, great trips, and the annual 3 on 3 tournament, NCSYers can’t wait for an amazing end to the week!

While normal, full-schedule days are hard to come by on Kollel, thanks to the many exciting special activities always taking place, they are certainly some of the most enjoyable, successful days of the summer.

Both today and yesterday were such days, and they were nothing short of amazing.  As the crux of the summer continues to pass, the NCSYers have gotten into an incredible routine consisting of high level learning and growing as well as exciting sports and activities.  The learning during the morning Seder and Shiurim was second to none.  The Chaburahs and special lectures by guests were informative, fun, and inspirational.  The league games were full of competitive intensity, but more importantly, Middos and respect.

Night Seder on Kollel has been particularly strong these last two days.  with the new cycle of night Shiurim and Chavrusas, each NCSYer has been growing in new areas, and the Beit Medrash has been thriving late at night, despite the intense heat and the exhaustion one might think it would bring.  The number of post-Maariv Chavrusas has been steadily increasing, and the full Beit Medrash at such a late hour is truly a sight to behold.

While there are certainly plenty of special activities still to come before the summer’s end, we can’t wait to simply enjoy the regular days when they present themselves, and hope the success seen in them continues throughout – and beyond – the summer.

This summer is Menachum Polack’s first summer on NCSY Kollel. As a homegrown Bostonian, he spent his youth attending Maimonides High School. After high school and a two-year stint at Yeshivat Torat Shraga, he began studying Finance at Yeshiva University.

The chaburah is made up of six of the best guys around: Hudi Aronovitz from Lawrence, NY; Adriel Bolour from Englewood, NJ; Shimmy Goldschein now residing in Efrat; Yoni Katz from Detroit, MI; Yosef Moskowitz from Mizpeh Yirichoh; and last but not least, Moshe Simon from Lawrence, NY.

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.

Although our focus this summer has been the topic of Zimun, we have learned about a variety of topics such as the three weeks, the impact of תורה, and tefillah.

Menachum’s Chaburah prides themselves on being the leading Chaburah at “Chilling,” and sees this as a major asset to the growth and success of the Chuaburah as a whole.

Clash of the Brothers!

In an unprecedented day on Kollel, a staggering five pairs of brothers faced off against each other today in leagues:

(Younger Brother) Ezra Wildes and team “Proud To Be an Ivry” defeated Yosef Wildes and team “Kamp Horn,” 67-51.

(Older Brother) Leib Weiner and team “Siyata Dishmaya” defeated Ephraim Weiner and team “NCSY Benchers,” 47-43.

(Twins) Eli Goldberg and team “Fear the Beards” defeated Yoni Goldberg and team “Commish’s Crew,” 64-59.

In hockey, (Younger Brother) Yitzie Scheinman (G) and team “Fork” defeated Dani Scheinman (G) and team “Knife,” 2-0.

(Older Brother) Shimmy Keller and team “Table” defeated Moshe Keller and team “Plate,” 5-0.

In Kollel’s first soccer tournament of the summer, team Belgium leads the standings as we head into elimination rounds tomorrow and later this week.

Check back for future sports updates, as playoffs begin next week!

Dear TJJers,
No one on NCSY Kollel will soon forget the great time we had together when you visited last week. Those interactions were a highlight of our summer. Moreover, particularly with the late night singing and dancing in the Beis Medrash, you made a lasting impact on our program and our NCSYers.
Last night we were thinking of you and are excited that the power of NCSY Summer is now spreading out across Israel and (for most of you) across North America and your hometowns.
Please enjoy this video message that NCSY Kollel sends from the heart! This email is being sent to all of the guys from NCSY Kollel, TJJ Ambassadors, TJJ Bus 7, and TJJ Bus 4.
Have a great Shabbos!

Moshe Benovitz

Without a question, this was a BIG, BIG week on NCSY Kollel.

It was big, in the sense of important.  We marked and passed the midpoint of the summer, and in many ways the week was pivotal and a time of transition.  These changes were most outwardly evident in the switching of our night shiur options.  Each NCSYer spends half the summer in the night shiur of his choice before choosing anew for the second half.  As always, the night shiurim have presented a great opportunity for exploring topics of interest at a pace on level that fits each particular participant.  They also allow the NCSYers to create new relationships with some of the great Rabbinic personalities who teach on the program, and when we present the new options the NCSYers can decide whether to continue with a rebbe with whom they have already established a bond, or to develop something new.

Even more striking was the move from days of Tisha B’Av and mourning to the days that introduce consolation and more joy.  The shift in tone from Shabbos and Sunday to Monday and the rest of the week was palpable and appropriate.  The meaningful days we spent last week and last weekend were not in any way forgotten or ignored, but rather served as a catalyst for the energy and enthusiasm that accompanied everything we did over the subsequent days.

But the importance of the week was likely even more related to some of the less obvious currents and rhythms of the middle period of the program.  More opportunities are being identified and pursued, and the discussions are shifting from acclimation and incorporation to real growth and implications beyond the six weeks we spend together here.  This is always an exciting time and creates an incomparable buzz and exhilarating sense of purpose around the campus.

But the theme of “big” had more basic and straightforward application too.  In at least four highly prominent ways this was a week of monumental events and major ideas.   These happenings contributed to an environment of ambitious thinking and great self-esteem.  It also inspired us to consider big issues and the broader community in ways that can sometimes be closed off.  To borrow a phrase, it was a week of “Rosh Gadol” or thinking big.

First, “Big” would be an apt description of our Tisha B’Av “Kumsitz of the World.”  Of all the truly remarkable and elevating aspects of this event, it was the sheer scope and size that might have been the most impactful.  At no point is the reach and influence of NCSY Kollel more apparent to our boys than at the Kotel kumsitz.  This sensitivity is a direct result of both the ever-growing numbers of participants at the kumsitz itself, and the global audience that participates through the live stream.  The kumsitz is a too rare example of an event that draws a crowd without prejudice or barriers for entry.  Our circle, which began at 7 PM with an already impressive  mass of 250 people involved with NCSY Kollel, quickly ballooned to more than double that number.  We were joined by 8-10 other NCSY programs, other summer tours from North America and Europe, OU and Yerushalayim officers and dignitaries, many visiting parents and friends of the program, and- most notably- hordes of complete strangers who could not tear themselves away from the spectacle of the singing.  This last group included Jews from every demographic imaginable.  It spanned the spectrums of religious commitment and affiliation, points of geographic origin, age, and gender.  Significantly, the kumsitz does not ever include a single spoken word or even announcement.  It remains focused purely on the simple and powerful messages of Jewish unity, pride, and hope.  These are expressed in song, and in the gathering itself.  And in a very big way.

Yom NCSY on Monday loomed large as well.  In some ways the size and messaging were quite similar to the previous night’s.  In other ways, the two evenings could not have been more different.   Yom NCSY was epic, and from beginning to end it was done on a large scale befitting the greatness of the groups it brought together.  The evenings strongest highlights included a stirring keynote address from Mrs. Racheli Frenkel, mother of Naftali, ob”m.  Mrs. Frenkel will always have a deep and moving connection with the youth of our community, and that connection was evident and most inspiring during her talk at Yom NCSY.  The concert featuring Shlomo Katz was as uplifting as ever and provided the healthiest of outlets to the seemingly limitless energy that was emanating from every corner of the amphitheater.    From the food to the fireworks and from the multitudes to the big screens, sounds and lights, it was a first class and very big time production.  And once again, our NCSYers were not spectators at a show, but the starring performers in the production.  For the second consecutive night it was easy to imagine NCSY summer as the very epicenter of the Jewish world.  This was presented to the NCSYers as a reason for taking responsibility and reconnecting, not- God forbid- as an excuse for hubris or self centeredness.  It was a great event for a great group.

So on a week like this, it was certainly expected that the tiyul would match and maintain the awesomeness of the earlier events.  It did.  Our trek down south was supersized and over the top, literally and figuratively.  It is our most elaborate and longest tiyul day of the summer, and it was an action packed affair.  From the challenging hikes, deep connections to the land and history, outdoor training activiites, and incredible fun in the sea of Eilat, there were thrills and meaning at every turn.  Already in this description it would be fair to classify the tiyul as plenty “big.”  But the overwhelming size of the tiyul was likely best represented by the twin peaks of the tiyul options- Har Shlomo and Masada.  We have previously described the multiple objectives of our tiyul program.  Each tiyul is designed to introduce love for the land of Israel, while also offering a break from more formal learning and a providing a full summer experience of outdoor fun and excitement.  To this list we can add the goal of filling the NCSYers with a sense of awe for the world around them.  There may be no better to place to accomplish this than the summits of these mighty mountains.  A friend who is an accomplished Jewish educator and also an avid outdoorsman once commented to me that any thoughtful process or conversation a teenager can have in a classroom, living room, or chatroom will automatically be more meaningful and effective on a hike or in nature.  I can only imagine what he would say about such exchanges on the peak of Har Shlomo at sunrise.  The views from these lookouts are not just aesthetically pleasing, although they are surely that as well.  It is not mere convenience or technicalities that lead us to include morning prayers on the itineraries of these hikes.  These experiences are big, vast, and inspire awe and respect for the majesty and potential of the world we live in.  Big mountains humble and inspire, and when they are climbed and scaled, the feeling of accomplishment and fulfillment is intense and glorious.

What else contributed to our big week?  Perhaps most importantly, it was a period of intense and profound connection with our leaders and heroes.  Our tradition refers to our great scholars and visionaries as “Gedolim”, or great ones.  It is not only towering mountaintops that humble and inspire, but also human beings of character and scholarship so special that their influence is outsized and hard to calculate.  This week Rav Twersky and Rav Schachter had their respective stays with NCSY Kollel overlap by just under a day.  For an almost indescribable afternoon and evening of learning we enjoyed the power of having them, along with Rav Sobolofsky, join together in our Beis Medrash.  In truth, it would be sufficiently impactful if all the three Roshei Yeshiva offered was an example and role modeling that our NCSYers could gain from at a distance. But each of them is involved directly with scores of NCSYers and fully engaged in the program on many levels.  While some are very consciously aware of the role the Rabbis play on the program, and extremely appreciative of the opportunities they present, other NCSYers may be less sensitive to their presence and impact.  Yet, each group still benefits from what Rav Schachter, Rav Sobolofsky, and Rav Twersky bring to NCSY Kollel.  If we try to inspire the NCSYers to dream big and if we try to raise the ceiling of what can be accomplished, there is no better way to do this than to expose them to true greatness in our leaders.  These interactions can proudly take their place among the aforementioned events as incidents that will likely be recalled fondly by our teens for decades to come.  It is important to note that through these relationships we are helping to foster a communal environment of dereference and respect to rabbonim and leadership that is critical for the growth and advancement of the Jewish world.

So what happens at the end of such an incredible week?  How about an even more incredible opportunity of a full Shabbat Nachamu in the Old City of Yerushalayim?  Both Nachamu and the Old City Shabbat are each one of the most highly anticipated events of the summer, and this year’s calendar throws them together in the most spectacular of ways.  We cannot wait.

Beyond that, we hope to build on all of this and continue to soar and achieve for the rest of the summer.  There is so much to take pride in, and so much more to accomplish, together.

We wish you a great big Shabbos, and extend the warmest of greetings and blessings from the ancient and modern city of Jerusalem

Moshe Benovitz

Check out a recap of the incredible past two weeks here on Kollel!!!

Enjoy!  Have an amazing Shabbos!

Check out a recap of the amazing last two weeks we’ve had on Kollel!