Summer 2016

Although this is Yitzie Scheinman’s first summer as a Madrich on NCSY Kollel, it is his fifth consecutive summer on the program, having come every year since 10^th grade. Yitzie lives in Woodmere, NY, and he attended DRS, Yeshivat Shaalvim for two years, and is set to fully begin YU in the fall after a stint in YU’s Post Pesach Program. Yitzie has enjoyed the program as a camper, CIT, and a staff member, and he is best known for his yearly goalie matchups with his older brother and his devastating triple-overtime championship hockey loss in his 3^rd year. In addition to being a Madrich, he also helps out his brother Dani with running the program’s social media.

Yitzie’s incredible chaburah consists of 5 amazing post-10^th graders: Jesse Felder from Lawrence, NY (DRS); Justin Plotsker from West Hempstead, NY (MTA); Noach Solomson from Silver Spring, MD (Berman HA); Daniel Trapunsky from Hewlett, NY (MAY); and Daniel Weiss from Woodmere, NY (DRS). The different personalities of the Chaburah have blended to create a unique and awesome Chaburah dynamic, and the Chaburah members are quickly getting closer both in and out of Chaburahs.

This summer, Yitzie’s Chaburah is discussing sugyas from the book “Headlines” by Dovid Lichtenstein. The book deals with halachic questions stemming from current events and presents an interesting perspective on how various Gemaras and arguments in the Rishonim and Achronim can be adapted to address modern day issues, such as shooting down hijacked airplanes or downloading programs without permission. When the Chaburah isn’t spending time discussing these riveting topics, they can often be found chilling or competing in games like Heads Up, Pictionary, or the classic Kollel favorite, Face Off.

Yitzie’s Chaburah has shown amazing progress and growth thus far, and they are looking forward to an amazing summer of continued success BE”H.

Tonight, NCSY Kollel experienced a night seder like none it had ever experienced before, as the incredible Nachum Segal Network recorded JM in the AM from our Beis Medrash in Beit Meir.  Nachum Segal and his amazing team set up shop in the corner of the Beis Medrash, and they recorded what will undoubtedly be a very unique edition of their world-famous radio show.

The sound of Kollel’s incomparable night seder learning ringing in the background, Nachum interviewed everyone from Rabbi Benovitz and Rav Sobolofsky to David Cutler and other NCSY executives, and even a few of our very own NCSYers.  The show featured discussions about the amazing experiences of various NCSY Summer Programs like Kollel, Michlelet, and TJJ, and at the end of it all, Nachum and his team got to experience the incredible sight of the staff and NCSYers singing and dancing as the Sefer Torah for Yom NCSY’s Hachnasas Sefer Torah was completed.

We are extremely thankful for the privilege of hosting Nachum and the JM in the AM broadcast, and we can’t wait for it to air tomorrow morning at 6am EST on the Nachum Segal Network, 91.1 FM!

Asher Becker is spending his 9th summer on the NCSY Summer Kollel.  Hailing from Elizabeth, NJ, he attended JEC for high school, followed by two years at Yeshivat Shaalvim, three years at Yeshiva University, and is now in the RIETS Semicha Program at YU. This summer, Asher’s Chaburas is focusing on various issues of contemporary halcha and how they relate to the modern society of the world in which we live.

 

Allen Fagin visited the Kollel today and gave the staff a lecture on responsibility and leadership.

Mr. Allen Fagin (above) leading staff training, and below (R) with his grandson, Madrich Josh Fagin (L)

It was really great to see the expansion of the Kollel to such high numbers, to see the excitement flowing through the beis medrash, and most of all to be able to hear an excellent Chaburah given by my own grandson, Josh.
–Allen Fagin

Mr. Allen Fagin is the Executive Vice President and Chief Professional Officer of the OU. Mr. Fagin has also served as chairman of the OU’s Youth Commission, which supervises the work of NCSY. Prior to that Mr. Fagin served as chairman of the Seif Jewish Learning Initiative on Campuses (JLIC).

Introducing the NCSY Kollel 2016 Basketball League Teams:

What an amazing Tiyul day today was!

Early departures may be hard at times, but they do mean that you will get the most of your day. And that we certainly did.  Tuesday was packed from start to finish. The first trip option, pulling out from Beit Meir at midnight and driving through the night, arrived at Har Shlomo on Israel’s Southern tip when it was still dark. And in the dark we began our 2000 foot ascent to the peak of the mountain.

As we climbed, the difficulty increased and the sky got brighter and brighter. The NCSYers were incredible, bravely climbing and pushing farther and farther up the mountain. We made it to the top just in time for sunrise, enabling us to daven vatikin (the optimal time for davening) as we watched the sun climb over the distant mountains. This breathtaking view of the Red Sea and the Sinai Desert is one of the only vantage points in the world where one can view four countries at once (Israel, of course, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt). Now that the sun was out, and the temperature neared 100 degrees, the descent was even more challenging, but with the help and encouragement of the entire group “no man was left behind”.

Another option was to climb Masada for vatikin. This trip also got an early start to the day so as to make it to the top in time for sunrise. It was a great trek up the mountain and we did in fact make it in time. We toured the various building on top after davening and then hiked back down the snake path.

At the end of the challenging and tiring hikes, there was no better place to relax and cool off than a double-decker boat sailing upon the Red Sea. So off to sea we went.  All of the trips joined together by the port of Eilat where we set sail on and drifted off into the Red Sea.  Each NCSYer was offered the thrilling opportunity to take a ride on a “banana” boat or an “aboov” tube.  Meanwhile other NCSYers took the opportunity to jump off the boat and take a refreshing dip in the beautiful sea. For those who wanted to spend their afternoon relaxing, there was also many options to choose from. Lunch was served inside the cabin, and lounge chairs were available on the decks for relaxing.  The party got going on the upper deck of both boats, where we played an intense game of musical chairs, and danced to some awesome music.  Ultimately, the game came down to a 3-way tie between Yosef Mehlman, Nathan Peyman, and Madrich Judah Cohen.  To settle the tie, the three competed in a “dance-off” in which Nathan Peyman’s moves proved too much for his opponents.

Some of the NCSYers continued their day at a ropes course. The course was over 50 feet in the air and we were challenged to make it through all of the obstacles and make to the end. Ropes, bicycles, and zip lines are some of the things we had to work with while up in the air. After eating dinner in Eilat we all headed back to Kollel after an amazing day.  Exhausted and still buzzing from the excitement of the day, NCSYers got too bed early so as to be refreshed for the rest of the packed week that lies ahead.

Rabbi Reuven Leibowitz joins the Kollel Beis Medrash for the afternoon-seder Chaburahs and is discussing new NCSY opportunities with the Madrichim for this upcoming year.

In the picture: Rabbi Leibowitz (L), Ben Zion Feld and Meir Finkelstein (R).

“The staff at the Kollel really goes above and beyond for each teen. Whether in the Beis or on the courts it really is impressive to see.” — Rabbi Reuven Leibowitz

Rabbi Reuven Leibowitz of Chicago is the Teaneck Director for NCSY. He is currently working hard to broaden the Teaneck NCSY programing to teenagers from all different backgrounds.

Yet another incredible day filled with fun has gone by on NCSY Kollel!!

To begin the day, Kollel continued its morning routine, hearing Halacha Shiur from Rav Schachter, and attending morning Seder and morning Shiur with their Rebbeim.

Following Shiur, NCSYers experienced their first full afternoon schedule.  For the first time, they partook in full length Chaburas, enjoying a full hour with their Madrichim and fellow Chaburah members.  The leagues finally began to take shape on the courts as well.  With both basketball and hockey games on schedule today, the competitive feel of the courts, as well as the immeasurable Middos, were on full display.

But the main excitement of the day came at night.  Following leagues, Kollel enjoyed a night activity at an incredible water park!!! Renting out the entire park just for Kollel, the guys enjoyed amazing water slides, lazy rivers, and pools to chill in with their friends and Madrichim.  For those that weren’t feeling the water, there were even basketball courts and soccer fields where pickup games were played throughout the evening.  Between slides, Kollel was treated to pizza for dinner.  It was an awesome night getting drenched in a water park to cap off an exciting day of learning!

With a packed week ahead, Kollel looks forward to many more exciting activities to come in following days, all leading up to the amazing Yom NCSY on Thursday night.  We can’t wait!!

Rabbi David Mahler gets involved in the late night learning in a packed Kollel Beis Medrash on the first Mishmar of the summer.

In the picture: Moshe Mattehada (L), Judah Cohen (M), Rabbi Mahler (R)

“This is my first time in eretz yisroel in 17 years and my son and I have said mah rabu maasecha Hashem many times on the trip, but this one tops them all. Seeing this beis medrash with all the learning — now that’s a Mah rabu maasecha moment.” — Rabbi David Mahler

Rabbi David Mahler is the assistant principal at Gindi Maimonides Academy in LA. He also has served as the Director of Student Activities at Joseph Kushner Hebrew Academy in Livingston, NJ, and was the Assistant Principal at Westchester Day School in Mamaroneck, NY.

Rabbi Micah Greenland and his wife, Rivkie, stepped into the Beis Medrash late Thursday night on the first Mishmar of the summer and were taken aback by the buzz of the “Kol-Torah” that lasted through the late hours of the night.

In the picture: Rabbi and Mrs. Greenland (L) Rabbi Benovitz (M) Noam Gershov (R)

“This is heaven on earth for me” – Rabbi Mica Greenland

Rabbi Micah Greenland of Chicago has been serving as the International Director of NCSY since 2013. His involvement in NCSY, however, has been at the center of his life for over 20 years. He was the high school president of NCSY in 1993 and served as the the Midwest regional director for 12 years.