Tuesday night during night seder we had the privilege of having the Rosh hamesivta of tzeirei hashluchim rabbi zalman kaplan, who came and answered all of the bochurims questions about anything that might be troubling them about a bochurs life.
A true yeshiva kayitz cant exist without very serious leagues, and so this past motzei shabbos the bochurim all gathered in the zal for the draft to hear who the captains was of each team and even saw the beginning picks of each team. Then Sunday started the first league games with all the bochurim energetic, confident in their teammates, ready to face any opposing team. and play they did, on beautifully new fields and courts, leagues has definitely started of with a bang.
The first trip of YKTH started off with a bang as we climbed down har arbel in beautiful israel weather. when we got to the bottom of the mountain, we were greeted by ice cold water and fresh danishes. Then we headed to the keneret for a much needed swim. The next part of our trip was to the rambam's kever were we made a siyum on rambam. And just when we thought that we had to get back to yeshiva because it was getting close to shabbos, we made one last stop at the supermarket to get everything we needed.
It’s been barely two days since our buses made their way up the windy hills of Tzfas and pulled up in front of our beautiful YKTH campus. Two days, but it feels like we’ve been here for months. After the long flight to Eretz Yisroel, wasting no time we jumped straight into our full blown learning schedule.
Shiurim were quickly set up and our top tier magidei shiurim introduced. fascinating shiurim fill the day. starting with chassidus before davening, follows by an amazing curriculum covering the different aspects of maachalei Aku”m, as well as an exclusive YKTH study of Eretz Yisroel.
Complimented by a complete half day sports schedule, which will lead us to the highly anticipated draft Motzei Shabbos, kicking off leagues. Stay tuned for details.
Not to mention the revolutionary program called Tzfas Elite that was kicked off Wednesday night. The program encourages and assists us bochurim to appreciate the unique position they are in as Yidden, Chassidim and especially as Temimim. This recognition translates into increased focus on keeping to higher standards in all areas of our life, be it the way we speak, dress, and even raven and learn. For a Tomim every must ‘Past!
A daily Duch is filled out via state of the art kiosks, as the program is based around the real world credit card system, in which to be a card member, there higher profile the card, the card member is held to certain standards - be it in yearly income or basic spending, in order to be eligible to tap into the Benefits of the card.
To finish off the day, Mivtzah Torah was launched. A program giving bochurim the extra push to put in the time and effort to finish the entire Meseches Makos!
Tomorrow will bring its own adventures...and we’ve only been here for two days....
After a very long and exhausting trip, the brochurim were greeted with fresh hot pizza and ice cold drinks, and so much more.
Sunday morning for the first time in YKTH history we went to the Blind Museum in Cholon. Our guide is blind and the whole museum is pitch black, so we got to understand to some extent what it means to be blind, it was a very thought provoking and awakening part of our trip. Our final stop was Kfar Chabad, we saw the 770 replica, kehos and got a tour of the Rober leather factory. At 6 pm it was time for the Grand YKTH 5777 Gala Banquet, set up in a nice kefar Chabad hall we had an enjoyable full course dinner. Certain bochurim who excelled for different things throughout the summer were recognized and rewarded, Mivtza Torah bochurim got personalized leather bound siddurim and the YKTH director presented every staff member a beautiful gift.
After davenig Friday morning, we had a great country style breakfast catered by our hosts at Mitzpe Rimon. Our first destination was Masada; we hiked the back of the mountain arriving at the top where our guide Gili explained the rich and sad history of the place. After saying a bye to Gili - the YKTH tour guide, we took the cable carts down and headed to the Yam Hamelach. It was such a cool experience floating in the salty sea, all of us then took much needed showers to remove all the salty salt. Finally it was time for the highlight of the grand trip; Shabbos in chevron, before entering chevron we boarded special bullet proof buses for the safety of our journey. In Chevron we strayed at the Gutnick center, a 2 minute walk from Meoras Hamachpaila. Friday night we davend by the Meorah, also having a really nice Seder Niggunim. That nights Shabbos meal was leibidik, we were in chevron and it was YKTH’s last Friday night, So we farbreinged and sang the night away. Shabbos morning we all said Tehillim at the Mehora, learnt chassidus on the grass with danishes and Shoko besakit and then davend Shachris. After the Seudah, Rabbi Mordy Hellinger one of the shluchim to Chevron took us on an amazing tour. He showed us the Avrham Avinu shul, where Shalhevet a’’h was killed, the Kevarim of Rus and Yishai and even the kever of Rebbetzien Menucha Rachel. We then went to the home of Chevrons head Shaliach Rabbi Danny Cohen, he spoke to us about his shlichus and we sang niggunim together. After Marriv and Havdala we went back to the Arad Guesthouse for Melave Malke and good night’s sleep.
One of the special rewards that the bochurim who learnt Mivtza Torah recive, is a Scuba diving trip. So 5AM Thursday morning while all were still fast asleep 37 bochurim made their way to the buses for the trip. We made a minyan shachris on the bus, and shortly thereafter arrived and the beautiful waters of Chaifa. The black scuba suit was fun trying to get on, each bochur had his own personal scuba trainer. 6 meters down for 25 minutes was awesome, we got to see the amazing underwater world of sea creatures. We then met up with the rest of camp on a cruise ship, docked in the middle of the sea. On board the 3 floored ship there was a Jacuzzi, extension water slide moon bounce and a trampoline. While on the ship speed boats were constantly pulling up and taking shifts tubing and parasailing. In the midst of all the fun, a small boat showed up with a delivery of hot fresh pizza. Eventually we came back to the dock and went onto to the busses, we arrived 10 minutes later at camel back riding and ropes course. What a blast we had, the ropes course included a 50 foot high bungee jump and we literally got to ride the camels in the hot desert just like our ancestors. That night we went to Mitzpe Rimon where we had a delicious BBQ followed by a bonfire and Kumzitz.
Early Wednesday morning YKTH arose, davend, ate breakfast and set out to what was going to be an incredible once in a life time trip. We drove 3 hours until we reached the famous Yad Vashem Holocaust museum, after a pita falafel lunch we split into 3 groups, each with our own tour guide we began the tour. First we saw a memorial for the one and a half millon children who were brutally murdered, after which we entered the museum. It was an emotionally life changing experience, aside for acquiring a much better understanding of what many of our family’s suffered through, it also gave a profound appreciation for who we are and what we have the power to achieve. We then went to a gorgeous view point for mincha followed by scrumptious subs. For the night we stayed in Arad at a lovely and spacious Youth guesthouse, after playing the mother/father camper game we davend marriv and went to bed.
Sunday, laser tag, krav maga and pizza
This afternoon we had some serious in - house fun. A Krav Maga trained professional came, and showed us some basic moves on how to fend off a knife attack as well as other very useful and important information. We also had laser tag, holding heavy machine like guns and helmets we ran around the campus playing 3 rounds of different competitions. For dinner we walked down to the Tzvas pizza shop for some nice hot pizza.