What can be said about Shabbat in the Old City? The atmosphere is positively electric, and the entire weekend is one high point after the next. We kicked things off by dancing down from Yeshivat HaKotel to the Kotel itself. It’s hard to ignore the energy of a circle 250 strong, and we were the center of attention throughout the evening. The kabbalat Shabbat davening was inspiring, in a way that only the Kotel can be. The ruach and zemirot at the meal were fantastic. It is an NCSY Kollel tradition to reserve the divrei torah on Shabbat in the Old City for NCSYers from non-Yeshiva backgrounds. Daniel Landau’s rousing remarks capped off a great meal. And we were just getting started. After dinner, each chabura chose from three fabulous late night options. In the yeshiva, Rabbi Kaminetsky led the now-famous Old City tisch
Outside, Rabbi Gordon directed his “Magical Mystery Tour,” highlighting the hidden and mystical aspects of the Jerusalem landscape. For those truly adventurous, Rabbi Marcus guided a group to Meah Shearim where they sampled some of the incredible Tisches of the Chassidic communities there. A large number of NCSYers began Shabbat day by joining the minyan k’vatikin of Rav Neventzahl. After Kiddush (including home-baked goods from our tireless camp mother, Mrs. Shoshie Ellman), there were special chaburas. In the afternoon, we featured an optional shiur from Rabbi Ari Cutler (a rebbe in Yeshivat HaKotel, and brother of our own Mr. David Cutler). The late part of the day was marked by walking tours (led by Yehuda Turetsky and Rabbi Gordon) and special shiurim from Rabbi Gil Locks (the famous “Guru Gil”) and Rabbi Motty Berger (a senior lecturer at Aish HaTorah). Naturally, Seudat Shlishit was especially uplifting, with words from Rav Twersky providing the perfect capstone to Shabbat. And then there was still Motzai Shabbat
Fresh off his fiery performance at Yom NCSY, Chaim Dovid invited us up to his roof overlooking Har HaBayit for an impromptu havdala/melava malka. It was simply unforgettable from beginning to end! NCSY KOLLEL 2009
