A beautiful shabbos
This shabbos we had the zechus of having a seder niggunim with a group of cteens, which happened after mincha shabbos afternoon, and continued into motzie shbbos, and ended in a spontaneous dancing and singing. then the bochurim came back to yeshiva and sat down to take a gemara baal peh test of everything they learnt so far, to be part of mivtza torah.
Our most exciting and adventurest trip so far (click the text to view pictures)
The esteemed Rosh hamesivta
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.
Leagues!
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.
Our first adventure
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.
Getting started...
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....
Welcome to YKTH 5778!
After a very long and exhausting trip, the brochurim were greeted with fresh hot pizza and ice cold drinks, and so much more.
GRAND TRIP DAY #5/GRAND BANQUET
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.
GRAND TRIP DAY #3/4
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.
GRAND TRIP DAY #2
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.
GRAND TRIP DAY#1
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 in YKTH
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.
Water hike, Armybase viewpoint, Kever Yisroel Arye Leib
Today we went on one of the only water hikes in all of Israel. We got to, and I mean this quite literally; walk through over 2 kilometers of water in our bathers! Following which we had scrumptious sandwiches under a beautiful Israeli bridge. We then went to an extraordinary viewpoint, located on a former army base, which fascinatingly enough the Iron Dome is there every so often. On the way back to Tzvas Ir HaKodesh we stopped at the holy resting place of the Rebbes brother; Yisrael Aryre Leib.
Simcha Friedman LIVE!!!
Mivtza Torah is one of the many ongoing programs we have at YKTH, aside for the special grand trip those that do the Mivtza receive, we also get uniquw events such as the one we had tonight, and delicious Israeli style Laffas filled with Shnizel and salads. After the event the world renowned performer and singer Simcha Friedman with the popular Yosef Chaim band, joined us above the central Sta’’m center for a truly unbelievable concert. They had set up a huge stage, powerful speakers and incredible lights. Some of our very own talented bochurim joined Simcha on stage, singing together. The energy was electric, over 100 chevra strong dancing together with a tremendous amount of chayus.
kumzitz
This past Wednesday night, we had a moving and hartzike band meet us on the Safrus center rooftop. We started with delicious subway bouget salami, turkey, hummus and all the good stuff stuffed in our sandwiches together with some solid refreshing cold drinks. Afterward we crowded around these professional Chassidishe kumzizters, and sang the night away, it was another memorable evening in YKTH
Color War!!!
It all started in the middle of our second sports activity, a
massive Israeli tractor with an even more Israeli driver rolled right up, into the
center of our football field. All the bochurim gathered around asking him to leave,
but he said he had strict orders to be here, even the director came out to help but
to no avail. Suddenly we got showered by a plethora of water balloons,
we looked up and saw the staff all on the roof of the 4 story yeshiva complex,
shouting and singing color war. The generals and captains were chosen, teams divided, and the fun began. First were these hilarious skits, followed by team time
with loads if farbaisen. The jobs were split up and a select group from each team
spent the night up preparing the song and play– or at least trying to prepare. When we awoke on the morning we found the zal plastered with signs
containing information of great importence and intelligence. Throughout the day
we had a whole array of deiffrent competions such as basketball, hockey, baking,
photography, game show, acting and singing.
Visting day, Midrachov outing and swimmming
The Midrachov, home to the famous Naot shoe store, and some of Israel’s finest cafes, delis and shops. This Sunday YKTH walked down there and spent a solid 4 hours buying, eating and touring. The store owners were extremely accommodating by even offering special discounted prices for the bochurim. We then had YKTH time, follwed by a geshmake swim in the newly built state-of-the-art swimming pool.
Motzei Shabbos, Melava Malka,
It was Motzei Shabbos, which meant that it is finally time for the long awaited grand staff vs. camper All-star Basketball game. The top 10 bochurim were voted in by the rest of camp, along with the other esteemed positions such as coach, referee, janitor and even game magnet. Right at the start the bochurim were in the lead, however as the game progressed the staff caught up, eventually even surpassing the bochurim, ultimately winning the game 23 to 9! Melava Malka was then served, freshly baked steaming pizza with mouthwatering chocolate pudding, what a treat. The head counselor showed a video of the week in review, followed by benching and a gute voch.
Israeli naval base, Winery, Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai
At YKTH we are sometimes privy to places and things that are normally off limits for the general public. Fortunately for us today was one of those times; the second in command in the Israeli navy, personally invited us to the central Naval operations base for Israel, located right off the Chaifa shores. We got to see humongous battleships, where at any given time is home to 60 officers ready to defend us - their dear brothers and sisters. Israel’s submarines were then shown to us, along with special permission to walk atop its conning tower. It was then off to the well-known Galil Winery, beginning with the opportunity to taste 3 unique types of dry wine, followed by a grand tour of the Galils impressive wine production, from the vineyard all the way to the bottle. As memorabilia, we were given a glass wine cup with the Galil logo. On the way back to Yeshiva we stopped in Meron and visted the holy resting place of the Rashbi, we davend mincha and said Tehillim at the Kever. Back at Yeshiva we went to Mikva, called home, got into our bikdei Shabos and had some delicious hot Kugel, all ready in unison to greet the Shabbos Malka.