Farewell...for now

It is hard to imagine that another summer has passed, and that we are entering our final post on the blog. We certainly hope you have enjoyed this addition to our parent communication, and that the blog has provided a window into the great happenings here on the NCSY Kollel. Special thanks to Josh Weinberg, whose technical expertise, creativity and vision have enhanced our media all summer long

It has been an incredibly enjoyable and productive summer for all of us here. We look forward to continuing the wonderful relationships that have been formed. We are always looking to improve the program, and all feedback- both positive and negative- is encouraged. The NCSYers spent time on Sunday completing evaluations and we will be carefully reviewing them to see what we have done well and what we can do better. Please feel free to share any thoughts with us at ncsykollel@yahoo.com

As we sign off, please enjoy a final video clip of summer highlights. Thank you! NCSY KOLLEL 2009

Sunday/Monday: August 16-17, 2009

Daily Update

Excitement, pride and tinges of sadness all were present throughout our last few hours in Beit Meir. Sunday was the last morning shiur, and Sunday night was the final night shiur. In between, there was a thrilling afternoon of sports and competition (see the following post for all details). Afternoon chaburas were postponed until post-maariv, for a dual purpose. First, we used the chaburas to jumpstart the last night Mishmar program. Second, we thought it only appropriate to have the final formal learning be in the form of chaburas. The madrichim have carried the program to great heights this summer, and have been most directly responsible for your sons, inside the beit medrash and out. More than anyone else, the NCSYers recognize the role the madrichim have played, and it certainly was fitting to end the learning of the summer- as it began- with chaburas. We also celebrated yet another three siyumim (no, there cannot be too much of a good thing). Zach Burak and Evan Linder indepently made siyumim on mishnayot Seder Zeraim.

Isaac Shulman and Yakir Forman (no strangers to the siyum podium) boosted the learning with a 1 AM siyum on Masechet Taanit. Great job by all!

Monday has been checkout/farewell day on the Kollel. After checking out of the dorm, we traveled to Yerushalayim for some final shopping and mincha at the Kotel. After that, it was dinner in Beit Meir and a closing program with words from Danny Shulman (Division Head.) And another great summer in Beit Meir draws to a close. NCSY KOLLEL 2009

SPORTS FINAL - Sunday: August 16, 2009

Incredible leagues and a super season deserved nothing less than classic championship contests, and that’s exactly what happened on Sunday. The basketball league came down to a clash between the “Mighty Mevakshim” and “Bruce Spirnsteen.” Both teams squeaked into the playoffs, but the Mevakshm have been playing stellar basketball for weeks, and were the clearly established favorites. A well balanced and lethal attack led by Rabbi Lebowitz, Yehuda Meiteiis, Adi Pasternak, and Eli Blumenthal had pushed them into the championship game with hardly a challenge in the playoffs. Spirnsteen on the other hand was the Cinderella team of the tournament, continuing to surprise and defy expectations with a string of hard fought victories. The game was particularly noteworthy because the matchup of Rabbi Lebowitz and Rabbi Schneider guaranteed the end of one of NCSY Kollel’s most inglorious streaks. Remarkably, despite heavy participation and no shortage of skill (more on that below), no Rebbe has ever been on a championship winning team. That would end this year. It was clear from the outset that those anticipating a blowout would be mistaken. Spirnsteen’s aggressive defense and all out hustle insured a see-saw battle with a great number of lead changes and high drama

The uncanny teamwork of Sammy Kahn and Rabbi Schneider lifted Spirnsteen to a late lead, but the Mevakshim were not going to go down easily. Adi hit a huge three pointer to tie the game, but in the end Spirnsteen and Rabbi Schneider completed the upset and the miracle run. It was a true team effort, with key baskets from Ari Feldstein and Ezra Stone, and great defense from the entire team

Congratulations to the champs (Yair Frankel, Ari Feldstein, Ari Miller, Ezra Stone, Jon Herskowitz, Eli Spirn, and Sammy Kahn) and Captain Rabbi Schneider for his huge role in leading them to victory.

Over on the hockey court, there was also a thriller of a conclusion.

Team G had led the season standings all summer, with a goalie backbone of Ariel Kirschenbaum providing constant support. Daniel Genachowski, Shlomo Glass and Danny Shulman were an unbeatable force, and headed into the championship game with confidence. Like in basketball, their opponents were upstarts, who had only made the playoffs as a number 4 seed. Team E (Sammy Schwartz, Aryeh Fischer, Nachum Cooper, Issac Shulman, Josh Weiss, Eric Wittenberg, Rabbi Freedman, Dani Bauer, Ben Pianko) peaked at the right time and proved a worthy opponent for the final game. It was a hard fought game from the stat, with Chaim Levitz and Shimmy Karasick setting the tone for the favorites with intense and spirited defense. But a third period thrilling goal from Sammy gave Team E a hard earned championship. Congratulations! We also named our league MVPs and Middot Awardees. As you can imagine there was stiff competition in both categories, and no shortage of worthy candidates. In Hockey, it was a Stone Brother sweep, as Ezra won the Middot Award and Yoni was declared the MVP. In basketball, Binyamin Kaminetsky capped two ountstanding summers of Kollel Ball with an MVP designation, and Sammy Kahn and Menachem Weber were the co-winners of the Middot Award. Congratulations! We also had the finals of our three point shootout. Davey Odzer put on a most impressive display of shooting and won the title going away

For many, the highlight of the sports day were the staff-NCSYer all star games. In hockey, youth was served as the NCSYers were able to pull off the upset of the mighty staff team. In basketball, the NCSYers were less fortunate.

For the second consecutive year, the mighty team of Rabbeim defended the honor of Rabbis everywhere with an impressive victory over the NCSYers. Rabbi Schneider continued his great day on the court with a great performance, and Rabbi Resnick supplied MVP caliber play in the middle in leading the Rabbis to victory. This was a phenomenal summer of Kollel athletics, living up to everyone’s lofty expectations and providing great fun and some lessons along the way. NCSY KOLLEL 2009

Shabbos: August 15, 2009

Daily Update

The last Shabbat on the Kollel is always extraordinary. It is the crescendo of the summer’s ruach and emotion, and provides an incomparable platform for the achdut and goodwill that has been building for the past 6 weeks. Rabbi Kaminetsky led a rousing Kabbalat Shabbat that led into a seuda with overpowering zemirot and spirit. The Friday night Tisch was incredible, thanks to words of chizuk from our Head Madrich, Yehuda Turetsky and a special siyum made by Ezra Buchbinder (sports staff) and Zach Fein. Ezra and Zach dedicated their night-seder chavruta to learning a few mishnayot a night, and over the course of the summer managed to complete all of Seder Mo’ed. What an accomplishment! On Shabbat morning we added yet another learning highlight, as we ran an “Achdut Seder” after davening

The entire Kollel united in the Beit Medrash. Chavrutot were assigned completely randomly, and some new and interesting pairs were formed. Even at this late point in the summer, there was an opportunity to solidify that chevra and the social bonding of the NCSYers, and it was especially sweet to do that in the context of Talmud Torah. The chavruta learning was preparation for a shiur from Rav Sobolofsky on the topic (appropriately) of Areivut and Communal Responsibility. Rav Sobolofsky ended the shiur with a riveting account of his recent trip to Germany and Eastern Europe, and his reflections on that experience added a poignant postscript to the shiur.

This incredible Shabbat was followed by a most amazing Motzai Shabbat. We celebrated our Mesibat Siyum (closing banquet) as part of our Melava Malka. We started by honoring the members of Yosef Miller’s post-maariv (optional) gemara shiur, who completed the entire Masechet Taanit just this summer. Their diligence and commitment was a summer-long inspiration, and it was a privilege to honor them at the banquet. Mazal Tov to Yosef, as well as Yaakov Schiff, Avi Hirt, Jonathan Tavin, Gershi Adler, Eli Muschel, Moshe Jaroslowicz, Sruli Farkas, Moshe Kazlow, Isaac Shulman, and Netanel Rosenzweig on this fantastic achievement! The banquet continued with a long lists of thank yous and tributes to all of the individuals who contributed to such and incredible summer. There were also skits and a very entertaining video that highlighted many of the great events from the past 6 weeks. This was followed by our annual summer’s end kumsitz, which featured reflections from close to twenty of the NCSYers. It was a late night affair, and full of heartfelt depictions of accomplishment and growth. NCSY KOLLEL 2009

Wednesday: August 12, 2009

Daily Update

While there was plenty of learning Wednesday, the main story of the day was the Chesed trips running from late morning through evening. We split up and headed to five different activities, and each was productive and inspiring. Rabbi Freedman’s shiur spent the day at Carmei Ha’Ir, an innovative soup kitchen (www.carmeihair.org.il). Rabbi Cohen’s shiur worked with the residents at Shekel, a home in Yerushalayim for individuals with Special Needs (www.shekel.org.il). Both of these shiurim also visited the new Gush Katif Museum (www.gushkatifmuseum.com), learning about the plight of those affected by the disengagement process three years ago. On that note, Rabbi Gordon’s and Rabbi Issacson’s shiurim traveled to one of the new cities in the south set up for former residents of Gush Katif, and met with community leaders. They then spent time helping rebuild there. Rabbi Yudin’s, Rabbi Rothwach’s and Rabbi Saffer’s shiurim went along with the Standing Together organization (www.stogether.org) to meet with and deliver ice cream to IDF soldiers. And Rabbi Reich’s, Rabbi Schneider’s and Rabbi Marcus’ shiurim toured a base of Nachal Chareidi (www.nahalharedi.org), seeing first hand some of the revolutionary efforts taking place there. They also delivered special care packages and interacted with the soldiers (including Adir Dishy, NCSY Kollel 2005!). All in all it was an extraordinary day of giving and growing. A number of the organizations made a point of contacting us to let us know what a phenomenal job the NCSYers did, and we are certainly proud of their efforts. Back on campus, we jumped right back into learning with a strong night seder. After Ma’ariv the siyum parade continued with Asher Becker and Eli Muschel completing Masechet Megillah

Mazal Tov! NCSY KOLLEL 2009

Tuesday: August 11, 2009

Daily Update

The success of Monday’s shiur trips was clearly felt throughout a strong Tuesday morning seder

Following chaburas, our final optional mini-tiyul of the summer traveled to Emek HaEla, site of the battle between David and Goliath.

The focus on the courts turned to the playoffs, as intense games in basketball and hockey took center stage. With the top fours seeds enjoying first round byes, the other eight remaining teams battled for the right to move on.

Adi Pasternak continued his stellar play, while Adam Poliak’s outstanding effort could not stave off defeat. Meanwhile, Eli Pottash and Yavniel Field teamed with Jon Lubat to continue the season’s biggest turnaround, from 0-4 to the second round of the playoffs. Teams that missed out on the grand prize were still consoled with a second-chance/NIT bracket, competing for the right to lay claim as the 13^th best team this summer. There were plenty of other basketball highlights as well. Chaburas competed in a massive lineup/knockout challenge, with Josh Tanzman winning it all. We also witnessed the thrilling conclusion to our “Around the World” All-Star tournament. In this competition, 4 teams were comprised by combining staff and NCSYers from the same High School or geographic regions. The MTA team, for example, was made up of 8 players spanning 25 years. Entering the final day of competition, all 4 teams carried identical records. After the NJ All Stars (Frisch, JEC, TABC and MAYHS) fell to the Out of New York squad, it all came down to MTA vs. Long Island. MTA was poised to win it all, but somehow squandered a 7 point lead in the closing moments. Clutch shooting by Jordan Ginsberg and Zach Wertheimer forced overtime, and from there Team LI coasted to victory. The tournament helps build school pride, and provides another opportunity for positive interaction between staff and NCSYers.

An excellent night seder was followed by an even more excellent post-maariv seder. Rav Doni Marcus delivered a powerful optional shiur on the importance of Chesed. Late night, we were treated to a special siyum made by Yakir Forman, Isaac Shulman, and Sruli Farkas, who learned throughout the school year and summer and together completed Masechet Beitzah. Mazal Tov! NCSY KOLLEL 2009

Monday: August 10, 2009

Daily Update

Monday was one of the best days of the summer (so far). The morning was spent on “Shiur Trips.” Each shiur traveled outside the classroom for some fun and bonding. Activities included bowling, capture the flag, swimming, basketball, flag football, and even some learning. So many of the NCSYers are privileged to have wonderfully close relationships with their morning Rabbeim, and these trips certainly helped further those relationships along. There were regular Chaburas and thrilling sports.

Our hockey stars played their first of a series of All Star games, this time in a creative format. It was “TABC vs. The World,” as our sizable representation from TABC’s renowned hockey program challenged the combined efforts of the rest of our NCSYers.

TABC jumped out to the early lead 4-1, only to see their opponents come up with a furious rally to close to 4-3. Thanks to Mordy Dubin’s steady hand in goal that’s how it ended. Things really took off at night. In the place of regular night shiurim, we conducted a special Leil Iyun.

There were a wide variety of important shiurim touching upon topics such as “Relationships in the Digital World: A Torah Perspective on Facebook, Twitter, and More”, “Kibud Av V’Em in Theory and Practice”, “Inspiring Others: Opportunities and Responsibilities”, “To You Own Self be True: Cheating in High School”, and “Guys and Girls in the High School Years.” As part of the Leil Iyun, we also presented a unique seminar for our post-11^th graders, dealing with the challenges and promise of the Senior Year. This seminar was conducted as an interactive discussion between our soon-to-be-Seniors and our staff members who themselves are recent graduates. The entire evening was informative and interesting, and a great supplement to our regular learning program. NCSY KOLLEL 2009

FOR PICTURES FROM OUR ENTIRE SUMMER EXPERIENCE - CLICK HERE

Sunday: August 9, 2009

Daily Update

One of the most beautiful aspects of NCSY Kollel is the interplay between the learning and non-learning activities. While we spend many hours outside of the Beit Medrash, much of that time channels energy and excitement right back into the learning

Sunday was a great example of this. There was no letdown from our incredible Shabbat. To the contrary, shiurim and chaburas were particularly strong and enjoyed a post-Old City lift. There was further excitement on the courts. The playoff field was set over the last two days of the season, and quite a few games went down to the wire. Ariel Rapps and Ethan Jerome shot their team towards a high seed, while our two time defending champion, Michael Friedman, was finally eliminated. Please click on the documents below for a full listing of the latest standings and stats.

Back in the Beit Medrash, we started night seder with a sicha from Rav Tani Lauer. We bade farewell to Rav Twersky, who flew back to the U.S. for a family simcha. Post Maariv, we began conducting meetings for different geographical regions to plan follow up events throughout the year in North America. This is part of a new venture being run by Rabbi Yehuda Chanales, under the auspices of NCSY. Rabbi Chanales will be working with our administration in developing substantive programming for young men (including Shabbatons, learning programs, reunions, and more) outside of the regular school framework. Sunday night’s meeting focused on Queens and Nassau County, and was most productive. Meetings for New Jersey, Chicago, South Florida and Los Angeles were scheduled for later in the week. The late night also saw another NCSY Kollel first, as we combined a farewell party for Assistant Head Madrich Josh Schulman with the first ever night Hockey game. Kudos to Yaakov Burack for his hat trick! NCSY KOLLEL 2009

Shabbos: August 8, 2009

Daily Update

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

Thursday: August 6, 2009

Daily Update

An incredible week had a great finish, with strong learning, sports and fun. It was down to one final game in the advanced bracket of the 3 on 3 tourney

Rabbi Resnick, Natan Ginsberg, and Moshe Rosenblatt continued their outstanding play and withstood a valiant effort by Nati Schreiber, Dovi Appel and Moshe Marcus. Kudos to this year’s champs! We also resumed our regulr intramural schedule, with spirited contests throughout the afternoon.

Night Seder got a boost with words of chizuk from Rabbi Saul Zucker, Director of the Department of Day School and Educational Services at the OU.

The real excitement of the day was the electrifying post maariv mishmar. Late night learning has been gradually increasing throughout the summer, and on Thursday night the Beit Medrash was definitely the place to be. Extra shiurim were offered by Rav Yehuda Chanales (visiting from TABC) and Doni Abell. There was cholent and kugel at midnight, and a packed house until later than that.

NCSY KOLLEL 2009

Wednesday: August 5, 2009

Daily Update

Back in Beit Meir, a “regular” day of learning and sports still contained plenty of excitement. There was a ton of activity in the afternoon, with the continuation of our 3 on 3 tournament on center stage.

Akiva Rosenzweig, Yavniel Field, and Yoni Stone were the crowd favorites, combining great athleticism with sublime teamwork. Alas, their run ended in the semifinals, to the dismay of the crowd. We crowned our intermediate division champions: congratulations to Mendy Millman, Yaakov Kaminetsky, Ari Brandwein. For those who had already been eliminated, there was a roller hockey tournament, swimming, and pickup basketball. There was also a special mini-tiyul, this time tracing the steps of the Aron Kodesh through the Bet Shemesh area. Thanks to our mini-tiyul coordinator Gedaliah Goldstein for bringing Tanach alive in such an exciting way.

During mussar seder, NCSYers reconvened with their chaburas - but with a twist

Instead of meeting with their regular madrichim, each madrich switched places with another, providing a fresh voice and an opportunity for new relationships. Post maariv learning options included a special shiur based on the writings of Rav Kook zt”l.

NCSY KOLLEL 2009

Tuesday: August 4, 2009

Daily Update

Tuesday was the week’s Tiyul day, and what a day it was! Three options were offered, and at least two of them are practically exclusive to the Kollel experience. The three trips were also wildly diverse, with every taste catered to. For some, it was the third and final of our master-level hikes.

We saved the best for last, as Nachal Darja challenges and exhilarates with its precipitous drops and breathtaking views. Darja demands teamwork and perseverance, but once again our hikers were more than up to the task.

Option 2 was a visit to two of Israel’s most interactive and world-renowned exhibits, Dialogue in the Dark and the Palmach Museum.

Dialogue in the Dark (The Blind Museum) allows visitors to experience what it is like to navigate daily life without the gift of sight. Vision-impaired guides directed us through a variety of daily tasks in complete darkness. The experience was powerful and a revelation. The Palmach museum is a highly interactive tour of the founding of the State of Israel. It is informative and gripping, and completely unforgettable. The NCSYers on this trip were also able to spend some time in Bnei Brak

The third option was Rav Gordon’s incredible “History Tour of Torah in Yerushalayim.” Rav Gordon led his bus through the deep and rich history of Torah study in Yerushalayim, including sites of note and visits with living Gedolim. We toured the palatial Torah center of the Belzer Chassidim, and met with Rav Elyashiv and many others

Whatever the choice, it was an amazing day!

NCSY KOLLEL 2009

Monday: August 3, 2009

Daily Update

Two events shared the spotlight on Monday. On the courts, it was the start of our annual 3 on 3 Basketball tournament. In the Beit Medrash, it was the beginning of our second half of night shiurim.

The 3 on 3 tourney is a hit for a variety of reasons. It starts with the overwhelmingly high level of participation. Over 95% of NCSYers and staff joined either our advanced or intermediate brackets. The event serves as a very effective unifier. New teams are formed (beyond our intramural squads), and there are always plenty of spectators and cheering. The competition itself is thrilling, with the unique rules creating a fast moving and frenzied game. We got off to a great start Monday, with the completion of rounds 1, 2, and 3. Jon Lubat, Jon Herskowitz, and Shlomo Schenker were the early favorites, as they played an unbelievable five overtimes in their three games! Night Seder provided a fresh opportunity for learning, with the transition to our second half of shiurim. Many of our first half offerings were back by popular demand, with new options given by Rav Sobolofsky, Rav Tani Lauer, and Eric Wittenberg also proving to be quite popular. The changeover provided a nice boost to our night learning, and the early returns were extremely promising

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Spotlight

Spotlight #4: Night Seder

Many sources hint to the special power of learning at night. There are a number of facets of the NCSY Summer Kollel Night Seder program that help make this especially true. The two dominant themes of our night learning are “choice” and “individual attention.” Subjects for study are chosen by the NCSYers, and they are free to choose areas that most interest them. Both in the shiurim and in the chavruta hour, there is an emphasis on small groups and high levels of interaction between staff and NCSYers. Of course, the quality of instructors is critical as well, and the outstanding shiurim we offer are of a world-class caliber. Many nights begin with a sicha as part of the mussar seder. The strength of the night program is most evident in the carry over to optional post-maariv learning. This may be the most inspiring time of day on the Kollel! NCSY KOLLEL 2009

Sunday: August 2, 2009

Daily Update

It was back to a regular schedule on Sunday, at least for the first half of the day. It was great to be back with our Morning Rabbeim and was great to put into practice so much of the inspiration from the past few days. In the afternoon we headed up to Yerushalayim for our annual “Chabura Trips.” These outings supplement our regular tiyul schedule, inject additional fun and excitement into our days, and - most importantly - help foster stronger bonds within the chaburas. There were flag football competitions, scavenger hunts, and plenty of food stops (KFC was the biggest beneficiary of Chabura Trips). Many Chaburas also visited roshei yeshiva and batei medrash for some learning and inspiration. Sunday night we participated in “Yom NCSY”, an amazing event that brings together the over 650 participants from all of NCSY’s summer programs in Israel. There was remarkable strength in these numbers, and the mere gathering of so many teenagers from such diverse backgrounds was excitement enough. The program itself was a thrill, as we heard from speakers including Rav Dovid Orlofsky and our own Adam Poliak

.

There was a great BBQ buffet, and the evening ended with a rousing concert featuring Chaim Dovid

The event attracted the attention of the media, and if you missed it

CLICK HERE for a link to the coverage in the Jerusalem Post

Shabbos: August 1, 2009

Daily Update

Shabbat Nachamu on the Kollel is truly one of a kind. The emotions of Tisha B’Av flow into a Shabbat of energy and reflection. The zemirot are otherworldly, and the davening is intense and uplifting. This year, Shabbat Nachamu coincided with Rav Schachter’s last moments on the Kollel, lending even more significance to the day. The meals were enhanced by divrei torah from Reuven Isaacs and Sammy Schwartz. We hosted Mr. David Cutler (and family), and the Cutlers sponsored the Friday night oneg, in honor of all our NCSYers. David also addressed the Kollel on Shabbat morning, and his words were extremely well received. But the high points of Shabbat were the opportunities to hear from Rav Schachter.

He first spoke at the Oneg, describing the challenge of finding meaning in ritual, and avoiding rote or joyless observance. On Shabbat morning, he held a special question and answer session, dealing with a host of issues pre-submitted by the NCSYers. Topics covered included: copyright infringement, aliyah, the recent protests in Yerushalayim, the legacy of Rav Soloveitchik zt”l, and many others. We also heard from Rav Kaminetsky at Seudat Shlishit, who spoke of the need to think out our actions and avoid mindlessly following our emotions and desires. After havdalah we danced Rav Schachter out of the Beit Medrash, always one of the most bittersweet moments of the summer.

NCSY KOLLEL 2009

Friday: July 31, 2009

Daily Update

One short day, sandwiched between Tisha B’Av and Shabbat Nachamu. But what a day!

Friday was non-stop activity, and a thrill a minute. We welcomed another group of boys from TJJ for our annual Mitzvah Fair in the morning. We conducted workshops in Tefilin and Tzitzit, with our NCSYers helping some of the TJJers tie their own first pair of Tzitzit. The Tefilin demonstration was a hands on exhibition of the what and how of Tefilin, and provided plenty of insights into this important daily Mitzvah.

In the afternoon, the Mitzvah Fair continued with a live shechita, highlighting many of the halachic and ethical issues that govern the food we consume.

Meanwhile, our annual Soccer Tournament was in full swing, giving NCSYers a chance to shine in sports other than basketball and hockey. The tournament was competitive and fun, and we will report on the winners next week. There was also pick up games of Roller Hockey, and a joint TJJ-Kollel game of basketball. In the late afternoon we returned to the pool with our first post-9 Days swimming. It was great to be back in the water! Throughout the day, the air was heavy with excitement for Shabbat Nachamu, unquestionably one of the most anticipated days on the NCSY Kollel calendar. Between haircuts, music, and fun, there was a tangible sense of Shabbat’s arrival.

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Spotlight

In this daily feature, we will highlight one aspect of the general Kollel schedule. In the weekly updates and daily phone messages, we will often describe these parts of the day as “a great morning of learning”, or “strong chaburas”. Of course, these descriptions hardly do justice to such integral parts of the NCSY Kollel experience. The “Spotlight” posts on the blog will try to visually fill in some of the blanks

Spotlight #3: Halacha Shiur

Great things can sometime come in small packages. One of our most productive and unique learning slots is also one of our shortest.

Each morning, a five minute Halacha Shiur follows Shacharit. These shiurim are delivered by one of our Roshei Yeshiva, and cover a range of topics regarding daily life.

The most significant benefits of these shiurim are two fold. First, the opportunity to hear halacha explained clearly and deeply from preeminent Torah scholars, is extremely valuable. For years to come, NCSYers will be able to quote and refer to statements they heard directly from Rav Schachter, Rav Sobolofsky and Rav Twersky. Second, there is the interaction itself. There are few scenes on the Kollel as special as these shiurim, as NCSYers sit attentitively and listen to the Roshei Yeshiva. There are almost always spirited follow up discussions that provide even more intense give and take

NCSY KOLLEL 2009

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TO VIEW PICTURES FROM OUR ENTIRE SUMMER EXPERIENCE
CLICK HERE

Thursday: July 30, 2009

Daily Update

We continued our Tisha B’Av observance back on the floor of our Beit Medrash, with Shacharit and Kinnot. Rav Schachter offered a general introduction to the daytime Kinnot, explaining the relationship in halacha between actions and emotions. Once again, each kinnah was explained prior to its recital, with a particular emphasis on relevance and context. The Kinnot stretched until after midday, and were extremely moving.

In the early afternoon many took a well-deserved break in their rooms, but for those with the strength to push on, there was a full schedule of inspiring videos. For most, the highlight of Tisha B’Av, if not of the entire summer, was in the closing minutes of the fast, as we traveled to the Kotel for singing and tefila. The NCSYers sang for over an hour, a few feet from the Har HaBayit. The huge and diverse crowd of Israelis and tourists that joined our circle was a testimony to the significance of the gathering. It was truly unforgettable to be the center of attention at the Kotel, on TIsha B’Av

Wednesday: July 29, 2009

Daily Update

Following regular morning shiurim, the focus turned completely towards Tisha B’Av. We were honored to host Mrs. Esther Wachsman, mother of Nachshon, z”l. Mrs. Wachsman spoke poignantly about her life and the tragedy of her son’s abduction and murder. She delivered a powerful message about Jewish Unity and the Mesirat Nefesh that is required to rebuild the land of Israel

After lunch we gathered for another special shiur, this time delivered by Rav Elie Marcus of Yeshivat Reishit Yerushalayim. Rav Marcus set the stage for Tisha B’Av with moving words about the challenges of the day and the unique power of tears

The final pre-fast preparations included last minute chaburas, where NCSYers and madrichim were able to express their own thoughts and emotions. The Kollel has become a very popular destination on Tisha B’Av, and there was a capacity crowd in the Beit Medrash, including many Rabbeim, friends, and alumni of the program. Maariv and Eicha were followed by words of inspiration from Rav Twersky. For the Kinnot, each paragraph was introduced by a Rebbe or madrich, so that the words would have maximum meaning for the NCSYers. Following the Kinnot, there were a variety of small shiurim on appropriate themes, and a late night kumsitz, unique because of the absence of all words, and, of course, the lack of accompanying instruments

NCSY KOLLEL 2009

Tuesday: July 28, 2009

Daily Update

Following a busy tiyul day, we returned to Beit Meir for the final “regular” day of the week. Tuesday also marked the official half way point of the summer, and provided an opportunity for all to reflect on what has already been accomplished and what can still be done. In the afternoon, there was a full slate of league games in basketball and hockey

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A real NCSY Kollel first took place on the basketball court, as a father and son squared off for the first time in the program’s history. On this day, youth was served, as Binyamin Kaminetsky scored a convincing victory over his father’s squad. Off campus, there was an afternoon optional trip to Ramat Bet Shemesh for last minute pre-Tisha B’Av needs, both spiritual and physical. The night shiurim closed out the first cycle of the summer, ahead of tomorrow’s opportunity to choose anew from a wide array of shiur options. Many ended the day at Yummie’s, as “Ben and Jerry’s Night” was a huge hit

Spotlight

Spotlight #2: Sports

There is nothing quite like sports on the NCSY Kollel. If all they provided was a release of energy and a chance to play, dayenu. In reality, they are much more. In every sense the Kollel courts are an extension of the Beit Medrash. There you will find Rabbeim, Madrichim, and NCSYers, interacting in the same wholesome and productive way we find on the rest of the campus. There you will find real learning, in the all important areas of middot and social skills. And there you will find a serious commitment to accommodation and acceptance of each and every NCSYer. It is not uncommon to hear at the end of the summer that the sports were the “best part of the summer.” We’re proud of that. It’s not only the high level of play (or all-time undefeated intercamp record) that is being referred to. It’s the growth and maturation that accompanies our play

NCSY KOLLEL 2009

Monday: July 27, 2009

Daily Update

Today was tiyul day on Kollel again. Most of the NCSYers chose from three options. The first group visited the newly renovated Yad V’Sham Holocaust museum—reinforcing the somber tone that permeates these mournful days. Afterwards, they explored Ir David, site of the ancient city of Yerushalayim, and Chizkiyah’s water tunnel. A second group spent the morning in Ir David and then continued onto the famous Kotel Tunnels where NCSYers walked along the remains of base of the outer retaining walls of the Beit HaMikdash

Meanwhile, our second year NCSYers rolled out at 6:45, and headed for the majestic Judean Hills to visit the holy city of Chevron. Following shacharitg outside the Ma'arat HaMachpelah, the second year guys enjoyed a tour of the city with Chevron's own, R' Simcha Hochbaum. NCSYers also had the opportunity to make sandwiches for Israeli soldiers standing on duty in Chevron

Next they traveled to the Gush Etzion region for a special shiur and Q & A with HaRav Aharon Lichtenstein, Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivat Har Etzion

The day concluded for them with a meaningful mincha at Kever Rochel

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The final group began their day sifting through remains of Har Habayit—the Temple Mount—as part of the ongoing archeological effort in the area. Our very own Ezra Buchbinder caused a considerable amount of excitement among the archeologists as he uncovered a very rare ancient seal. They continued to the cemetery on Har Zeitim accompanied by HaRav Herschel Schachter who enriched everyone's experience with his profound insights. They finished off the day with a tour of the Jewish sites in East Jerusalem.

At night, back in Beit Meir, Kollel was graced by the presence of Rabbi Shimon Green, Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivat Birchat HaTorah in the Old City. He began the evening with a special shuir for the madrichim and staff about the methodology of teaching Gemara and then, addressing the entire Kollel, impressed upon everyone the need to be more G-dly

NCSY KOLLEL 2009